Conservation-induced extinction is where efforts to save endangered species lead to the extinction of other species. This mostly threatens the parasite and pathogen species that are highly host-specific to critically endangered hosts. When the last individuals of a host species are captured for the purpose of captive breeding and reintroduction programs, they typically undergo anti-parasitic treatments to increase survival and reproductive success. This practice may unintentionally result in the extinction of the species antagonistic to the target species, such as certain parasites. It has been proposed that the parasites should be reintroduced to the endangered population. A few cases of conservation-induced extinction have occurred in parasitic lice.
Examples
Erroneous example The trichodectid louse of the black-footed ferret has been mentioned in the literature several times as a parasite that became extinct during the captive breeding program of the host. However, this parasite most probably never existed as a separate species from Neotrichodectes minutus.
Species threatened by conservation-induced extinction Stephanocircus domrowi, the goblin flea, is a critically endangered insect endemic to the Australian state of Victoria. It is host specific, and lives only with the co-endangered Leadbeater's possum. Most conservation efforts of the possum include cleaning its body of parasites to increase chances of survival for the host. Combined with the small size of possum population in the wild, the flea is now a critically endangered species. There has been proposals for its conservation, but none have been carried out.
See also
Perverse incentive, the general phenomenon of a solution to a problem making the problem worse Conservation biology of parasites
References
External links The Iberian lynx and its unique louse