Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases

Felicia Keesing; Lisa K. Belden; Peter Daszak; Andrew P. Dobson; C. Drew Harvell; Robert D. Holt; Peter Hudson; Anna Jolles; Kate E. Jones; Charles E. Mitchell; Samuel S. Myers; Tiffany Bogich; Richard S. Ostfeld

doi:10.1038/nature09575

Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases

Felicia Keesing, Lisa K. Belden, Peter Daszak, Andrew P. Dobson, C. Drew Harvell, Robert D. Holt, Peter Hudson, Anna Jolles, Kate E. Jones, Charles E. Mitchell, Samuel S. Myers, Tiffany Bogich, Richard S. Ostfeld

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1339 Scopus citations

Abstract

Current unprecedented declines in biodiversity reduce the ability of ecological communities to provide many fundamental ecosystem services. Here we evaluate evidence that reduced biodiversity affects the transmission of infectious diseases of humans, other animals and plants. In principle, loss of biodiversity could either increase or decrease disease transmission. However, mounting evidence indicates that biodiversity loss frequently increases disease transmission. In contrast, areas of naturally high biodiversity may serve as a source pool for new pathogens. Overall, despite many remaining questions, current evidence indicates that preserving intact ecosystems and their endemic biodiversity should generally reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	647-652
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature
Volume	468
Issue number	7324
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09575
State	Published - Dec 2 2010

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title = "Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases",

abstract = "Current unprecedented declines in biodiversity reduce the ability of ecological communities to provide many fundamental ecosystem services. Here we evaluate evidence that reduced biodiversity affects the transmission of infectious diseases of humans, other animals and plants. In principle, loss of biodiversity could either increase or decrease disease transmission. However, mounting evidence indicates that biodiversity loss frequently increases disease transmission. In contrast, areas of naturally high biodiversity may serve as a source pool for new pathogens. Overall, despite many remaining questions, current evidence indicates that preserving intact ecosystems and their endemic biodiversity should generally reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases.",

author = "Felicia Keesing and Belden, {Lisa K.} and Peter Daszak and Dobson, {Andrew P.} and Harvell, {C. Drew} and Holt, {Robert D.} and Peter Hudson and Anna Jolles and Jones, {Kate E.} and Mitchell, {Charles E.} and Myers, {Samuel S.} and Tiffany Bogich and Ostfeld, {Richard S.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements We acknowledge the support of the joint NSF-NIH Ecology of Infectious Disease programme and the EPA Biodiversity and Human Health programme. M. Gillespie provided help in the preparation of the manuscript.",

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T1 - Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases

AU - Keesing, Felicia

AU - Belden, Lisa K.

AU - Daszak, Peter

AU - Dobson, Andrew P.

AU - Harvell, C. Drew

AU - Holt, Robert D.

AU - Hudson, Peter

AU - Jolles, Anna

AU - Jones, Kate E.

AU - Mitchell, Charles E.

AU - Myers, Samuel S.

AU - Bogich, Tiffany

AU - Ostfeld, Richard S.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements We acknowledge the support of the joint NSF-NIH Ecology of Infectious Disease programme and the EPA Biodiversity and Human Health programme. M. Gillespie provided help in the preparation of the manuscript.

PY - 2010/12/2

Y1 - 2010/12/2

N2 - Current unprecedented declines in biodiversity reduce the ability of ecological communities to provide many fundamental ecosystem services. Here we evaluate evidence that reduced biodiversity affects the transmission of infectious diseases of humans, other animals and plants. In principle, loss of biodiversity could either increase or decrease disease transmission. However, mounting evidence indicates that biodiversity loss frequently increases disease transmission. In contrast, areas of naturally high biodiversity may serve as a source pool for new pathogens. Overall, despite many remaining questions, current evidence indicates that preserving intact ecosystems and their endemic biodiversity should generally reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases.

AB - Current unprecedented declines in biodiversity reduce the ability of ecological communities to provide many fundamental ecosystem services. Here we evaluate evidence that reduced biodiversity affects the transmission of infectious diseases of humans, other animals and plants. In principle, loss of biodiversity could either increase or decrease disease transmission. However, mounting evidence indicates that biodiversity loss frequently increases disease transmission. In contrast, areas of naturally high biodiversity may serve as a source pool for new pathogens. Overall, despite many remaining questions, current evidence indicates that preserving intact ecosystems and their endemic biodiversity should generally reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases.

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Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases

Abstract

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