Benítez-López, A, Alkemade, R, Schipper, A M, Ingram, D J, Verweij, P A, Eikelboom, J A J and Huijbregts, M A J (2017) The impact of hunting on tropical mammal and bird populations. Science, 356 (6334). pp. 180-183. ISSN 1095-9203

PDF (This is the author’s version of the work. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Science on Vol. 356, Issues 6334, pp. 180-183, 14 April 201], DOI: 10.1126/science.aaj.) - Accepted Version Download (184kB)

Abstract

Hunting 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.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Life Sciences > Evolution, Behaviour and Environment
Depositing User:	Daniel John Ingram
Date Deposited:	19 Apr 2017 08:59
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2017 10:34
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/67430

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