Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, yet surprisingly little is known about the ecological roles of parasites within these environments. As a result, our knowledge about how ...

Almost all organisms play host to parasites throughout their entire ... jeopardizing the living coral that makes up reefs. Covered with long, venomous spikes, the crown-of-thorns starfish ...

Parasites can shape community structure through ... eliminating the keystone roles of urchins as grazers and bioeroders on coral reefs (Lessios 1988). Reefs in affected regions became overgrown ...

Bleached coral dies when exposed to heat stress for too long, threatening the bountiful marine ecosystem that depends on it ...

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems ... The smaller "cleaner" organism consumes the parasite off the larger fish, both apparently benefiting from the association.