Matthew Gompper The host-parasite interface represents one of the last fundamentally unexplored realms of ecology. This dearth of insight derives in large part from disparate training; few ecologists receive training in parasitology or epidemiology, and vice versa. Yet the lack of past attention that this field has received implies that a bit of mining can potentially reap rich rewards. Simple experimental studies as well as relatively basic parasite surveys coupled with observational approaches to monitoring hosts can yield broadly important insights. Here I demonstrate some of the important insights that have come from our observational and experimental work on raccoon-parasite ecology. Three related studies are discussed: 1) how tick feeding success in influenced by raccoon demographics; 2) how changes in the behavior of raccoons can profoundly and non-intuitively alter parasite populations and communities; and 3) how the genetic variability of the individual raccoon influences parasite infection and survival rates. Together, these studies weave a tale with important theoretical and applied implications for ecologists and evolutionary biologists, as well as public and animal health researchers. Such studies allow us to predict which animals are likely to be infected by parasitic organisms, the extent of the infections, and in some cases, the likelihood of surviving the infections. Conversely, these studies also represent an opportunity to begin to discern the fitness of a parasite as a function of the individual host it is able to opportunistically infect, and as a correlate, begin to discern how host populations structure may influence parasite populations. |