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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American Society of Mammalogists
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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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BioOne Online Journals |
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ftbioone |
language |
English |
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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1800748569027674112 |