Biodiversity Loss Affects Global Disease Ecology

Changes in the type and prevalence of human diseases have occurred during shifts in human social organization, for example, from hunting and gathering to agriculture and with urbanization during the Industrial Revolution. The recent emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases appears to be driv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioscience 2009-12, Vol.59 (11), p.945-954
Main Authors: Pongsiri, Montira J, Roman, Joe, Ezenwa, Vanessa O, Goldberg, Tony L, Koren, Hillel S, Newbold, Stephen C, Ostfeld, Richard S, Pattanayak, Subhrendu K, Salkeld, Daniel J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
21st Century Directions in Biology
Attrition (Research Studies)
Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss
Biological diversity
Case Studies
Cognitive Development
Communicable Diseases
Demographic aspects
disease incidence
Disease risk
Disease transmission
Disease vectors
Ecology
ecosystem services
emerging disease
Environmental degradation
Epidemiology
Globalization
habitat destruction
Habitat loss
Health and wellness
Homogenization
host-pathogen relationships
human diseases
Human ecology
Humans
Infectious diseases
literature reviews
OVERVIEW ARTICLES
Pathogens
Population Growth
Predators
public health
Risk factors
Social Organizations
Species
Urbanization
vectorborne disease
Water
Zoonoses
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Summary:Changes in the type and prevalence of human diseases have occurred during shifts in human social organization, for example, from hunting and gathering to agriculture and with urbanization during the Industrial Revolution. The recent emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases appears to be driven by globalization and ecological disruption. We propose that habitat destruction and biodiversity loss associated with biotic homogenization can increase the incidence and distribution of infectious diseases affecting humans. The clearest connection between biotic homogenization and infectious disease is the spread of nonindigenous vectors and pathogens. The loss of predators and hosts that dilute pathogen transmission can also increase the incidence of vectorborne illnesses. Other mechanisms include enhanced abiotic conditions for pathogens and vectors and higher host-pathogen encounter rates. Improved understanding of these causal mechanisms can inform decisionmaking on biodiversity conservation as an effective way to protect human health.
ISSN:0006-3568
1525-3244
DOI:10.1525/bio.2009.59.11.6