Max Sutters

January 26, 2015

How does biodiversity affect human health?

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
Current Faculty Advisor: Marjorie Wonham
Proposed Faculty Mentor: Colin Bates
Question Instructor and Block: Jeff Warren,
January 2015
1

Nicolle Rager-Fuller, National Science Foundation. Biodiversity Loss: Detrimental to Your Health [Painting].
Retrieved January 27, 2015. http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=118114&org=NSF

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015

Question Statement:
The existence of life beyond casual observation has always fascinated me. My first look
at pond water in a microscope taught me that life will fill every space available, and that nothing
exists in stark contrast to the medium it inhabits. Darker portrayals of biodiversity from fiction
dovetailed with these almost serendipitous discoveries. Pathological thrillers like The Hot Zone
and The Andromeda Strain light the mind with the fear of microbiological invasion, but kindled
in me too a love for expressions of human fragility and our troubled relationship with nature.
These curiosities guide my question: how does biodiversity affect human health?
Biodiversity is a chimera of measures of the variability of life on different scales: genetic,
population/species, community/ecosystem, and landscape (Groom, Meffe et. al 2006). Methods
of quantifying ecosystem variability are ironically varied; so much so that diagrams detailing
diversity definitions resemble complex evolutionary trees. Most fall under three primary
categories: composition, structure, and function. Of the three, composition is concerned most
with understanding: "genetic constitutions of populations, the identity and relative abundance of
species in a natural community, and the kinds of habitats and communities distributed across the
landscape" (Groom, Meffe et. al 2006). In other words, variability of organisms and ecosystems
of which they are part. Structure defines physical features of regions; for example, tree cover,
altitude, and water depth. Function describes large-scale biodiversity-affecting processes like
climate, soil formation, water supply, and shelter. Arranging biodiversity indicators in a
hierarchy by scale allows conservationists to respond appropriately to very different threats to
biodiversity (Noss, R. F. 1990). The vagueness of many biodiversity definitions lends itself to
interpretation, but at the same time allows for a variety of angles of attack. The variability-

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
focused United Nations sources of biodiversity from the 1992 Convention on Biological
Diversity match my interest best:
"all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part [emphasis
added]: this includes diversity within species, between species and of
ecosystems." (CBD 1992).\
This definition expands its focus beyond simple quantitative measures of biodiversity to the
complicated interactions between multiple scales of ecosystems. Variability is often a better
indicator of an ecosystem's health than quantity of biomass. This cuts across the vein of the
unqualified assumption that more equals more, no matter how homogenous the population.
Threats to biodiversity are many and complex, and the blame is not easy to shoulder.
Humans are an essential component. Our role is indirect through processes like the magnification
of contaminants in the environment and climate change factors or direct causes like
overexploitation and habitat destruction (Groom, Meffe, Carroll, & Meffe, 2006). One of the
more famous examples of biomagnification is the heavy use of DDT to control pest populations
dating from the 50s. Birds continued to feed on insects laced with the poison, and the tendency
for DDT to concentrate in fat meant concentration and height in the food chain were directly
related. Eggshells weakened by several rounds of prey-to-predator concentration could not stand
the weight of eagle chicks, and cracked and spilt (Ehrlich, P., et. al 1988).
The variability of an ecosystem increases its resilience against external stressors: the
more species are present, the softer the impact if one is disrupted. Humans have a unique
capacity to disrupt. Even in bountiful fishing waters and farmlands, participants in the global
economy reduce quantity of natural resources enough so that biodiversity matters more to their
livelihoods than supply (Groom, Meffe, Carroll, & Meffe, 2006). Economics are not the only
sticky way to phrase the problem of biodiversity change. In phrasing our role in biodiversity loss

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
economically, we stand a risk of forgetting its effects on our own health, defined here as a state
of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity. (World Health Organization, 1948). Disease, parasitism, and the development of a
human micro biome are three essential paths between natural and human wellbeing, but not all
these are direct cause-and-effect relationships. Human health can be a direct result of
biodiversity (e.g. efficient crop rotation leading to increased longevity of nutrients in soil) or an
indirect inspiration from a sense of wellbeing gained from experiencing the outdoors (Louv,
2008, P.A. Sandifer et al. 2015). Should indirect expressions of the importance of biodiversity
fail to spur interest in conversation practices, an appeal to individual valuations of personal
biodiversity may bear fruit (Chepaitis, D. J., & Panagakis, A. K. (2010).
The scales at which I interpret my Question will shape its course over the next two years.
In asking how environmental biodiversity impacts our internal biodiversity I must deepen my
investigation into functional processes of this relationship. I aim to focus on human-inhabiting
microbes and vectors thereof, placing humans and their microbial baggage in their correct
positions relative to the hierarchies of different measures of biodiversity, fitting the three subcategories: composition, function, and structure. The cascading effects of related species'
biodiversity on the health of the environment are important factors to consider, but the main cut
of my interest is how the human body depends on non-human biomass, and how environmental
changes translate to changes in health. One very new development here is the idea of jettisoning
most cosmetic products and cultivating benign strains of bacteria instead (Scott, 2014). The trend
may not be very long-lived, but it marks an essential point in the shift of public opinion. The
effectiveness of these products among varied demographics and the uncertain effects inherent in
novel treatments will be important points of evaluation. There are still many questions regarding

