Ecosystem function and services of aquatic predators in the Anthropocene
March 8, 2019
Arguments for the need to conserve aquatic predator (AP) populations often focuses on the ecological and socio-economic roles they play. Here, we summarize the diverse ecosystem functions and services connected to APs, including regulating food webs, cycling nutrients, engineering habitat, transmitting diseases/parasites, mediating ecological invasions, effecting climate, supporting fisheries, generating tourism, and providing bioinspiration. In some cases, human-driven declines and increases in AP populations have altered these ecosystem functions and services. We present a Social Ecological Framework for supporting adaptive management decisions involving APs in response to social and environmental change. We also identify outstanding questions to guide future research on the ecological functions and ecosystem services of APs in a changing world
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2019 |
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Title | Ecosystem function and services of aquatic predators in the Anthropocene |
DOI | 10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.005 |
Authors | Neil Hammerschlag, Oswald J. Schmitz, Alexander S. Flecker, Kevin D. Lafferty, Andrew Sih, Trisha B. Atwood, Austin J. Gallagher, Duncan J. Irschick, Rachel Skubel, Steven J. Cooke |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Trends in Ecology and Evolution |
Index ID | 70203956 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Western Ecological Research Center |