1. Mammal communities are larger and more diverse in moderately developed areas.
- Author
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Parsons AW, Forrester T, Baker-Whatton MC, McShea WJ, Rota CT, Schuttler SG, Millspaugh JJ, and Kays R
- Subjects
- Animals, Cities, Conservation of Natural Resources statistics & numerical data, Forests, Humans, Mammals classification, Rural Population statistics & numerical data, Suburban Population statistics & numerical data, Urban Population statistics & numerical data, Urban Renewal statistics & numerical data, Biodiversity, Conservation of Natural Resources methods, Ecosystem, Mammals growth & development
- Abstract
Developed areas are thought to have low species diversity, low animal abundance, few native predators, and thus low resilience and ecological function. Working with citizen scientist volunteers to survey mammals at 1427 sites across two development gradients (wild-rural-exurban-suburban-urban) and four plot types (large forests, small forest fragments, open areas and residential yards) in the eastern US, we show that developed areas actually had significantly higher or statistically similar mammalian occupancy, relative abundance, richness and diversity compared to wild areas. However, although some animals can thrive in suburbia, conservation of wild areas and preservation of green space within cities are needed to protect sensitive species and to give all species the chance to adapt and persist in the Anthropocene., Competing Interests: AP, TF, MB, WM, CR, SS, JM, RK No competing interests declared, (© 2018, Parsons et al.)
- Published
- 2018
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