Biodiversity Change and Human Health brings together leading experts from the natural science and social science realms as well as the medical community to explore the explicit linkages between human-driven alterations of biodiversity and documented impacts of those changes on human health. The book utilizes multidisciplinary approaches to explore and address the complex interplay between natural biodiversity and human health and well-being. The five parts examine
health trade-offs between competing uses of biodiversity (highlighting synergistic situations in which conservation of natural biodiversity actually promotes human health and well-being); relationships between biodiversity and quality of life that have developed over ecological and evolutionary time; the effects of changing biodiversity on provisioning of ecosystem services, and how they have affected human health; the role of biodiversity in the spread of infectious disease; native biodiversity as a resource for traditional and modern medicine
Biodiversity Change and Human Health synthesizes our current understanding and identifies major gaps in knowledge as it places all aspects of biodiversity and health interactions within a common framework. Contributors explore potential points of crossover among disciplines (both in ways of thinking and of specific methodologies) that could ultimately expand opportunities for humans to both live sustainably and enjoy a desirable quality of life.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Changes In Biodiversity And Their Consequences For Human Health -Previous Efforts -The Purpose Of This Book -Four Ways In Which Biodiversity Affects Human Health -The Structure Of This Book -Tools For Developing Management Policies For Biodiversity -References
PART I. Biodiversity And Human Health Chapter 2. Biodiversity, Food Provision, And Human Health Chapter 3. The Impact Of Anthropogenic Stress At Global And Regional Scales On Biodiversity And Human Health Chapter 4. Biodiversity And Human Health: The Decision-making Process Chapter 5. Sustainable Allocation Of Biodiversity To Improve Human Health And Well-being
PART II. Biodiversity And Quality Of Life Chapter 6. Biodiversity, Quality Of Life, And Evolutionary Psychology Chapter 7. Quality Of Life, Biodiversity, And Health: Observations And Applications
PART III. Decay Of Ecosystem Services Following Biodiversity Change, And Consequent Impacts On Human Health Chapter 8. Consequences Of Aquatic Biodiversity For Water Quality And Health Chapter 9. The Global Nitrogen Cycle, Biodiversity, And Human Health Chapter 10. Links Between Microbial Diversity, Stressors, And Detoxification Capacity
PART IV. Biodiversity Change And The Spread Of Infectious Diseases Chapter 11. Microbial Communities: Patterns And Processes Chapter 12. Biodiversity And Health: The Place Of Parasitic And Infectious Diseases Chapter 13. Biodiversity And Disease Chapter 14. Climate Change, Wildlife, And Human Health
PART V. Biodiversity As A Resource For Medicine Chapter 15. Biodiversity And The Search For New Medicines Chapter 16. Human Health, Biodiversity, And Ecosystem Services: The Intertwined Challenging Future
List Of Contributors Scope Series List Scope Executive Committee 2005-2008 Index
