Lecture on Disease and Climate Change

Focus on disease as a driver of biodiversity decline related to climate change, highlighting the intricate relationship between health and environmental changes.
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs):
- Defined by geographic range expansion, host shifts, increased impact, or new pathogens.
- Humans have facilitated EIDs in wildlife, with 75% of human EIDs originating from wildlife, stressing the importance of conservation efforts.

Examples include COVID-19, Ebola, HIV, and more, underlining the impact of zoonotic diseases on public health.
Discussion of bats as vectors of zoonotic diseases; diversity in host species affects disease transmission, presenting challenges in disease management.
A study showed higher zoonotic disease prevalence in rodent and bat species due to their diversity, calling attention to the need for monitoring these populations.

This fungal disease impacts amphibians, particularly frogs, emphasizing the vulnerability of these species.
Caused by Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which has devastating effects on amphibian populations worldwide.
About 30% of global amphibians are threatened due to this disease, illustrating the urgency of addressing amphibian declines.
It causes population declines linked to the extinction of several frog species, which has broader ecological impacts.
Three species driven to extinction include:
- Panamanian golden frog, a species admired for its unique coloration.
- Sharp-snouted day frog, once common in its habitat.
- Australian gastric brooding frog, notable for its unique reproductive methods.

Chytrid fungus can swim and is host generalist, complicating eradication efforts, making it a persistent threat.
It disrupts amphibian electrolyte balance, leading to mortality and population crashes.
Human actions have contributed to its spread, primarily through global trade in amphibians, which highlights the need for regulation.

Affects bat populations, causing significant declines (over 6 million bats killed), which affect ecosystems and the environment.
Caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which poses a threat to biodiversity.
Bats wake more frequently during hibernation due to the infection, leading to energy depletion and starvation, which can disrupt local ecosystems.
Spread likely due to human activity, particularly caving, indicating the need for public awareness and conservation measures.

Discussed warming trends and changes in weather variability; how these affect species distribution and ecosystems.
Biodiversity loss increases disease transmission due to host changes and ecological shifts, impacting human health and food security.
Case example: West Nile virus increased incidence with declining bird diversity, showcasing the link between biodiversity and disease dynamics.

Species may move, acclimate, adapt, or die as they respond to changes in their environment, reflecting resilience and vulnerability.
Observed examples include:
- Poleward shifts and elevation increases of many species, demonstrating the need for conservation planning.
- Phenological mismatches occur as species' life cycles do not synchronize with environmental changes, causing ecological imbalances.
- Increasing species extinction risk primarily linked to climate-driven changes in habitat and ecosystem function, which necessitates urgent action.

Coral bleaching is a significant impact of rising temperatures; efforts to mitigate this are being researched through innovative techniques.
Coral reefs are vital ecosystems, with predictions that up to 90% could disappear with exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming, emphasizing the importance of climate action.
Researching solutions like sea salt aerosol to help shade reefs from heat and protect them from bleaching, representing one avenue of intervention.

Moving forward to discuss methods to support small populations and ecosystems recovery recent extinction trends and challenges associated with global change, with an emphasis on practical applications and proactive strategies.