Missing carcasses, lost nutrients: Quantifying nutrient losses from deer culling practices in Scotland DOI Creative Commons
Kristy M. Ferraro, C. Hirst

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Deer management has become an integral part of ecosystem recovery efforts across the globe. Within Scotland, annual deer culls have been implemented to control browsing, with carcasses most often removed from landscape. Given that animal bodies concentrate large quantities nutrients, this practice may deplete ecosystems vital nutrients. We quantified nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium losses removal culled using nationwide statutory cull reports for four species in Scotland between 2010 2021. estimate carcass over period averaged 195,652 kg 152,834 phosphorus 251,188 Scotland. While both red roe were at a much higher rate than other two accounted approximately 70% nutrients lost. Further, while all three landscape, particularly high. then calculated nutrient within land classifications used reporting—agricultural areas, open range woodlands—across Scotland's Count Areas. Using data literature, we considered these context major environmental inputs outputs each classification. Our results demonstrate lost more compared classifications, culling resulted high rates loss throughout when inputs. Practical implication . findings suggest current practices are gradually stripping Scottish potentially undermining habitat goals. study offers preliminary, coarse scale summary issue, way forward requires further local effects on pools balancing function through interwoven strategies.

Language: Английский

Widespread ecological novelty across the terrestrial biosphere DOI
Matthew R. Kerr, Alejandro Ordóñez, Felix Riede

et al.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 14, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Integrating Network and Meta‐Ecosystem Models for Developing a Zoogeochemical Theory DOI
Shawn Leroux, Oswald J. Schmitz

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Human activities have caused significant changes in animal abundance, interactions, movement and diversity at multiple scales. Growing empirical evidence reveals the myriad ways that these can alter control animals exert over biogeochemical cycling. Yet a theoretical framework to coherently integrate predict when how controls cycling (i.e., zoogeochemistry) change is currently lacking. We present such general provides guidance on linking mathematical models of species interaction (network theory) organisms non‐living materials (meta‐ecosystem account for biotic abiotic feedback by which illustrate apply develop predictive specific ecosystem contexts using case study primary producer–herbivore bipartite trait network boreal forest ecosystem. further discuss key priorities enhancing model development, data–model integration application. The offers an important step enhance research better inform justify broader conservation efforts aimed conserving restoring populations, their critical functional roles support services nature‐based climate solutions.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Red deer in confined nature areas have smaller ranges and move less than red deer in unconfined areas DOI Creative Commons

Laura Bonnefond,

Martin Mayer, Rasmus Mohr Mortensen

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 969, P. 179008 - 179008

Published: March 1, 2025

Fenced areas are commonly used for conservation purposes or to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. However, their use is controversial since they create barriers blocking the movements of terrestrial species, thereby potentially impeding biological needs and ecological functions. Using >440,000 GPS positions 37 female red deer (Cervus elaphus) from 3 fenced unfenced populations in Denmark, we calculated daily monthly range areas, hourly step length, turning angles activity (accelerometer data) quantify impact fencing on space movement at different spatiotemporal scales. additive mixed-effects models, investigated how behavior varied according presence absence fencing, while accounting seasonal variation, supplementary feeding, age class, forest cover, population density. Despite all by far exceeding sizes hinds, hinds had >4-fold larger moved twice as large distances per day hour than with stronger variation compared areas. similar average levels. Our findings show that confined resulted reduced mobility without affecting total, diel patterns strongly. This points necessity an increased understanding confinement effects animal behavior, which especially important light planned rewilding projects based wildlife across globe.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
From here to there: free-ranging large herbivores redistribute nutrients from grassland to forest soil DOI Creative Commons
Friederike Riesch, J. Isselstein, Niko Balkenhol

et al.

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(5)

Published: May 5, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Missing carcasses, lost nutrients: Quantifying nutrient losses from deer culling practices in Scotland DOI Creative Commons
Kristy M. Ferraro, C. Hirst

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Deer management has become an integral part of ecosystem recovery efforts across the globe. Within Scotland, annual deer culls have been implemented to control browsing, with carcasses most often removed from landscape. Given that animal bodies concentrate large quantities nutrients, this practice may deplete ecosystems vital nutrients. We quantified nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium losses removal culled using nationwide statutory cull reports for four species in Scotland between 2010 2021. estimate carcass over period averaged 195,652 kg 152,834 phosphorus 251,188 Scotland. While both red roe were at a much higher rate than other two accounted approximately 70% nutrients lost. Further, while all three landscape, particularly high. then calculated nutrient within land classifications used reporting—agricultural areas, open range woodlands—across Scotland's Count Areas. Using data literature, we considered these context major environmental inputs outputs each classification. Our results demonstrate lost more compared classifications, culling resulted high rates loss throughout when inputs. Practical implication . findings suggest current practices are gradually stripping Scottish potentially undermining habitat goals. study offers preliminary, coarse scale summary issue, way forward requires further local effects on pools balancing function through interwoven strategies.

Language: Английский

Citations

2