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Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

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Diversity and depletions in continental carnivore guilds: implications for prioritizing global carnivore

F Dalerum¹, E Z Cameron, K Kunkel

¹Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, Republic of South Africa Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. fredrik.dalerum@zoology.up.ac.za

Biology Letters

|October 10, 2008

Summary

Large carnivore conservation needs global prioritization. Current efforts neglect ecosystem function, leading to depleted guilds in the Americas and Europe, while Asia faces imminent threats.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Conservation Biology
Zoology

Background:

Large carnivores are vital ecosystem engineers but face extinction risks.
Conservation efforts often focus locally, overlooking predator guild ecosystem functions.
A global framework for prioritizing carnivore conservation is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare taxonomic and functional diversity of continental carnivore guilds.
To assess changes in carnivore guilds from the Late Pleistocene to the present.
To propose global priorities for large carnivore conservation.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of continental carnivore guild diversity.
Historical comparison with Late Pleistocene carnivore guilds.
Synthesis of findings to inform global conservation strategies.

Main Results:

Carnivore guilds in Europe and the Americas are taxonomically and functionally depleted.
Africa and Asia retain more diverse carnivore guilds but face higher extinction risks.
Asia is identified as a continent at higher risk of future carnivore extinctions.

Conclusions:

Urgent conservation is needed for threatened Asian carnivore species.
Preventing further threats to depleted guilds in the Americas and Europe is crucial.
Reconstructing functionally intact large carnivore guilds at ecologically effective population sizes is essential.