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Communication Leveraging Small Biodiversity Reserves to Prevent Zoonotic Disease: Insights from Dilution Effect and Pathogen Adaptation Theories Audrey Arnal 1,2,3, Rodolphe Elie Gozlan 4, Nathalie Charbonnel 5, Marie Bouilloud 1,5, Andrea Chaves 6,7, Manon Lounnas 1,2, Michel Gauthier-Clerc 8, Ana L. Vigueras-Galván 2,3, Céline Arnathau 1,2, David Roiz 1,2, Ana I. Bento 9, Serge Morand 10,11,12, Chris Walzer 13,14, Gerardo Suzán 2,15, Rosa Elena Sarmiento Silva 2,3,*,† and Benjamin Roche 1,2,3,† 1 MIVEGEC, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 34394 Montpellier, France 2 International Joint Laboratory IRD/UNAM ELDORADO, Merida 97000, Mexico 3 Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico 4 ISEM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34090 Montpellier, France 5 CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, 34398 Montpellier, France 6 Centro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot), CeNAT, Conare, San José 1174-1200, Costa Rica 7 Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-206, Costa Rica 8&nbspFaculté des Sciences, Université de Genève, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneve, Switzerland 9 Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA 10 IRL Health DEEP, CNRS, Kasetsart University, Mahidol University Bangkok 10900, Thailand 11 Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand 12 Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand 13 Wildlife Conservation Society Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA 14 Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria 15 Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México 04360, Mexico * Correspondence: rosass@unam.mx; Tel.: +52-554-449-7749 † Co-last authors. Received: 22 February 2025; Revised: 12 March 2025; Accepted: 12 March 2025; Published: 2 April 2025 Abstract: In today’s landscape of zoonotic pathogen outbreaks, the dilution effect theory, i.e., the theory that greater biodiversity can help curb pathogen transmission among wildlife, has gained significant attention. However, the positive link between animal diversity and pathogen richness urges us to apply this concept with caution. It is crucial to explore how conservation biology can safeguard human health by preventing the emergence of zoonotic diseases. By investigating the implications of conservation strategies on animal communities and pathogen transmission as well as the adaptive capabilities of pathogens, we propose that biodiversity conservation based on small reserves can effectively reduce pathogen spread in wildlife, provided certain measurable conditions are met. Given the urgent need to tackle both zoonoses disease emergence and biodiversity loss, these interventions should be prioritized and implemented without delay.

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