Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests
Introduced in ~59 countries and native across Europe and Asia, wild pigs, <i>Sus scrofa</i>, are the most wide-spread swine species in the world. As ecosystem engineers, wild pigs are a significant source of disturbance in introduced ecosystems due to their numerous, complex impacts on e...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Forests |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/8/1042 |
| _version_ | 1797523863913889792 |
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| author | Elizabeth A. Bradley Graeme Lockaby |
| author_facet | Elizabeth A. Bradley Graeme Lockaby |
| author_sort | Elizabeth A. Bradley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduced in ~59 countries and native across Europe and Asia, wild pigs, <i>Sus scrofa</i>, are the most wide-spread swine species in the world. As ecosystem engineers, wild pigs are a significant source of disturbance in introduced ecosystems due to their numerous, complex impacts on ecosystem processes. Wild pigs are often found in the resource-rich habitat of coastal forests. Coastal forests are complex, dynamic systems with tremendous biodiversity. Exposed to recurrent disturbances, the biophysical characteristics of coastal forests contribute to their ability to return to their original state post-disturbance. However, compounding disturbances can weaken this ability and threaten the health and function of the ecosystem. In this review, through the model of the forests of the southeastern United States Coastal Plain, we (1) describe conditions found across the forested coastal landscape, (2) describe wild pig disturbance, and (3) discuss how wild pig impacts can add to significant anthropogenic and climate-related disturbances threatening coastal forests. Through this review, we find that the impacts of wild pig disturbance on coastal forests often have similar effects as anthropogenic and climate change-related disturbances that may enhance these significant threats to coastal forest function and resiliency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:49:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d40b583242ac4e698b6bdb860d9c0d2b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:49:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-d40b583242ac4e698b6bdb860d9c0d2b2023-11-22T07:42:40ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-08-01128104210.3390/f12081042Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal ForestsElizabeth A. Bradley0Graeme Lockaby1School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USASchool of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USAIntroduced in ~59 countries and native across Europe and Asia, wild pigs, <i>Sus scrofa</i>, are the most wide-spread swine species in the world. As ecosystem engineers, wild pigs are a significant source of disturbance in introduced ecosystems due to their numerous, complex impacts on ecosystem processes. Wild pigs are often found in the resource-rich habitat of coastal forests. Coastal forests are complex, dynamic systems with tremendous biodiversity. Exposed to recurrent disturbances, the biophysical characteristics of coastal forests contribute to their ability to return to their original state post-disturbance. However, compounding disturbances can weaken this ability and threaten the health and function of the ecosystem. In this review, through the model of the forests of the southeastern United States Coastal Plain, we (1) describe conditions found across the forested coastal landscape, (2) describe wild pig disturbance, and (3) discuss how wild pig impacts can add to significant anthropogenic and climate-related disturbances threatening coastal forests. Through this review, we find that the impacts of wild pig disturbance on coastal forests often have similar effects as anthropogenic and climate change-related disturbances that may enhance these significant threats to coastal forest function and resiliency.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/8/1042coastal forestsinvasive specieswild pigs<i>Sus scrofa</i> |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth A. Bradley Graeme Lockaby Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests Forests coastal forests invasive species wild pigs <i>Sus scrofa</i> |
| title | Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests |
| title_full | Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests |
| title_fullStr | Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests |
| title_short | Invasive Wild Pigs: A Significant Disturbance in Coastal Forests |
| title_sort | invasive wild pigs a significant disturbance in coastal forests |
| topic | coastal forests invasive species wild pigs <i>Sus scrofa</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/8/1042 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elizabethabradley invasivewildpigsasignificantdisturbanceincoastalforests AT graemelockaby invasivewildpigsasignificantdisturbanceincoastalforests |