A new global-scale biogeographical study led by researchers from CZU and Carleton University (Canada), published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal, reveals that mammals with specialized diets are most at risk in areas with high human activity, such as development. Diet-sensitive organisms are generally more prone to extinction.
The study, conducted by Federico Morelli, Yanina Benedetti, and Jeffrey Hanson, additionally uncovered that while global protected areas help safeguard many of these species, their effectiveness varies across continents. The results show that the protected area system in Africa and Asia provides (in a spatial overlap) better protection compared to South America, Oceania, North America, and Europe. Researchers, however, identified areas with lower human-driven stress which can serve as reservoirs for such highly specialized mammals.
The findings provide a valuable tool for monitoring biodiversity and improving conservation strategies, helping to ensure that these unique mammals can thrive despite growing human pressures. We expect such a tool could be applied in future studies, even at the more local scale, for a better implementation of conservation plans.
The anthropogenic pressures on World's mammal communities is particularly significant. More than 70 mammal species became extinct over the past 500 years, mainly in Australia, the Caribbean and South-Pacific islands. Nowadays, 22.4% out of the 6600+ recognized mammal species are considered threatened.
Citation:
Morelli, Federico, Jeffrey O. Hanson, and Yanina Benedetti. "Human pressures threaten diet-specialized mammal communities." Proceedings B 292.2040 (2025): 20241735. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1735