Biodiversity and Human Health Quiz

Biodiversity and Healthy Society

• Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life on Earth, encompassing species, ecosystems, and genetic variation.
• It offers crucial benefits like food, medicine, and ecosystem services (pollination, water filtration).
• Biodiversity supports ecosystem balance and resilience, which are essential for human life sustainability.
• Loss of biodiversity threatens human health and well-being, as a healthy global environment is fundamental for human survival.
• Protecting and sustainably using biodiversity can have significant health benefits for people.

Levels of Biodiversity

• Genetic diversity: Variation in DNA sequences within a population.
• Species diversity: Variety of species in a community.
• Ecosystem diversity: Variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes.

Genetic Diversity

• Refers to the variation in DNA sequences within organisms.
• Crucial for adaptability and resilience of populations.

Species Diversity

• Quantifies the number of species in an area.
• Reflects the biological diversity present in an ecological community.

Ecosystem Diversity

• Describes the variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes in an area.
• A community comprises coexisting species, influencing each other.
• An ecosystem involves living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components interacting within a geographic area, ranging in size.

Biodiversity Supports Food Security and Dietary Health

• Genetic diversity in food systems is essential for crop development and food security.
• Diverse diets promote health and prevent micronutrient deficiencies.
• Loss of agricultural biodiversity threatens health, livelihoods, and food security.

Biodiversity and Medicine

• Studying wildlife anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry aids in human medicine discoveries.
• Examples include bears studied for osteoporosis, sharks for osmoregulation, cetaceans for respiration, and horseshoe crabs for ophthalmology.
• Biodiversity supports both traditional and modern medicine sources for various communities.

Biodiversity and Infectious Disease Control

• Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem change increase infectious disease risk in animals, plants, and humans.
• Zoonotic outbreaks and pandemics are linked to human impact on biodiversity.
• Understanding disease ecology is crucial to prevent negative impacts of disease control programs.

Biodiversity and Social, Cultural, and Spiritual Well-being

• Connection with nature is essential for physical and mental well-being.
• Reduction of anti-social behaviors in children is linked to environmental awareness.
• Access to green spaces provides better health outcomes for patients in contrast to urban settings.

Threats to Biodiversity

• Habitat loss: Human modification eliminates habitats vital for many species.
• Overharvesting: Overexploitation of species for food or other resources reduces diversity.
• Invasive species: Introduction of non-native species disrupts native ecosystems.
• Climate change: Anthropogenic warming is a major risk, particularly combined with other threats.
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Potential risks include genetic contamination, competition with native species, and ecosystem impacts.

GMOs

• Genetically engineered organisms aim to modify natural processes without directly changing genes.
• Recombinant DNA technology allows for the transfer of specific traits between organisms creating GMOs.
• GMOs often offer benefits like enhanced yields, nutritional value, and resilience to environmental stresses.

Risks Related to GMOs

• Potential for genetic contamination and interbreeding between native and introduced species.
• Competition with existing species, potentially leading to invasiveness and disruptions in native populations.
• Ecological Impacts; possibility of single species changes affecting the greater ecosystem.
• Antibiotic resistance concerns linked to the use of antibiotic resistance genes in some GMOs.