Environment and health - Biodiversity and Human Health

Title

Local habitat and landscape affect Ixodes ricinus tick abundances in forests on poor, sandy soils

Reference

Forest Ecology and Management
Volume 265, 1 February 2012, Pages 30–36

Author(s)

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

A large fraction of the forests in northern Belgium consists of homogeneous pine stands on nutrient-poor and acid sandy soils. However, in common with many other parts of Europe, the current forest management aims at increasing the share of deciduous and mixed forests. This might create favourable habitats for the tick Ixodes ricinus, which is Europe’s main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis in humans. Considering the threat to human health, it is important to know which factors regulate tick abundance. The influence of local habitat and landscape variables on the abundance of I. ricinus ticks were studied by collecting questing larvae, nymphs, and adults at 176 locations in forests in the Campine region (northern Belgium). Both I. ricinus ticks and B. burgdorferi spirochetes occurred throughout the study area, which means that the entire region represents an area of risk for contracting Lyme borreliosis. At the forest stand level, the main tree species and the shrub cover significantly affected the abundance of all life stages of I. ricinus. The abundance was higher in oak stands compared to pine stands, and increased with increasing shrub cover. Additionally, at the landscape level, a positive effect was found for forest edge length but not for forest cover. These patterns may be explained by the habitat preferences of the tick’s main hosts. Our results indicate that forest conversion might indeed create suitable habitats for ticks, which highlights the need for intensive information campaigns and effective tick control measures.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health
Forests >> Forest protection >> Forest biodiversity

Keywords

Ixodes ricinus; Borrelia; Habitat; Landscape; Deer

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112711006499
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Wesley.Tack@UGent.be

Title

Predicting the effect of climate change on African trypanosomiasis: integrating epidemiology with parasite and vector biology

Reference

Journal of the Royal Society Interface doi: 10.1098/​rsif.2011.0654

Author(s)

Sean Moore, Sourya Shrestha, Kyle W. Tomlinson and Holly Vuong

Study type

Peer Review Journal   

Abstract

Climate warming over the next century is expected to have a large impact on the interactions between pathogens and their animal and human hosts. Vector-borne diseases are particularly sensitive to warming because temperature changes can alter vector development rates, shift their geographical distribution and alter transmission dynamics. For this reason, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), a vector-borne disease of humans and animals, was recently identified as one of the 12 infectious diseases likely to spread owing to climate change. We combine a variety of direct effects of temperature on vector ecology, vector biology and vector–parasite interactions via a disease transmission model and extrapolate the potential compounding effects of projected warming on the epidemiology of African trypanosomiasis. The model predicts that epidemics can occur when mean temperatures are between 20.7°C and 26.1°C. Our model does not predict a large-range expansion, but rather a large shift of up to 60 per cent in the geographical extent of the range. The model also predicts that 46–77 million additional people may be at risk of exposure by 2090. Future research could expand our analysis to include other environmental factors that influence tsetse populations and disease transmission such as humidity, as well as changes to human, livestock and wildlife distributions. The modelling approach presented here provides a framework for using the climate-sensitive aspects of vector and pathogen biology to predict changes in disease prevalence and risk owing to climate change.

Policy theme(s)

Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health
Environment and health >> Health risks >> Climate change
Climate change and energy >> Climate change adaptation >> Biodiversity impacts
Climate change and energy >> Climate change adaptation >> Social and health impacts

Keywords

sleeping sickness; trypanosomiasis; disease ecology; vector; climate; global warming

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/11/01/rsif.2011.0654
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smoore@ucar.edu

Title

Threatened groups of organisms valuable to medicine.

Reference

Chivian ES, Bernstein AS

Author(s)

Chivian ES, Bernstein AS. Chapter 6 in Chivian E, Bernstein A.

Study type

Book chapter

Abstract

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Ecosystem services
Biodiversity >> Threats to biodiversity >> Endangered species >>Endangered species
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy Thematic Issue

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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There is a fee to view this book chapter
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/LifeSciences/Ecology/
?view=usa&ci=9780195175097#Description
Free summary version: http://chge.med.harvard.edu/programs/bio/documents/
CHGE_Biodiversity_Booklet_Sept_2010.pdf

Contact the study author at:

eric_chivian@hms.harvard.edu

Title

Biodiversity, ecosystem changes and human infectious diseases

Reference

Chapter 2 of European Commission Report. Literature study on the impact of biodiversity changes on human health. Final report June 2010

Author(s)

Daniela Zaphi, Barbara Calaciurs, Oliviero Spinelli, Marcello Basili, Roberto Romi

Study type

Report

Abstract

Maintaining biodiversity underpins the stability of ecosystems and the services that they supply to the community, such as food, drinking water, clean air, control of disease and raw materials for the development of medicinal drugs. These are essential to human health.

