Summary: Parasites are ubiquitous in nature; it has even been suggested that all organisms on Earth have parasites. My research explores the ecological roles of parasites in ecosystems, mainly using fish-macroparasite systems. Specifically, I have investigated (1) the impacts of parasite infections on host-individuals and populations, (2) the determinants of parasite distribution and the underlying mechanisms of their infection dynamics. More recently, I have expanded my interest to include parasites of a wide range of aquatic organisms beyond fish. My research is mainly based on fieldwork, but when necessary, I combine laboratory experiments and genetic analyses.
