Almost every animal has its own set of parasites – creatures living on or inside them. In fact, parasites are thought to make up most of the animal species on Earth! They're everywhere, even in our own backyard, Otago's coastal taiao.

While most people know of parasites only for their harmful impact on their hosts, they also give useful clues about how healthy our ecosystem is, and how it is changing. In this kōrero, Dr Bennett will talk about our coastal ecosystems from a parasite perspective, highlighting the 'good', the 'bad', and the 'ugly' sides of parasites infecting our local fauna.

Our recent rangahau focuses on manu bird parasites, and Dr Bennett will also share some details about the parasite investigation pipeline of birds across Otago.

If you can't make this talk in person, you can join via zoom: Meeting ID 981 0102 4899 - Passcode: Otago

Important Information: Suitable for all ages, but we would suggest age 12+. Trigger warnings will be shown before any confronting pictures or videos. This talk is available in person and online via zoom.