The objective of the study was to provide an overview of existing information concerning the impacts of changes in biodiversity and ecosystems on two services related to human health: regulation of infectious diseases and provision of medicines

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Ecosystem services
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy Thematic Issue

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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This study is free to view
http://www.comunitambiente.it/public/file/Biodisease_final_report.pdf

Contact the study author at:

comunitambiente@comunitambiente.it

Title

Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases

Reference

Nature. 2010 Dec 2;468(7324):647-52.

Author(s)

Study type

Peer Review Journal

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.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Ecosystem services
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health

Keywords

Disease, ecology, epidemiology, environmental science, biodiversity, infectious diseases

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy Thematic Issue

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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This study is free to view

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keesing@bard.edu

Title

Natural products as catalysts for innovation: a pharmaceutical industry perspective

Reference

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
Volume 15, Issue 4, August 2011, Pages 497-504

Author(s)

Esther K Schmitt, Charles M Moore, Philipp Krastel and Frank Petersen

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Natural products are evolutionarily designed and chemically distinct from most synthetic library molecules. In addition to their role as drugs, they are successfully used as molecular probes to identify disease relevant targets. Novel natural products are still routinely discovered from traditional sources through cultivation of microorganisms. Complementary approaches based on genome sequence information and subsequent annotation of biosynthetic pathways are emerging technologies. However, to be of practical use for drug discovery, these concepts must be advanced beyond their current state.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Ecosystem services
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy Thematic Issue

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367593111000871

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frank.petersen@novartis.com

Title

The relevance of higher plants in lead compound discovery programs.

Reference

J. Nat. Prod., 2011, 74 (6), pp 1539–1555
DOI: 10.1021/np200391c

Author(s)

Kinghorn AD, Pan L, Fletcher JN, Chai H

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Along with compounds from terrestrial microorganisms, the constituents of higher plants have provided a substantial number of the natural product-derived drugs used currently in Western medicine. Interest in the elucidation of new structures of the secondary metabolite constituents of plants has remained high among the natural products community over the first decade of the 21st century, particularly of species that are used in systems of traditional medicine or are utilized as botanical dietary supplements. In this review, progress made in the senior author's laboratory in research work on naturally occurring sweeteners and other taste-modifying substances and on potential anticancer agents from tropical plants will be described.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Ecosystem services
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy Thematic Issue

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np200391c

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kinghorn.4@osu.edu

Title

The pharmaceutical value of marine biodiversity for anti-cancer drug discovery

Reference

Ecological Economics
Volume 70, Issue 2, 15 December 2010, Pages 445-451

Author(s)

Patrick M. Erwin, Susanna López-Legenti and Peter W. Schuhmann

Study type

Peer Review Journal 

Abstract

Marine biodiversity is a resource of enormous importance to human societies that provides critical ecosystem services. Economic valuation of some services has been utilized to promote conservation initiatives by revealing a tangible and causative link between biodiversity declines and economic losses. Other ecosystem services have eluded valuation, including the value of the sea as a repository of novel pharmaceuticals. Here, we provide the first global estimate of the number, source and market value of undiscovered oncology drugs based on empirical data, industry statistics and conservative modelling assumptions. We report US$563 billion-5.69 trillion attributable to anti-cancer drugs of marine origin pending discovery, revealing a new and substantial at-risk ecosystem service value. Our model predicted 253,120-594,232 novel chemicals in marine organisms; 90.4–92.6% of these compounds remain undiscovered. A total of 55 to 214 new anti-cancer drugs were predicted to reach the market sourced primarily from animal phyla (Chordata, Mollusca, Porifera, and Byrozoa) and microbial phyla (Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria). While no single aspect of extractive marine resource value should be relied upon to account for the opportunity costs of conservation initiatives, the application of valuation models to ecosystem services further reveals the true, irreversible economic cost of habitat degradation and biodiversity declines.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Ecosystem services
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health
Marine ecosystems >> Biodiversity

Keywords

Resource valuation; Ecosystem service; Drug discovery; Cancer; Marine biodiversity; Marine natural products

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy Thematic Issue

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800910003897

Contact the study author at:

patrick@ceab.csic.es