Ecology January 2011 PMID 21560690

Nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem.

Takuya Sato, Katsutoshi Watanabe, Minoru Kanaiwa, Yasuaki Niizuma, Yasushi Harada, Kevin D Lafferty

Mentions

18
Peak: 5 in May 2024
across 4 sources since Mar 2019

Extended reach

41,684
potential audience

Total likes

711

Video views

19,601

Mentions per month

Mar 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter13 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • TikTok2 posts
  • Reddit1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collection of discussions consistently exhibits strong curiosity and recognition of the study's ecological importance, as seen in comments about parasites controlling behaviors like frogs jumping into water and their role in energy flow, reinforced by references to specific studies and terminology that convey detailed engagement.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most posts acknowledge the significance of the research, highlighting its role in understanding ecosystem energy flow and parasite influence.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high curiosity, especially when referencing specific examples like behavior manipulation and ecosystem roles.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many comments delve into the mechanisms and ecological implications, indicating deep reflection and analysis.

ImpactModerate impact

While some emphasize the importance for ecological understanding, others suggest potential real-world applications, reflecting moderate impact potential.

Abstract in brief

  • Nematomorph parasites significantly influence energy flow in a forest-stream ecosystem by manipulating their host behavior, making infected orthopterans (crickets and grasshoppers) more likely to enter streams.
  • The presence of infected orthopterans leads to increased predation by Japanese trout, which consume these parasites and their hosts, resulting in a substantial portion (about 60%) of the trout's annual energy intake coming from infected orthopterans.
  • This parasitic manipulation causes cascading effects in the ecosystem, such as changing the diet of trout and potentially affecting other invertebrate populations, highlighting the important role parasites play in energy distribution within ecosystems.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Akira Terui
@m_laevis · X

Wow, horsehair worms manipulate the behavior of a mantis to jump into the water - this reminds me of a study showing that the parasite controls the linkage of terrestrial-aquatic food webs (60% of annual energy flow!!) https://t.co/H45uvtG8bK https://t.co/yvsObWYd6c

Nov 2, 2019 · 11 likes · 3 shares · 1,232 followers View post →
ふじのくに地球環境史ミュージアム
@fujinokuni_NEM · X

イワナなどの渓流魚が摂取する餌の実に6割(!)がハリガネムシに操られて入水した昆虫だという研究結果もあります。小さな寄生虫を通じて、陸と川の生態系は強く結びついています。 元論文はこちら https://t.co/1b1ZktnlOv

Aug 9, 2023 · 8 likes · 2,799 followers View post →
北国ここな
@kitagunikokona · X

参考文献(がっつり英語の論文です!気になる方はどうぞ): Sato, Takuya, et al. "Nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem." Ecology 92.1 (2011): 201-207.

Sep 19, 2024 · 2 likes · 2,718 followers View post →
Andy Posbe
@adnroide · X

The puppet masters we know little about https://t.co/sIqjKqCMKL via @YouTube

May 29, 2024 · 2 likes · 830 followers View post →
Prashanth Udupa
@UdupaPrashanth · X

We are all reverse #engineering & maintaining #code written by #nature. What we might think of as #bug, might actually be a really good #feature. https://t.co/BpkFVFKnE1

May 18, 2024 · 2 likes · 308 followers View post →
Dave Hayes
@Gnarly_Larvae · X

This post reminded me of this awesome paper, “Nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem” by Sato et. al, 2011 https://t.co/pqlnXLRPXV https://t.co/L6jLeVZyu3

Jul 8, 2019 · 1 like · 2,365 followers View post →

All mentions

北国ここな
@kitagunikokona · X

参考文献(がっつり英語の論文です!気になる方はどうぞ): Sato, Takuya, et al. "Nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem." Ecology 92.1 (2011): 201-207.

