Abstract

It is commonly assumed that larger species are more vulnerable to extinction because of their low population densities and slow time to recover from setbacks. We report that, contrary to this expectation, it is the smaller ungulate species that first reached the brink of local extirpation within a 950 km(2) fenced protected area, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Moreover, earlier records show that most of these species had formerly been extremely common within the park region. Neither habitat change, competition for resources or exposure to predation provided a consistent sole explanation for the drastic population crashes shown by five smaller ungulate species (body mass 10-45 kg). We suggest that smaller species can be more vulnerable to local extinction as a consequence of their narrower habitat occupation and hence restricted spatial distribution. Nevertheless all of the threatened species thrive widely outside the protected area. Our findings show that smaller rather than larger species can be most at risk of local extirpation when confined within protected areas. Hence more. attention needs to be given to conserving such species within broader regional landscapes.

Keywords

Biodiversity loss; Body size effects; Competition; Extinction; Habitat change; Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park; Large mammalian herbivores; Predation

Published in

Biological Conservation
2017, Volume: 216, pages: 108-114
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Cromsigt, Joris

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.10.013

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/93149