Assembly, Persistence, and Disassembly Dynamics of Quaternary Caribbean Frugivore Communities DOI
Melissa E. Kemp

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 204(4), P. 400 - 415

Published: June 28, 2024

AbstractHow communities assemble and restructure is of critical importance to ecological theory, evolutionary conservation, but long-term perspectives on the patterns processes community assembly are rarely integrated into traditional ecology, utility as an concept has been repeatedly questioned in part because a lack temporal perspective. Through synthesis paleontological neontological data, I reconstruct Caribbean frugivore over Quaternary (2.58 million years ago present). Numerous lineages arise during periods coincident with global origins plant-frugivore mutualisms. The persistence many these indicative stability, analysis extinctions reveals nonrandom loss large-bodied mammalian reptilian frugivores. Anthropogenic impacts, including human niche construction, underlie recent reorganization communities, setting stage for continued declines responses plants that have lost mutualistic partners. These impacts also support ongoing future introductions invader complexes: introduced frugivores further exacerbate native biodiversity by interacting more strongly one another than or This work illustrates data conceptualizing which dynamic important entities.

Language: Английский

Rewilding in cold blood: Restoring functionality in degraded ecosystems using herbivorous reptiles DOI Creative Commons
Gavin Stark, Mauro Galetti

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50, P. e02834 - e02834

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Rewilding constitutes an ecological recovery approach that has been promoted to restore vanished functions by replacing recently extinct or extirpated species through the reintroduction of missing introduction their non-native functional analogues. In recent years we have witnessed many rewilding projects worldwide, with emphasis on re/introducing large-bodied mammals (megafauna) in order top-down trophic interactions and associated cascades promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems (i.e., rewilding). However, this large-sized conservation initiatives ignored importance other taxa, such as reptiles, which can equally serve potential candidates projects. There appears be a gap scientific literature regard effect different taxa play equal important roles ecosystem functionality restoration. Consequently, there is need for comprehensive systematic review subject. Here, highlight significance using focusing herbivorous species, purpose restoration; discuss how taxonomic bias led uneven goals certain vertebrate groups. Finally, outline consequences reptilian under global warming relate group may fare these initiatives.

Language: Английский

Citations

5

Reply to comments on “Rewilding a vanishing taxon – Restoring aquatic ecosystems using amphibians” DOI
Gavin Stark, Rachel Schwarz

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 110953 - 110953

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0

A Slow and Underappreciated Forest Megafauna: Food Habits, Movements, and Multiscale Habitat Preferences of Critically Endangered Sundaic Giant Tortoises (Manouria emys emys) DOI
Try Surya Harapan, Lisa Ong, Ade Prasetyo Agung

et al.

Integrative Zoology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 14, 2025

ABSTRACT Sundaic giant tortoises ( Manouria emys ) are the largest chelonians in Asia. Classified as critically endangered, they extremely rare throughout their range. The limited knowledge of behavior and ecology hampers effective conservation initiatives. We integrated GPS tracking, behavioral observations, local ecological knowledge, resource selection functions, spatial distribution modeling, landscape functional connectivity to assess key aspects food habits, movement patterns, habitat relationships at broad scale Sumatra, Indonesia. were predominantly diurnal (93% activities) had a mean home range 27.5 ha (±28.8 SD; N = 3 individuals, autocorrelated kernel density estimate). identified 40 plant species from 20 families, including ferns, monocots, dicots, consumed by tortoises. They fruits 30 these plants, swallowing seeds large those Durio Artocarpus (>2 × 4 cm), indicating potential seed dispersal over distances exceeding 1 km. Habitat preference analysis both island‐wide scales showed consistent for primary rainforests with steep slopes moderate altitudes, near rivers, mostly on western side island. 15 “priority areas,” that is, high suitability but lacking formal protection. Among these, only one, Gunung Talang, lacked other forest areas, prompting us propose wildlife corridor connecting it Kerinci Seblat National Park. In addition, we argue hold rewilding operations Sumatra parts range, emphasizing need targeted efforts.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

Rewilding a vanishing taxon – Restoring aquatic ecosystems using amphibians DOI Creative Commons
Gavin Stark, Rachel Schwarz

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 292, P. 110559 - 110559

Published: March 21, 2024

The increasing rate of biodiversity loss and the number threatened or endangered species worldwide has accelerated conservation recovery strategies, emphasising fish, birds, mammals. This focus mostly neglected amphibians, which are currently facing most existential crisis among all vertebrates, with declining populations across habitats. factors driving global amphibian declines diverse, often synergistic, predominantly anthropogenic. Amphibians urgently require rapid action, we cannot afford to wait while important critical elements required initiate effective efforts known. We recommend (re)introduction this "forgotten" taxon via guidelines trophic rewilding. Amphibian rewilding initiatives may provide early indications ecological health better contribute goals, by simultaneously protecting highly species, promoting stability in these ecosystems.

Language: Английский

Citations

2

Assembly, Persistence, and Disassembly Dynamics of Quaternary Caribbean Frugivore Communities DOI
Melissa E. Kemp

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 204(4), P. 400 - 415

Published: June 28, 2024

AbstractHow communities assemble and restructure is of critical importance to ecological theory, evolutionary conservation, but long-term perspectives on the patterns processes community assembly are rarely integrated into traditional ecology, utility as an concept has been repeatedly questioned in part because a lack temporal perspective. Through synthesis paleontological neontological data, I reconstruct Caribbean frugivore over Quaternary (2.58 million years ago present). Numerous lineages arise during periods coincident with global origins plant-frugivore mutualisms. The persistence many these indicative stability, analysis extinctions reveals nonrandom loss large-bodied mammalian reptilian frugivores. Anthropogenic impacts, including human niche construction, underlie recent reorganization communities, setting stage for continued declines responses plants that have lost mutualistic partners. These impacts also support ongoing future introductions invader complexes: introduced frugivores further exacerbate native biodiversity by interacting more strongly one another than or This work illustrates data conceptualizing which dynamic important entities.

Language: Английский

Citations

1