Animal carnivores living in and around human habitation are declining at an unprecedented rate. With this decline we lose crucial benefits these carnivores may provide to human societies.
An international review published online on 18 January in Nature Ecology & Evolution has revealed that predators and scavengers ranging from bats to leopards and vultures are valuable to human health and well-being. The research led by University of Queensland (UQ) researchers, involved researchers from Boise State University and the Wildlife Conservation Society as well.
Services provided by predators and scavengers.
Infographic by Wildlife Conservation Society
UQ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD student Christopher O’Bryan said the study showed examples of native predators and scavengers providing services including disease regulation, agricultural productivity and waste disposal.
Christopher O’Bryan, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia
“Our paper identifies studies that have shown these benefits across a broad spectrum. These include US mountain lions reducing deer-vehicle collisions, bats saving corn farmers billions of dollars each year by reducing crop pests, and vultures saving millions in livestock carcass removal.” Mr O’Bryan said. “These benefits may affect areas across the globe where predators and scavengers are present. For example, there is a link between the presence of bats and increased coffee production that could have great economic impacts in developing countries, as coffee is a major commodity.”
The research aimed to evaluate positive and negative effects on human well-being through an extensive review of recent studies. “The literature shows that we know a lot about the negative impacts of predators and scavengers, but we are just now beginning to understand the potentially irreplaceable services these animals can provide,” Mr O’Bryan said, while adding, “If we lose these animals, we may be in trouble.”
Australian Research Council Fellow Dr Eve McDonald-Madden said research into these benefits would improve evaluation of the implications of decisions affecting many vilified species. “We can then highlight those situations leading to win-wins for both predators and people, thus enhancing the protection of one of the world’s most threatened groups of animals,” she said.
(Source: The University of Queensland Australia media release, 19.01.2018; Wildlife Conservation Society news release, 18.01.2018)
