TY - JOUR

T1 - Rethinking megafauna

AU - Moleón, Marcos

AU - Sánchez-Zapata, José A.

AU - Donázar, José A.

AU - Revilla, Eloy

AU - Martín-López, Berta

AU - Gutiérrez-Cánovas, Cayetano

AU - Getz, Wayne M.

AU - Morales-Reyes, Zebensui

AU - Campos-Arceiz, Ahimsa

AU - Crowder, Larry B.

AU - Galetti, Mauro

AU - González-Suárez, Manuela

AU - He, Fengzhi

AU - Jordano, Pedro

AU - Lewison, Rebecca

AU - Naidoo, Robin

AU - Owen-Smith, Norman

AU - Selva, Nuria

AU - Svenning, Jens Christian

AU - Tella, José L.

AU - Zarfl, Christiane

AU - Jähnig, Sonja C.

AU - Hayward, Matt W.

AU - Faurby, Søren

AU - García, Nuria

AU - Barnosky, Anthony D.

AU - Tockner, Klement

PY - 2020/3/11

Y1 - 2020/3/11

N2 - Concern for megafauna is increasing among scientists and non-scientists. Many studies have emphasized that megafauna play prominent ecological roles and provide important ecosystem services to humanity. But, what precisely are 'megafauna'? Here, we critically assess the concept of megafauna and propose a goal-oriented framework for megafaunal research. First, we review definitions of megafauna and analyse associated terminology in the scientific literature. Second, we conduct a survey among ecologists and palaeontologists to assess the species traits used to identify and define megafauna. Our review indicates that definitions are highly dependent on the study ecosystem and research question, and primarily rely on ad hoc size-related criteria. Our survey suggests that body size is crucial, but not necessarily sufficient, for addressing the different applications of the term megafauna. Thus, after discussing the pros and cons of existing definitions, we propose an additional approach by defining two function-oriented megafaunal concepts: 'keystone megafauna' and 'functional megafauna', with its variant 'apex megafauna'. Assessing megafauna from a functional perspective could challenge the perception that there may not be a unifying definition of megafauna that can be applied to all eco-evolutionary narratives. In addition, using functional definitions of megafauna could be especially conducive to cross-disciplinary understanding and cooperation, improvement of conservation policy and practice, and strengthening of public perception. As megafaunal research advances, we encourage scientists to unambiguously define how they use the term 'megafauna' and to present the logic underpinning their definition.

AB - Concern for megafauna is increasing among scientists and non-scientists. Many studies have emphasized that megafauna play prominent ecological roles and provide important ecosystem services to humanity. But, what precisely are 'megafauna'? Here, we critically assess the concept of megafauna and propose a goal-oriented framework for megafaunal research. First, we review definitions of megafauna and analyse associated terminology in the scientific literature. Second, we conduct a survey among ecologists and palaeontologists to assess the species traits used to identify and define megafauna. Our review indicates that definitions are highly dependent on the study ecosystem and research question, and primarily rely on ad hoc size-related criteria. Our survey suggests that body size is crucial, but not necessarily sufficient, for addressing the different applications of the term megafauna. Thus, after discussing the pros and cons of existing definitions, we propose an additional approach by defining two function-oriented megafaunal concepts: 'keystone megafauna' and 'functional megafauna', with its variant 'apex megafauna'. Assessing megafauna from a functional perspective could challenge the perception that there may not be a unifying definition of megafauna that can be applied to all eco-evolutionary narratives. In addition, using functional definitions of megafauna could be especially conducive to cross-disciplinary understanding and cooperation, improvement of conservation policy and practice, and strengthening of public perception. As megafaunal research advances, we encourage scientists to unambiguously define how they use the term 'megafauna' and to present the logic underpinning their definition.

KW - apex predators

KW - body size

KW - functional traits

KW - keystone species

KW - large animals

KW - megaherbivores

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081042715&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/30fb8296-9125-3fb9-b01b-2a7b1d7b9e51/

U2 - 10.1098/rspb.2019.2643

DO - 10.1098/rspb.2019.2643

M3 - Scientific review articles

C2 - 32126954

VL - 287

JO - Proceedings of the Royal Society B

JF - Proceedings of the Royal Society B

SN - 0962-8452

IS - 1922

M1 - 20192643

ER -