The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems

The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size across eight orders of magnitude, from blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) to tiny Etruscan shrews (Suncus etruscus), contribute to shaping Earth's ecosystems. Large mammalian herbivores (e.g., African...

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Published in:Journal of Mammalogy
Main Authors: Thomas E. Lacher, Ana D. Davidson, Theodore H. Fleming, Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz, Gary F. McCracken, Norman Owen-Smith, Carlos A. Peres, Stephen B. Vander Wall
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: American Society of Mammalogists 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183
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spelling ftbioone:10.1093/jmammal/gyy183 2024-06-02T08:03:58+00:00 The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems Thomas E. Lacher Ana D. Davidson Theodore H. Fleming Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz Gary F. McCracken Norman Owen-Smith Carlos A. Peres Stephen B. Vander Wall Thomas E. Lacher Ana D. Davidson Theodore H. Fleming Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz Gary F. McCracken Norman Owen-Smith Carlos A. Peres Stephen B. Vander Wall world 2019-07-11 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183 en eng American Society of Mammalogists doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy183 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183 Text 2019 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183 2024-05-07T00:55:29Z The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size across eight orders of magnitude, from blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) to tiny Etruscan shrews (Suncus etruscus), contribute to shaping Earth's ecosystems. Large mammalian herbivores (e.g., African elephants [Loxodonta africana], American bison [Bison bison], hippopotamuses [Hippopotamus amphibius]) and carnivores (e.g., wolves [Canis lupus], pumas [Puma concolor], sea otters [Enhydra lutris]) often have significant effects on primary producers in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems through nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the exertion of bottom-up and top-down processes. Small mammals, like bats, are important pollinators, dispersers of fruits, and consumers of arthropods, and others, especially rodents and primates, are important predators and dispersers of seeds. Many of these mammal-mediated processes occur simultaneously in the same ecosystem, and have significant effects on community structure of primary producers that in turn alter communities of other vertebrates and invertebrates. Many mammals also are ecosystem engineers (e.g., elephants, American beavers [Castor canadensis], porcupines [Erithezon dorsatum], prairie dogs [Cynomys spp.]) that create, significantly modify, or destroy habitat, and by doing so, they alter ecosystem structure and function and increase habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity. The extensive influence mammals have on ecosystems results in important services that contribute to human well-being, such as pollination, insect pest control, and bioturbation of soils. The rapid declines in abundance of many mammal populations and the associated increase in extinction risk raise conservation concerns for mammals. To maintain mammalian diversity and the critical ecosystem processes they provide, scientists need to mobilize concern for their status and strive for more effective and comprehensive conservation action. We provide insights and synthesis on the ecological role of mammals ... Text Balaenoptera musculus Canis lupus Bison bison bison BioOne Online Journals Journal of Mammalogy 100 3 942 964
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description The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size across eight orders of magnitude, from blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) to tiny Etruscan shrews (Suncus etruscus), contribute to shaping Earth's ecosystems. Large mammalian herbivores (e.g., African elephants [Loxodonta africana], American bison [Bison bison], hippopotamuses [Hippopotamus amphibius]) and carnivores (e.g., wolves [Canis lupus], pumas [Puma concolor], sea otters [Enhydra lutris]) often have significant effects on primary producers in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems through nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the exertion of bottom-up and top-down processes. Small mammals, like bats, are important pollinators, dispersers of fruits, and consumers of arthropods, and others, especially rodents and primates, are important predators and dispersers of seeds. Many of these mammal-mediated processes occur simultaneously in the same ecosystem, and have significant effects on community structure of primary producers that in turn alter communities of other vertebrates and invertebrates. Many mammals also are ecosystem engineers (e.g., elephants, American beavers [Castor canadensis], porcupines [Erithezon dorsatum], prairie dogs [Cynomys spp.]) that create, significantly modify, or destroy habitat, and by doing so, they alter ecosystem structure and function and increase habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity. The extensive influence mammals have on ecosystems results in important services that contribute to human well-being, such as pollination, insect pest control, and bioturbation of soils. The rapid declines in abundance of many mammal populations and the associated increase in extinction risk raise conservation concerns for mammals. To maintain mammalian diversity and the critical ecosystem processes they provide, scientists need to mobilize concern for their status and strive for more effective and comprehensive conservation action. We provide insights and synthesis on the ecological role of mammals ...
author2 Thomas E. Lacher
Ana D. Davidson
Theodore H. Fleming
Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz
Gary F. McCracken
Norman Owen-Smith
Carlos A. Peres
Stephen B. Vander Wall
format Text
author Thomas E. Lacher
Ana D. Davidson
Theodore H. Fleming
Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz
Gary F. McCracken
Norman Owen-Smith
Carlos A. Peres
Stephen B. Vander Wall
spellingShingle Thomas E. Lacher
Ana D. Davidson
Theodore H. Fleming
Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz
Gary F. McCracken
Norman Owen-Smith
Carlos A. Peres
Stephen B. Vander Wall
The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
author_facet Thomas E. Lacher
Ana D. Davidson
Theodore H. Fleming
Emma P. Gómez-Ruiz
Gary F. McCracken
Norman Owen-Smith
Carlos A. Peres
Stephen B. Vander Wall
author_sort Thomas E. Lacher
title The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
title_short The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
title_full The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
title_fullStr The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
title_full_unstemmed The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
title_sort functional roles of mammals in ecosystems
publisher American Society of Mammalogists
publishDate 2019
url https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183
op_coverage world
genre Balaenoptera musculus
Canis lupus
Bison bison bison
genre_facet Balaenoptera musculus
Canis lupus
Bison bison bison
op_source https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183
op_relation doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy183
op_rights All rights reserved.
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyy183
container_title Journal of Mammalogy
container_volume 100
container_issue 3
container_start_page 942
op_container_end_page 964
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