【英语时差8,16】生物多样性：很高兴为您的健康！

We hear a lot about the importance of biodiversity these days--but just what is biodiversity and why is it so important? Put simply, biodiversity is the number of different species of organisms that live in a particular area. The health and survival of any habitat or ecosystem¹ depends on a complex web of interactions between the many different plants, animals, fungi², and microbes that live there. This intricate web of interactions is vital to the maintenance of our soil, air, and water quality. There are many other benefits of protecting areas with high biodiversity. For example, of the top 150 prescription³ drugs in the US, 118 were derived⁴ from natural sources like plants from areas of rich biodiversity. One of the newest discovered benefits of biodiversity is in the control of zoonotic diseases, or diseases that can transfer to humans from infected animals. Well known examples of zoonotic diseases are Avian Flu, West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease. Research suggests there may be a link between the diversity of host animals in an area and the likelihood that the diseases will transfer to humans. In one study, scientists looked at areas in the US with different levels of bird diversity to see if this affected⁵ how likely humans were to be infected with West Nile Virus. Even after considering variables such as total bird and human population density⁶, they found that areas with the most diverse bird populations also had the lowest number of human infections. The more we learn about biodiversity, the more we understand that what's good for an area's nature and wildlife is also good for the people living there!

1 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

2 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

3 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

4 derived   

vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。