Participating date: January 26, 2023

General Description: 

The influx of freshwater snails in Puerto Rico has caused a cointroduction of alien trematodes. During 1954-1958, the snail Marisa cornuarietis was introduced, which became one of the best examples of biological control on a human parasite, trematode Schistosoma mansoni, in Puerto Rico. The snail was able to compete S. mansoni’s preferred snail and successfully eradicated the parasite. In addition, Tarebia granifera was introduced to support further displacement of B. glabrata however, with the new snail introduction, an exotic trematode was introduced into the Puerto Rican freshwater ecosystem: zoonotic Stellancasmus falcatus, known to commonly infect humans in Asian-Pacific countries. This is supported by morphological and molecular data. 

Interested Majors

Biology

Level of Education

Ask speakers if undergraduate or graduate opportunities are available.

Professor/Advisor

Dr. Sean Locke

Map and Booth Location

B4-10