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Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases

Author

Listed:
  • Felicia Keesing

    (Bard College)

  • Lisa K. Belden

    (Virginia Tech)

  • Peter Daszak

    (EcoHealth Alliance)

  • Andrew Dobson

    (EEB, Eno Hall, Princeton University)

  • C. Drew Harvell

    (Cornell University)

  • Robert D. Holt

    (University of Florida)

  • Peter Hudson

    (Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University)

  • Anna Jolles

    (College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University)

  • Kate E. Jones

    (Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London)

  • Charles E. Mitchell

    (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Samuel S. Myers

    (Harvard Medical School, Harvard University)

  • Tiffany Bogich

    (EcoHealth Alliance)

  • Richard S. Ostfeld

    (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies)

Abstract

Biodiversity is good for you Changes in biodiversity have the potential to either increase or reduce the incidence of infectious disease in plants and animals — including humans — because they involve interactions among species. At a minimum, this requires a host and a pathogen; often many more species are involved, including additional hosts, vectors and other organisms with which these species interact. Felicia Keesing and colleagues review the evidence that reduced biodiversity affects the transmission of infectious diseases of humans, other animals and plants. Despite important questions still to be answered, they conclude that the evidence that biodiversity exerts a protective effect on infectious diseases is sufficiently strong to include biodiversity protection as a strategy to improve health.

Suggested Citation

  • Felicia Keesing & Lisa K. Belden & Peter Daszak & Andrew Dobson & C. Drew Harvell & Robert D. Holt & Peter Hudson & Anna Jolles & Kate E. Jones & Charles E. Mitchell & Samuel S. Myers & Tiffany Bogich, 2010. "Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7324), pages 647-652, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:468:y:2010:i:7324:d:10.1038_nature09575
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09575
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