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Health - a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
World Health Organization 1946
Biodiversity -“the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems”
Convention on Biological Diversity, Article 2
Disease Environmental change
Malaria Deforestation
Nipah virus Encroachment, agricultural intensification
Hookworm Deforestation leading to silting
Hemorrhagic viruses
Land use changes, encroachment
Leishmaniasis Deforestation
Schistosomiasis Intensive irrigation
Filariasis Irrigation, standing water
Arboviral diseases
Deforestation, irrigation, agriculture
Lyme disease Habitat fragmentation/ reforestation
–Direct linkages• consumable
goods and services
– Indirect linkages• services
provided by large-scale ecosystem interactions
Related in two broad ways:
–Direct linkages• consumable
goods and services
– Indirect linkages• services
provided by large-scale ecosystem interactions
• Meeting daily caloric and nutritional needs
• Food relates to biodiversity via:– Edible wild and domesticated species– Genetic libraries– Ecosystem services
Drug Purpose Source
Amoxicillin Antibiotic Fungus
Captopril Antihypertensive Animal
Digitoxin Cardiotonic Plant
Morphine Analgesic Plant
Penicillin Antibiotic Fungus
QuinineAntimalarial, antipyretic Plant
Salicin Analgesic Plant
Vinblastine Antitumor Plant
Codeine Analgesic Plant
Artemisin Antimalarial Plant
Species SampleEnvironmental stressor
Marine/freshwater invertebrates
Distribution and abundance Chemical pollution
Mosses Tissue Chemical pollution
Wild birds
Egg shells, feathers, blood, tissue Chemical pollution
Amphibians
Distribution and abundance, deformities
Multiple/undetermined
Sea turtlesPathological changes
Multiple/undetermined
Sea otters
Distribution and abundance, blood, tissue
Chemical pollution, ecosystem integrity
Chickens Blood Viral exposure
Wild birds and mammals Blood Viral exposure
Domestic mammals Blood
Viral exposure, chemical pollution
–Direct linkages• consumable
goods and services
– Indirect linkages• services
provided by large-scale ecosystem interactions
Pollutant Organism
Hydrocarbons (oil, kerosene)
Bacteria, fungi
Cyanide, heavy metals Willow trees
Pesticides Wetland plants
Heavy metals Ferns, legumes, grasses, sunflower plants
– Direct linkages• consumable
goods and services
– food – pharmaceutical
s– medical models– sentinels
– Indirect linkages• services provided
by large-scale ecosystem interactions
– water– waste removal and
decomposition– biotic regulation – psychological
health
Related in two broad ways:
• Does biodiversity loss per se drive changes in human health?
Human Health
Biodiversity Loss
Environmental Degradation
Biodiversity Loss
Human Health
Environmental Degradation
Or --could changes in human health and biodiversity both be driven by environmental degradation?
Would that change our interpretation of observed patterns?
• Health connects all species– Strongly positive links between human
health and biodiversity exist– Links are mediated by complex
interactions • Causality is not always clear• Conflicts• Lack of valuation of the benefits• More research is needed, specifically a
multidisciplinary approach
• What is the main argument?
• What are the conclusions?
• What evidence did they use?
• Are there alternative explanations, causes?
• What’s the platform? Does it matter?
• What do YOU think?
• Based on the reading, what would be the ideal city?– What are the jobs?– Where does food come from? Energy?
Water? Waste go?– What are the educational priorities? The
governmental priorities? – What happens outside of the city?– And why?