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
the genetic and anthropological studies of gut bacteria and the health implications of its
biodiversity (Shoaie et. al 2013, Consortium, 2012). These open up space for many modes of
collaboration between fields of epidemiology, immunology, parasitology, biology, and ecology.
Some controversy exists in collaborative studies in epidemiology and parasitology regarding
parasitic and vector biodiversity and its effects on disease. Some researchers argue that
biodiversity generally has little effect on disease transmission, but also state the tendency for
infectious disease risk to increase when biodiversity does have an effect (Wood, C. L. et. al
2014).
The bulk of my concentration courses will work to answer smaller questions regarding
disease, symbiosis, and parasitism: subjects that could take me nearly anywhere. Because
biology spans across many biomes, it could be useful to focus on marine biology: one avenue of
communication between biodiversity and human health.
Some conservation campaigns I've seen work to restore the human connection to nature
through gimmicks like cute mascots (e.g. Smoky the Bear) or through higher-minded
descriptions of animal nobility. Others appeal to human valuations of a species' superficial traits,
its economic worth, or blur the lines between its habitat and the audience's home (Chepaitis, D.
J., & Panagakis, A. K. (2010). An alternate biodiversity-preserving tactic might be an emphasis
of the continuum of life from outside the body to within: a central part of the question "how does
biodiversity affect human health?" By exploring this question over the next two years I hope to
understand the ramifications for both the public's and my own involvement in preserving
biodiversity. I look forward to joining the conversation and contributing what I can to human
relations with nature.

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015

Foundation Review:
Completed
Cornerstone

Completed
Fate and Virtue

Completed
Spherical
Trigonometry

Completed

Rhetoric

The Atomic
Theory

Global
Perspectives

Genes to
Proteins
Identity and
Perspective
Political
Economy

Reason and
Freedom
Calculus 1 (Spirit
of Calculus)
Biodiversity of
BC

Question

Concentration:
Public Health
Policy
Math Problem
Solving
French 1
In Progress

What is Life?

Democracy and
Justice

Water Supply and French 2

Water Quality

Remaining
Earth, Oceans,
and Space February 2015

Question

Concentration Plan: Note: assuming only one year and a half remaining, refer
to explanations for two-year plan
Personal Focus
Coastal Field Ecology,
September 2015
Human Response to Climate,
October 2015
Antarctica / Cons of
Migratory Species,
November 2015
Immunology, December
2015
Scientific Inquiry, January
2016
Health, Environment, Risk,
February 2016
Urban form, life, March 2016

Personal Focus
Songwriting 2, April 2016
Field Sampling & Analytical
Chem, September 2016

Potential Electives
Antarctica, November 2015
Songwriting 2, April 2016
Plant Ecology, November
2016

Other
Independent Study / EL,
January 2016
EL: Summer 2016 with
Department of Natural
Resources Washington
Keystone Work: October 2016

Keystone: December 2016

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015

Course Rationales: (Note: bolded courses are preferred).

2015:
Sept: Coastal Field Ecology - The flexibility of hypotheses to which we'll devote a week of
field work means I will be able to gain valuable hands-on experience towards my keystone
project. For this class I am specifically interested in parasites in the context of marine biology.
Oct: Astrobiology / Human Response to Climate - Because no course descriptions are
available I need to speak with these Annie and Ian to determine the best choice. Astrobiology
and extraterrestrial biodiversity will be important disciplines if we discover planets with life, let
alone complex ecosystems that may interact with humans in unpredictable ways. If Ian's class is
what I expect it will be an opportunity to understand how cultural and economical differences
define human interactions with nature and its deterioration.
Nov: Cons of Migratory Species / Antarctica - One point of interest for me is the transmission
of diseases through migratory species and how biodiversity affects it. Mai's class is very relevant
here. Colin's Antarctica trip represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that does not explicitly
relate to my question. I would most likely take it as an elective.
Dec: Immunology - The study of disease is a central part of the effects of biodiversity on
humans.

2016:
Jan: Scientific Inquiry / Ind. - Part of my question pertains to what people know about
biodiversity and how that knowledge or lack thereof affects their behavior. If I do not take
scientific inquiry I will speak with Neal Melvin or the new microbiology tutor to design a labbased independent study on how diseases thrive or fail to thrive in different environments.

