Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management
Abstract Scavenging plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and contributing to ecological functions; however, research in this sub‐discipline of ecology is underutilized in developing and implementing wildlife conservation and management strategies. We provide an examination of the liter...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9122 |
| _version_ | 1811312457158754304 |
|---|---|
| author | Jessica R. Patterson Travis L. DeVault James C. Beasley |
| author_facet | Jessica R. Patterson Travis L. DeVault James C. Beasley |
| author_sort | Jessica R. Patterson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Scavenging plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and contributing to ecological functions; however, research in this sub‐discipline of ecology is underutilized in developing and implementing wildlife conservation and management strategies. We provide an examination of the literature and recommend priorities for research where improved understanding of scavenging dynamics can facilitate the development and refinement of applied wildlife conservation and management strategies. Due to the application of scavenging research broadly within ecology, scavenging studies should be implemented for informing management decisions. In particular, a more direct link should be established between scavenging dynamics and applied management programs related to informing pharmaceutical delivery and population control through bait uptake for scavenging species, prevention of unintentional poisoning of nontarget scavenging species, the epidemiological role that scavenging species play in disease dynamics, estimating wildlife mortalities, nutrient transfer facilitated by scavenging activity, and conservation of imperiled facultative scavenging species. This commentary is intended to provide information on the paucity of data in scavenging research and present recommendations for further studies that can inform decisions in wildlife conservation and management. Additionally, we provide a framework for decision‐making when determining how to apply scavenging ecology research for management practices and policies. Due to the implications that scavenging species have on ecosystem health, and their overall global decline as a result of anthropic activities, it is imperative to advance studies in the field of scavenging ecology that can inform applied conservation and management programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:37:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01d6d02213f74888b078403ab8e97a8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:37:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-01d6d02213f74888b078403ab8e97a8c2022-12-22T02:50:01ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-07-01127n/an/a10.1002/ece3.9122Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and managementJessica R. Patterson0Travis L. DeVault1James C. Beasley2Savannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USASavannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USASavannah River Ecology Lab, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USAAbstract Scavenging plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and contributing to ecological functions; however, research in this sub‐discipline of ecology is underutilized in developing and implementing wildlife conservation and management strategies. We provide an examination of the literature and recommend priorities for research where improved understanding of scavenging dynamics can facilitate the development and refinement of applied wildlife conservation and management strategies. Due to the application of scavenging research broadly within ecology, scavenging studies should be implemented for informing management decisions. In particular, a more direct link should be established between scavenging dynamics and applied management programs related to informing pharmaceutical delivery and population control through bait uptake for scavenging species, prevention of unintentional poisoning of nontarget scavenging species, the epidemiological role that scavenging species play in disease dynamics, estimating wildlife mortalities, nutrient transfer facilitated by scavenging activity, and conservation of imperiled facultative scavenging species. This commentary is intended to provide information on the paucity of data in scavenging research and present recommendations for further studies that can inform decisions in wildlife conservation and management. Additionally, we provide a framework for decision‐making when determining how to apply scavenging ecology research for management practices and policies. Due to the implications that scavenging species have on ecosystem health, and their overall global decline as a result of anthropic activities, it is imperative to advance studies in the field of scavenging ecology that can inform applied conservation and management programs.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9122ecosystem healthfood web dynamicsscavenging ecologywildlife conservationwildlife diseaseswildlife management |
| spellingShingle | Jessica R. Patterson Travis L. DeVault James C. Beasley Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management Ecology and Evolution ecosystem health food web dynamics scavenging ecology wildlife conservation wildlife diseases wildlife management |
| title | Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management |
| title_full | Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management |
| title_fullStr | Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management |
| title_short | Integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management |
| title_sort | integrating terrestrial scavenging ecology into contemporary wildlife conservation and management |
| topic | ecosystem health food web dynamics scavenging ecology wildlife conservation wildlife diseases wildlife management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9122 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jessicarpatterson integratingterrestrialscavengingecologyintocontemporarywildlifeconservationandmanagement AT travisldevault integratingterrestrialscavengingecologyintocontemporarywildlifeconservationandmanagement AT jamescbeasley integratingterrestrialscavengingecologyintocontemporarywildlifeconservationandmanagement |