Title |
Status and Ecological Effects of the World’s Largest Carnivores
|
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Published in |
Science, January 2014
|
DOI | 10.1126/science.1241484 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
William J. Ripple, James A. Estes, Robert L. Beschta, Christopher C. Wilmers, Euan G. Ritchie, Mark Hebblewhite, Joel Berger, Bodil Elmhagen, Mike Letnic, Michael P. Nelson, Oswald J. Schmitz, Douglas W. Smith, Arian D. Wallach, Aaron J. Wirsing |
Abstract |
Large carnivores face serious threats and are experiencing massive declines in their populations and geographic ranges around the world. We highlight how these threats have affected the conservation status and ecological functioning of the 31 largest mammalian carnivores on Earth. Consistent with theory, empirical studies increasingly show that large carnivores have substantial effects on the structure and function of diverse ecosystems. Significant cascading trophic interactions, mediated by their prey or sympatric mesopredators, arise when some of these carnivores are extirpated from or repatriated to ecosystems. Unexpected effects of trophic cascades on various taxa and processes include changes to bird, mammal, invertebrate, and herpetofauna abundance or richness; subsidies to scavengers; altered disease dynamics; carbon sequestration; modified stream morphology; and crop damage. Promoting tolerance and coexistence with large carnivores is a crucial societal challenge that will ultimately determine the fate of Earth's largest carnivores and all that depends upon them, including humans. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 51 | 17% |
Australia | 25 | 8% |
United Kingdom | 19 | 6% |
Sweden | 14 | 5% |
Spain | 13 | 4% |
Canada | 7 | 2% |
France | 3 | <1% |
Ireland | 3 | <1% |
India | 3 | <1% |
Other | 31 | 10% |
Unknown | 132 | 44% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 231 | 77% |
Scientists | 56 | 19% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 9 | 3% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 5 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 28 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 12 | <1% |
Brazil | 8 | <1% |
France | 7 | <1% |
Canada | 6 | <1% |
Italy | 6 | <1% |
Switzerland | 5 | <1% |
Chile | 4 | <1% |
South Africa | 3 | <1% |
Other | 36 | <1% |
Unknown | 3683 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 734 | 19% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 632 | 17% |
Student > Bachelor | 512 | 13% |
Researcher | 496 | 13% |
Other | 167 | 4% |
Other | 503 | 13% |
Unknown | 754 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1582 | 42% |
Environmental Science | 872 | 23% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 105 | 3% |
Earth and Planetary Sciences | 83 | 2% |
Social Sciences | 44 | 1% |
Other | 231 | 6% |
Unknown | 881 | 23% |