Meet our scientists: Marine Ecologist Mark Torchin

Mark Torchin, a marine ecologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama,  studies the parasites of invasive marine animals such as snails. Much of his research focuses on biological invasions and the dynamics between the host, the parasites and the surrounding ecosystem.

Although parasites are common in many systems, their roles are poorly understood, particularly in marine and estuarine environments. In this video, Mark explains how he  seeks to understand the complex ways parasites interact with free-living species and the extent to which they influence the structure of host populations and the communities in which they live.

Read more about Mark’s work here.