Sep 19, 2024 · 2 likes · 2,718 followers View post →
Andy Posbe
@adnroide · X

The puppet masters we know little about https://t.co/sIqjKqCMKL via @YouTube

May 29, 2024 · 2 likes · 830 followers View post →
Prashanth Udupa
@UdupaPrashanth · X

We are all reverse #engineering & maintaining #code written by #nature. What we might think of as #bug, might actually be a really good #feature. https://t.co/BpkFVFKnE1

May 18, 2024 · 2 likes · 308 followers View post →
Anna
@anna26458 · X

The creatures that control the natural world https://t.co/IU7XXpid1X via @YouTube

May 7, 2024 · 791 followers View post →
ふじのくに地球環境史ミュージアム
@fujinokuni_NEM · X

イワナなどの渓流魚が摂取する餌の実に6割(!)がハリガネムシに操られて入水した昆虫だという研究結果もあります。小さな寄生虫を通じて、陸と川の生態系は強く結びついています。 元論文はこちら https://t.co/1b1ZktnlOv

Aug 9, 2023 · 8 likes · 2,799 followers View post →
Saram series writer
@Jkatian · X

RT @tauanajc: @Jkatian It can vary, but death is not a definite fate. Though the host can end up being eaten by a fish for example… there i…

Jul 19, 2023 · 1 share · 2,018 followers View post →
Tauana J. Cunha
@tauanajc · X

@Jkatian It can vary, but death is not a definite fate. Though the host can end up being eaten by a fish for example… there is actually a study that shows how important these parasites can be at altering energy flow in stream ecosystems! https://t.co/Lnzgs9tJcI

Jul 19, 2023 · 1 share · 913 followers View post →
Wood Lab
@woodlab_uw · X

Nematomorph parasites are really crucial in their ecosystems & survival of endangered species may depend on them! The parasites essentially bring food (crickets) to the fish in the water. The dead

Oct 20, 2020 · 1 like · 167 followers View post →
K. Nakagawa
@ku_nakag · X

RT @m_laevis: Wow, horsehair worms manipulate the behavior of a mantis to jump into the water - this reminds me of a study showing that the…

Nov 4, 2019 · 3 shares · 987 followers View post →
奥山雄大(茨城県在住関西人)
@yokuyama · X

RT @m_laevis: Wow, horsehair worms manipulate the behavior of a mantis to jump into the water - this reminds me of a study showing that the…

Nov 4, 2019 · 3 shares · 6,812 followers View post →
Akira Terui
@m_laevis · X

Wow, horsehair worms manipulate the behavior of a mantis to jump into the water - this reminds me of a study showing that the parasite controls the linkage of terrestrial-aquatic food webs (60% of annual energy flow!!) https://t.co/H45uvtG8bK https://t.co/yvsObWYd6c

Nov 2, 2019 · 11 likes · 3 shares · 1,232 followers View post →
Dave Hayes
@Gnarly_Larvae · X

This post reminded me of this awesome paper, “Nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem” by Sato et. al, 2011 https://t.co/pqlnXLRPXV https://t.co/L6jLeVZyu3

Jul 8, 2019 · 1 like · 2,365 followers View post →
ネーブル美味い
@taro_htn39 · X

https://t.co/fsomrCOss4

Mar 16, 2019 · 92 followers View post →
Il parassita delle mantidi: un mistero della zoologia | TikTok
TikTok

doi:10.1890/09-1565.1 Nichols, J. (2024, May 07). Nature can't run without parasites. What happens when they start to disappear? Grist ...

Sep 9, 2025 View →
TIL horsehair worm parasites force crickets to jump into water, in ...
Reddit

... 10.1890/09-1565.1) . For more Info: 10 min video descriobing the parasite https://youtu.be/1VSeb-ZNRYY?si=6h_spTCU9hgBuzJm. &. Here is a ...

May 12, 2025 View →
Discover Lisa's Animals on Instagram! | TikTok
TikTok

doi:10.1890/09-1565.1 Nichols, J. (2024, May 07). Nature can't run without parasites. What happens when they start to disappear? Grist ...

Jun 17, 2021 View →