Can large herbivores enhance ecosystem carbon persistence?

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Climate Change Science
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Aligning wildlife conservation with climate change mitigation is a growing priority.
• Large herbivores can reduce aboveground biomass in open-canopy ecosystems, potentially impacting carbon storage.
• Belowground carbon storage in soils, a major carbon pool, is often overlooked in herbivore impact assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for a holistic assessment of large herbivore impacts on ecosystem carbon storage.
• To highlight the importance of considering belowground carbon alongside aboveground biomass.
• To prevent potentially counterproductive conservation and climate outcomes.

Main Methods:

• This study is a conceptual synthesis and literature review.
• It analyzes the ecological interactions between large herbivores, vegetation, and soil carbon.
• It proposes a framework for evaluating herbivore effects on whole-ecosystem carbon persistence.

Main Results:

• Large herbivores influence both aboveground and belowground ecosystem carbon dynamics.
• Ignoring soil carbon can lead to an incomplete understanding of herbivore impacts.
• Current assessments may underestimate or overestimate the climate benefits of herbivore restoration.

Conclusions:

• Future assessments of large herbivore restoration must include belowground carbon storage.
• A whole-ecosystem approach is necessary for effective biodiversity and climate mitigation strategies.
• Integrating soil carbon into conservation planning ensures alignment with climate goals.