Impacts of large herbivores on terrestrial ecosystems

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(11), P. R584 - R610

Published: June 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Trophic rewilding as a restoration approach under emerging novel biosphere conditions

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(9), P. R435 - R451

Published: May 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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FSC-certified forest management benefits large mammals compared to non-FSC

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 628(8008), P. 563 - 568

Published: April 10, 2024

More than a quarter of the world's tropical forests are exploited for timber

Language: Английский

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Meta-analysis reveals that vertebrates enhance plant litter decomposition at the global scale

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(3), P. 411 - 422

Published: Jan. 9, 2024

Language: Английский

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Rewiring the Carbon Cycle: A Theoretical Framework for Animal‐Driven Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration

Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 129(4)

Published: March 31, 2024

Abstract Most carbon cycle models do not consider animal‐mediated effects, focusing instead on exchanges among plants, microbes, and the atmosphere. Yet, a growing body of empirical evidence from diverse ecosystems points to pervasive animal effects ecosystem cycling shows that ignoring them could lead misrepresentation an ecosystem's cycle. We develop new theoretical framework account for cycling. combine classic compartment modeling approach with model flux storage plant, animal, soil microbial trophic compartments. show, by way numerical analyses steady state conditions across three competing scenarios, presence alters dominant pathways control over capture. This altered arises via direct, consumptive especially indirect, non‐consumptive instigating faster nutrient recycling. leads quantitative change in balance, enhancing amount captured stored ecosystem. Further, indirect appear important enabling these because their sensitivity structure food chain. The animals play larger role than previously thought. Our provides further guidance research aimed at quantifying inform development nature‐based climate solutions leverage influence help mitigate change.

Language: Английский

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Financing conservation by valuing carbon services produced by wild animals

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(22)

Published: May 25, 2022

Filling the global biodiversity financing gap will require significant investments from financial markets, which demand credible valuations of ecosystem services and natural capital. However, current valuation approaches discourage investment in conservation because their results cannot be verified using market-determined prices. Here, we bridge between finance by valuing only wild animals’ carbon for market prices exist. By projecting future path service production a spatially explicit demographic model, place value on capture produced African forest elephants. If elephants were protected, would worth $20.8 billion ($10.3 to $29.7 billion) $25.9 ($12.8 $37.6 next 10 30 y, respectively, could antipoaching programs. Elephant population growth generate sink 109 MtC (64 153) across tropical Africa y. Avoided elephant extinction also prevent loss 93 (46 130), is contribution remaining populations. Uncertainties our projections are controlled mainly regeneration rates poaching intensity, indicate that can actively reduce uncertainty increased benefits. Our methodology lower bounds social cost nature degradation. Poaching result $2 $7 lost within suggesting benefits protecting far outweigh costs. enables integration animal into markets with major implications conservation, local socioeconomies, conservation.

Language: Английский

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Protecting an artificial savanna as a nature‐based solution to restore carbon and biodiversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract A large share of the global forest restoration potential is situated in artificial ‘unstable’ mesic African savannas, which could be restored to higher carbon and biodiversity states if protected from human‐induced burning. However, uncertainty on recovery rates unstable savannas impedes science‐informed initiatives. Here, we quantify success anthropogenic fire exclusion within an 88‐ha savanna patch Kongo Central province Democratic Republic Congo (DR Congo). We found that aboveground after 17 years was average 11.40 ± 0.85 Mg C ha −1 . Using a statistical model, stocks take 112 3 recover 90% old‐growth forests. Assuming this trajectory would representative for all estimate they have total uptake 12.13 2.25 Gt by 2100 across DR Congo, Angola. Species richness recovered 33.17% years, predicted at 54 2 years. In contrast, species composition only 124 conclude relatively simple cost‐efficient measure effective nature‐based solution climate change loss. more long‐term situ monitoring efforts are needed variation diversity pathways. Particular uncertainties spatial variability socio‐economics growing conditions as well effects projected change.

Language: Английский

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Release of tree species diversity follows loss of elephants .from evergreen tropical forests

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2044)

Published: April 1, 2025

We report on a decade of research elephant impacts in equatorial evergreen forests Gabon and Malaysia, comparing sites with (+) without (−) elephants documenting major differences forest structure, tree species composition diversity. In both regions, we compared supporting natural densities otherwise undisturbed from which had been absent for several decades. Elephant supported low seedlings saplings relative to sites. Lope National Park, Gabon, 88% small trees (<20 cm dbh) were avoided by elephants, implicating as powerful filters recruitment. Asian showed strong preferences monocots over dicots, found through indirect direct means. Loss African releases diversity top-down pressure, preferred forage increase abundance, leading increased density stems contrast, loss other functional groups animals, including top carnivores, seed predators dispersers, often results negative

Language: Английский

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Patterns and Drivers of Phylogenetic Beta Diversity in the Forests and Savannas of Africa

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 7, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Studying beta diversity, or the variation in species composition among communities, can give insights into plant community assembly over space and time. If different biomes show contrasting large‐scale beta‐diversity patterns, this indicate divergent evolutionary histories ecological processes that then drive turnover communities. Here, we examine phylogenetic patterns across Africa forest savanna assemblages, two most widespread tropical on continent. We hypothesise savannas will lower diversity due to their younger history. Location Tropical Africa. Taxon Woody angiosperms. Methods gathered 301,159 occurrences of woody angiosperms representing 1883 1302 species. compared levels between analysed spatial using 1° grid cells modelled relationship with climate, disturbance geographical distance. Results found greater relative regional whereas assemblages local diversity. The distribution showed strong East–West for both forests savannas, aligned a major floristic discontinuity associated Albertine rift. Our results also highlighted West as showing high amount compositional change biomes, arranged along an aridity gradient. Variance partitioning predictors linked precipitation were main drivers but importance individual was each biome. Main Conclusions Contrary our expectations, may have deeper richer history than suggested by previous studies regions conservation value. Finally, demonstrate environmental filtering is dominant force influencing these important at continental scale.

Language: Английский

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Asian elephants as ecological filters in Sundaic forests

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: June 27, 2023

Megaherbivores exert strong top-down influence on the ecosystems they inhabit, yet little is known about foraging impacts of Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) structure Southeast Asia’s rainforests. Our goal was to document elephants’ dietary composition, selectivity, and in a Sundaic rainforest test whether these differed between habitats. We conducted controlled direct observations five wild-born captive feeding six plant types (bamboo, grass, monocot herbs, palms, lianas, trees) different age 2 two habitats (mature vs. early successional forest) Krau, Peninsular Malaysia. Palms, trees, lianas formed bulk diet. In mature forest, showed preference for monocots (preference ratio, PR = 5.1), particularly large palms (PR 5.4), while trees were negatively selected 0.14). Conversely, habitats, tree saplings positively 1.6). Elephants uprooted (30%) broke main stem dicot mainly saplings, that handled. Tree broken by had an average diameter 1.7 ± 1.1 cm (up 7 cm), with breaks happening at 0.5 m height. estimated that, year, elephant could damage (i.e., either uproot or break) around 39,000 if it fed entirely almost double number (73,000) solely Assuming density 0.05–0.18 elephants/km , 0.2–0.6% sapling population per year. Slow growth rates understory plants forests result negative feedbacks, whereby suppress other monocots, highly preferred species. Alternatively, may initiate positive feedbacks impeding succession along forest edges semi-open environments, thereby increasing size gaps availability their foodplants. Overall, our results show act as ecological filters suppressing prefer

Language: Английский

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