TY - JOUR
T1 - The contribution of predators and scavengers to human well-being
AU - O'Bryan, Christopher J.
AU - Braczkowski, Alexander R.
AU - Beyer, Hawthorne L.
AU - Carter, Neil H.
AU - Watson, James E. M.
AU - McDonald-Madden, Eve
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - Predators and scavengers are frequently persecuted for their negative effects on property, livestock and human life. Research has shown that these species play important regulatory roles in intact ecosystems including regulating herbivore and mesopredator populations that in turn affect floral, soil and hydrological systems. Yet predators and scavengers receive surprisingly little recognition for their benefits to humans in the landscapes they share. We review these benefits, highlighting the most recent studies that have documented their positive effects across a range of environments. Indeed, the benefits of predators and scavengers can be far reaching, affecting human health and well-being through disease mitigation, agricultural production and waste-disposal services. As many predators and scavengers are in a state of rapid decline, we argue that researchers must work in concert with the media, managers and policymakers to highlight benefits of these species and the need to ensure their long-term conservation. Furthermore, instead of assessing the costs of predators and scavengers only in economic terms, it is critical to recognize their beneficial contributions to human health and well-being. Given the ever-expanding human footprint, it is essential that we construct conservation solutions that allow a wide variety of species to persist in shared landscapes. Identifying, evaluating and communicating the benefits provided by species that are often considered problem animals is an important step for establishing tolerance in these shared spaces.
AB - Predators and scavengers are frequently persecuted for their negative effects on property, livestock and human life. Research has shown that these species play important regulatory roles in intact ecosystems including regulating herbivore and mesopredator populations that in turn affect floral, soil and hydrological systems. Yet predators and scavengers receive surprisingly little recognition for their benefits to humans in the landscapes they share. We review these benefits, highlighting the most recent studies that have documented their positive effects across a range of environments. Indeed, the benefits of predators and scavengers can be far reaching, affecting human health and well-being through disease mitigation, agricultural production and waste-disposal services. As many predators and scavengers are in a state of rapid decline, we argue that researchers must work in concert with the media, managers and policymakers to highlight benefits of these species and the need to ensure their long-term conservation. Furthermore, instead of assessing the costs of predators and scavengers only in economic terms, it is critical to recognize their beneficial contributions to human health and well-being. Given the ever-expanding human footprint, it is essential that we construct conservation solutions that allow a wide variety of species to persist in shared landscapes. Identifying, evaluating and communicating the benefits provided by species that are often considered problem animals is an important step for establishing tolerance in these shared spaces.
KW - Biological-control agents
KW - Human-wildlife conflict
KW - Ecosystem services
KW - Carnivore conservation
KW - Livestock predation
KW - Zoonotic disease
KW - Trade-offs
KW - Land-use
KW - Benefits
KW - Management
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=researchintelligenceproject&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000426516400011&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL
U2 - 10.1038/s41559-017-0421-2
DO - 10.1038/s41559-017-0421-2
M3 - (Systematic) Review article
C2 - 29348647
SN - 2397-334X
VL - 2
SP - 229
EP - 236
JO - Nature ecology & evolution
JF - Nature ecology & evolution
IS - 2
ER -