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The impact of hunting on tropical mammal and bird populations
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 05:50 authored by A Benítez-López, R Alkemade, A M Schipper, D J Ingram, P A Verweij, J A J Eikelboom, M A J HuijbregtsHunting is a major driver of biodiversity loss, but a systematic large-scale estimate of hunting-induced defaunation is lacking. We synthesized 176 studies to quantify hunting-induced declines of mammal and bird populations across the tropics. Bird and mammal abundances declined by 58% (25 to 76%) and by 83% (72 to 90%) in hunted compared with unhunted areas. Bird and mammal populations were depleted within 7 and 40 kilometers from hunters’ access points (roads and settlements). Additionally, hunting pressure was higher in areas with better accessibility to major towns where wild meat could be traded. Mammal population densities were lower outside protected areas, particularly because of commercial hunting. Strategies to sustainably manage wild meat hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical ecosystems are urgently needed to avoid further defaunation.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
ScienceISSN
1095-9203Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of ScienceExternal DOI
Issue
6334Volume
356Page range
180-183Department affiliated with
- Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-04-19First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-04-24First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-04-18Usage metrics
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