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Conservation biology

Parasites lost

Nature volume 421, pages 585–586 (2003)Cite this article

Why do some plants and animals become pests when they are introduced to new areas? Part of the answer seems to be that they have left most of their parasites behind, gaining vigour as a consequence.

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Figure 1: Invasive species in the United States.

(A) L. RICHARDSON/CORBIS; (B) E. CRICHTON/CORBIS; (C) MOLLUSCAN PICTURES; (D) M. C. PERRY/USGS; (E) RONENZILBERMAN/AP; (F) J. FRY/AA-Z BOTANICAL

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  1. Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 47405, Indiana, USA

    Keith Clay

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  1. Keith Clay
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Correspondence to Keith Clay.

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Clay, K. Parasites lost. Nature 421, 585–586 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/421585a

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