Parasites can have a positive effect on biodiversity and can play a crucial role in maintaining it

A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that the presence of parasites in nature is not necessarily negative, and sometimes even helps animals survive. The team of researchers explain: "Thinking about parasites usually brings up negative connotations, such as, 'do they harm their host'? Or 'how harmful are they to those who carry them'? In our research, we showed that parasites can in fact have a positive effect on the structure of an ecosystem, and that they can play a key role in the design of the habitat and in sustaining its biological diversity."