Page - 464 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

464 well-being. In order to further this transdisciplinary field of biodiversity and health as an effective instrument for climate change adaptation, we identify key research challenges to integration: 1. Investigating biodiversity-health linkages in a changing climate: Future research should consider the potential positive and negative effects of biodiver- sity on human health and well-being in a changing climate. How biodiversity can help to adapt to climate pressures, e.g. through greenspace planning in urban areas or restoration of climate resilient wetlands, but also how vector- borne diseases and allergenic plants may shift in distribution with climate change, in order to identify appropriate management measures to foster positive and reduce negative health impacts. 2. Broadening research to assess the effects of biodiversity on physical, mental, spiritual and social health and well-being: Whilst there is considerable evi- dence of the physical health effects of biodiversity through shelter, food and medicines, there is, to date, limited evidence of the influence that biodiver- sity has on mental, spiritual and social well-being. This is especially rele- vant given that these latter health effects drove forward early conservation policy and link to intrinsic values of nature. Research should identify the influence of biodiversity on these under-investigated health and well-being outcomes. 3. Further developing theory for biodiversity-health effects: Evaluations of the impact of biodiversity on human health, or the effectiveness of nature-based interventions, require a solid theoretical basis to guide selection of health and well-being outcomes and identify causal mediators. Tending to such conceptual considerations is a necessary component for further research and integration across disciplines and sectors. 4. Identifying mechanisms: Different models have been developed to understand the various mediating pathways through which green spaces influence human health and well-being. Future research should investigate the specific mecha- nistic pathways through which biodiversity benefits health and well-being, for example ecosystem services, psychological restoration and perceived biodi- versity. These mechanisms should be assessed through synthesis and meta- analysis of the existing literature in addition to well-designed empirical research. 5. Identifying moderators: Health effects may not be equally distributed in society and certain groups of people may experience greater health benefits from expo- sure to, or use of, green space and biodiverse environments. The impact of biodiversity on the health and well-being of specific socio-demographic (e.g. age and gender) and socio-economic (e.g. most disadvantaged) groups needs further scientific attention. 6. Considering ‘dose-response’ relationships: At present, there is a lack of knowl- edge on the quality and intensity of biodiversity that is required for an effect M. R. Marselle et al.