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
Feb: Health, Env, Risk - Perceived risk plays an important role in how humans interact with
their environments. How this risk is communicated to people in intimate contact with disease
vectors determines how quickly an outbreak turns into an epidemic. I will be able to understand
more qualitative aspects of my question through this course.
Mar: Urban form, life - Melanie B / Marine Zoology - Marjorie / Chem 2 - Bob - Again, no
course description exists for Melanie's class, but the interactions between urban and natural
environments are increasingly important as natural habitats decrease in area and vector species
are forced into close contact with humans.
Apr: Songwriting 2 / Biodiversity of Algae / KEYSTONE - I am very interested in music, and
songwriting is a skill I have only recently picked up. If Jeff Warren is willing to take me on
without having taken Songwriting 1 this will be another of my chosen electives.
----------------------------------------JUNE, JULY, AUGUST: -------------------------------------------Sept: Field Sampling & Analytical Chem / Statistics 1 - The skills learned from Rich's class
will be essential in understanding how physical features of ecosystems affect the ease of disease
transmission.
Oct: Leave for work on Keystone, TBD
Nov: Plant Ecology - I may take plant ecology as an elective as I am more interested in fauna
than flora.
Dec: Songwriting - Jeff / Anat & Phys A - Meaghan / Cell & Mo Bio -Neal / Org Chem 2 - Bob
/ KEYSTONE - I took Genes to Proteins with Neal Melvin as my first course out of Rhetoric,
but I will need to prove again my ability to work in a lab before he will consider working with
me on an independent study. I may not be able to continue past a year and a half, in which
case I will take Keystone instead.

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015

Other courses past 2016:

2017:
Jan: Infectious Diseases / Drugs, Vitamins, Antibiotics - Mark V - The combined expertise of
Annie and Negar will be invaluable in my study of epidemiology, pathology, and immunology.
Feb: Dev Biology - Annie / Biodiv of Algae OR Honey Bee - Colin / Health Behavior & Prom Negar - The course description is again missing, but Annie's class should be a fascinating look
into how peaks of transmissibility fit into the developmental cycle of various organisms.
Mar: Leave to work on Keystone or second experiential learning opportunity TBD.
Apr: KEYSTONE

Touchstone Readings
1. Spillover (Quammen, 2012). - Like the authors of the Hot Zone and the Andromeda Strain,
Quammen writes like a harbinger of human mortality through disease. His writing is less
sensational than the Hot Zone, but still very readable.
2. The Story of the Human Body (Lieberman, 2014). - This book provides a longitudinal view of
human development and has some insights on how development has changed the
relationships between our bodies and our environments, including the role of antibiotics in an
increasingly impoverished gut microbiome.
3.

Environmental Values (ONeill, J. et. al. 2007). - This text addresses the policy side of my
question, understanding what reasons we have to preserve the environment and how these
reasons influence action.

4. Infectious Disease Epidemiology (Nelson, K. E., & Williams, C. 2013). - A general textbook
on epidemiology will be essential in developing a more focused picture of definitions and
specialized knowledge used in the field.

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
5. Oceans and human health: risks and remedies from the seas (Walsh, P. J. (ED) 2008). Since the ocean will be a primary focus of my study of biodiversity, a text outlining
communicable diseases and treatments gleaned from the water is very useful.

Experiential Learning Plan:

I recently began corresponding with the Department of Natural Resources in Washington
through the Aquatic Reserves Program Manager. They expressed an interest in maintaining
contact, and pointed me to current agenda items in the field of marine biology and conservation.
This may lead to me shadowing one a researcher working on a sediment toxicology project. This
experience would give me a window into federal conservation measures and grant me a more
thorough understanding on how man-made toxins affect biodiversity. I will have many
opportunities to talk to people with similar interests and may generate opportunities for Keystone
projects later down the line.
At present there are no openings in the Department of Natural Resources, but I will
express my interest in internships and volunteer positions in the future. Working with a
government agency will put me outside my comfort zone but at the same time exercise my
interpersonal skills and general knowledge of ecosystem functions. One pressing topic of the
recent Salish Sea Conference was the role of citizens in furthering scientific research.
Researchers are often torn between very general and very specific hypotheses when a smooth
gradient of focus would accomplish more. I asked Mrs. Davenport about amateur involvement in
research projects and may be able to participate in general field work.

Another option grants the opportunity for more personal development but is more
tangentially related to my question. Last summer I worked with the Lifelong AIDS Alliance in

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
Seattle as a volunteer completing basic secretarial tasks. Continuing to volunteer will strengthen
my connection to the significance of the clause "on human health," and extend the continuum of
my understanding to life after and with infection. Journals and syntheses to this effect would
measure my progress, and I would have a month's opportunity to complete touchstone readings
as well.

Keystone Project Ideas:

The relationship between humans and body-populating microbes could be fruitful material for a
keystone project looking into daily routines of body maintenance and understanding how
stewarding the environment and stewarding the body are closely intertwined. This would most
likely take the form of a campus-wide survey on bacteria counts from swabs of fertile areas like
the armpits, hands, and phones.

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
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Chepaitis, D. J., & Panagakis, A. K. (2010). Individualism Submerged: Climate Change and the Perils
of an Engineered Environment. UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, 28(2).
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Consortium, T. H. M. P. (2012a). A framework for human microbiome research. Nature, 486(7402),
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from

Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
Lieberman, D. (2014). The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease (Reprint
edition.). Vintage.
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Max Sutters
January 26, 2015
Sandifer, P. A., Sutton-Grier, A. E., & Ward, B. P. (2015). Exploring connections among nature,
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Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health
Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61
States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force
on 7 April 1948.