Biodiversity Loss May Help Viruses Become More Resilient and Abundant, Study Finds! | Weather.com

Sustainable Development Goals and the Impact on Mosquito Species Diversity

Impact of Clearing Tropical Forests on Mosquito Species Diversity

Researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) have recently demonstrated how clearing tropical forests harms mosquito species diversity.

And as more resilient mosquito species survive this onslaught, the select few viruses carried by these vectors become more abundant. This creates an ecosystem where only a handful of hardy viruses thrive and emerge from the anthropogenic competition, ready to unleash terror.

Research Methodology

To validate these findings, the research team first caught mosquitoes around Taï National Park in the West African country of Côte d’Ivoire, where one can easily collect samples from pristine rainforests, secondary cacao and coffee plantations and human village settlements to study mosquito diversity, and by association viral prevalence in each landscape.

Their mission was threefold: capture mosquitoes, identify their species, and test them for viral infections. And it’s safe to say they made some startling finds!

For starters, they found that lush rainforests host countless virus species due to the rich tapestry of animal species, each virus closely linked to their hosts. But as the ecosystem’s host populations transform, so do the viruses.

Of the 49 distinct virus species identified in untouched habitats, nine thrived in habitats altered by human activity, with five virus species most prevalent in human settlements.

Link Between Viruses and Mosquito Species Diversity

This revelation paints a clear picture of how viruses are tied to their vectors, showing for the first time how the spread of the viruses is linked to the

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
   • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
   • Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations.
   • Indicator 3.3.2: Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population.
   • Indicator 3.3.3: Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk.

Analysis

The article addresses two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their respective targets:

SDG 15: Life on Land

The article highlights the impact of clearing tropical forests on mosquito species diversity. This is relevant to SDG 15, which aims to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Specifically, it relates to Target 15.1, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of forests. The article mentions how the clearing of tropical rainforests causes a decrease in the diversity of mosquito species, highlighting the importance of preserving forest ecosystems.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article also discusses the implications of changes in species diversity on viral infections. While the viruses mentioned in the article do not pose a direct threat to humans, the findings offer insights into how changes in species diversity can influence viral infections. This is relevant to SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. Specifically, it relates to Target 3.3, which focuses on ending epidemics and combating communicable diseases. The article provides information on the prevalence of different virus species in different habitats, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between biodiversity and disease transmission.

The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area

The article discusses the impact of clearing tropical rainforests on mosquito species diversity. This indicator can be used to measure the extent of forest area loss due to human activity and its impact on biodiversity.

Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations

While the article focuses on viruses that solely infect mosquitoes and do not pose a direct threat to humans, this indicator can be used to measure progress in reducing HIV infections, which is one of the epidemics targeted by SDG 3.

Indicator 3.3.2: Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population

This indicator can be used to measure progress in reducing tuberculosis incidence, which is another epidemic targeted by SDG 3. Although the article does not specifically mention tuberculosis, it highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between species diversity and disease transmission.

Indicator 3.3.3: Malaria incidence per 1,000 population at risk

This indicator can be used to measure progress in reducing malaria incidence, which is another epidemic targeted by SDG 3. The article discusses the prevalence of different virus species in different habitats, including those associated with human settlements.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: weather.com

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