Search: id:"swepub:oai:gup.ub.gu.se/292435" >
Rethinking megafauna
Rethinking megafauna
-
Moleon, M. (author)
-
Sanchez-Zapata, J. A. (author)
-
Donazar, J. A. (author)
-
show more...
-
Revilla, E. (author)
-
Martin-Lopez, B. (author)
-
Gutierrez-Canovas, C. (author)
-
Getz, W. M. (author)
-
Morales-Reyes, Z. (author)
-
Campos-Arceiz, A. (author)
-
Crowder, L. B. (author)
-
Galetti, M. (author)
-
Gonzalez-Suarez, M. (author)
-
He, F. Z. (author)
-
Jordano, P. (author)
-
Lewison, R. (author)
-
Naidoo, R. (author)
-
Owen-Smith, N. (author)
-
Selva, N. (author)
-
Tella, J. L. (author)
-
Zarfl, C. (author)
-
Jahnig, S. C. (author)
-
Hayward, M. W. (author)
-
- Faurby, Sören, 1981 (author)
- Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för biologi och miljövetenskap,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
-
Garcia, N. (author)
-
Barnosky, A. D. (author)
-
Tockner, K. (author)
-
show less...
-
(creator_code:org_t)
- 2020-03-04
- 2020
- English.
-
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 287:1922
- Related links:
-
https://royalsociety...
-
show more...
-
https://gup.ub.gu.se...
-
https://doi.org/10.1...
-
show less...
Abstract
Subject headings
Close
- Concern for megafauna is increasing among scientists and non-scientists. Many studies have emphasized that megafauna play prominent ecological roles and provide important ecosystem services to humanity. But, what precisely are 'megafauna'? Here, we critically assess the concept of megafauna and propose a goal-oriented framework for megafaunal research. First, we review definitions of megafauna and analyse associated terminology in the scientific literature. Second, we conduct a survey among ecologists and palaeontologists to assess the species traits used to identify and define megafauna. Our review indicates that definitions are highly dependent on the study ecosystem and research question, and primarily rely on ad hoc size-related criteria. Our survey suggests that body size is crucial, but not necessarily sufficient, for addressing the different applications of the term megafauna. Thus, after discussing the pros and cons of existing definitions, we propose an additional approach by defining two function-oriented megafaunal concepts: 'keystone megafauna' and 'functional megafauna', with its variant 'apex megafauna'. Assessing megafauna from a functional perspective could challenge the perception that there may not be a unifying definition of megafauna that can be applied to all eco-evolutionary narratives. In addition, using functional definitions of megafauna could be especially conducive to cross-disciplinary understanding and cooperation, improvement of conservation policy and practice, and strengthening of public perception. As megafaunal research advances, we encourage scientists to unambiguously define how they use the term 'megafauna' and to present the logic underpinning their definition.
Subject headings
- NATURVETENSKAP -- Biologi (hsv//swe)
- NATURAL SCIENCES -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)
Keyword
- apex predators
- body size
- functional traits
- keystone species
- large
- animals
- megaherbivores
- epibenthic megafauna
- marine megafauna
- body-size
- pleistocene
- abundance
- extinction
- management
- patterns
- biomass
- biodiversity
- Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Publication and Content Type
- ref (subject category)
- art (subject category)
Find in a library
To the university's database
- By the author/editor
-
Moleon, M.
-
Sanchez-Zapata, ...
-
Donazar, J. A.
-
Revilla, E.
-
Martin-Lopez, B.
-
Gutierrez-Canova ...
-
show more...
-
Getz, W. M.
-
Morales-Reyes, Z ...
-
Campos-Arceiz, A ...
-
Crowder, L. B.
-
Galetti, M.
-
Gonzalez-Suarez, ...
-
He, F. Z.
-
Jordano, P.
-
Lewison, R.
-
Naidoo, R.
-
Owen-Smith, N.
-
Selva, N.
-
Tella, J. L.
-
Zarfl, C.
-
Jahnig, S. C.
-
Hayward, M. W.
-
Faurby, Sören, 1 ...
-
Garcia, N.
-
Barnosky, A. D.
-
Tockner, K.
-
show less...
- About the subject
-
- NATURAL SCIENCES
-
NATURAL SCIENCES
-
and Biological Scien ...
- Articles in the publication
-
Proceedings of t ...
- By the university
-
University of Gothenburg