A synthesis of life‐history traits, functional traits, and consequences of anthropogenic pressures on Madagascar’s threatened carnivorans, Eupleridae

Abstract

1. Madagascar's native carnivorans are an endemic monophyletic group of eight extant species belonging to the family Eupleridae. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies seven of the species as threatened (Vulnerable or Endangered), as their populations are in decline due to intensifying anthropogenic pressures. However, little is known about these species' ecology and population trends, precluding forecasts of extinction risk. Life-history and functional traits govern species' responses to environmental pressure and can be predictive of extinction risk. Incorporating relevant trait information can vastly improve risk assessments. Yet, information on the life-history and functional traits of the Eupleridae has never been compiled into a single framework. 2. Our aims were to: 1) synthesise the current state of knowledge of the lifehistory and functional traits of euplerid species, 2) review empirical evidence of the effects of anthropogenic pressures on species, and 3) identify knowledge gaps and future research needs. 3. We searched the published literature to compile life-history and functional trait information and known effects of anthropogenic pressures for Eupleridae. 4. Our review indicates that Madagascar's carnivorans have high-risk life-history and functional traits that increase their vulnerability to anthropogenic pressures. Publications reported negative effects on euplerids from habitat degradation and fragmentation, logging, non-native carnivorans, disease, and hunting and retaliatory killings. However, our synthesis revealed significant knowledge gaps, especially in species' life-history traits and in the spatial variability in most traits. For most species, we currently do not have the robust data needed to assess trait-based risk dynamics. 5. The culmination of reported traits, negative influence of ongoing anthropogenic pressures, and lack of robust metrics (e.g. population trends and trait variability) indicate that euplerids are at high risk, yet may reach the cusp of extinction without notice due to significant gaps in knowledge. Future research should prioritise filling gaps in knowledge of influential traits, evaluating anthropogenic pressures, and integrating trait information to improve risk assessments and extinction forecasts.

Wildlife predation by dogs in Madagascar

“…The fossa is threatened with extinction (IUCN n.d.) so even though only two dogs in our study had killed fossa, this still presents a serious concern for conservation as it compounds existing threats. There are threatened or endangered species of snakes, rodents, tenrecs, birds, frogs, bats, and chameleons and dog predation compounds the many other threats these species face including habitat loss, over‐exploitation, and climate change (Goodman & Benstead, 2005; Hughes & Macdonald, 2013; IUCN n.d.; Wampole et al, 2021). As not all predation attempts are successful, there are likely to be additional impacts of injury or delayed death on wildlife species attributed to dogs and impacts from competition, disease transmission, and other factors.…”

“…As a biodiversity hot spot, Madagascar is home to many rare and endemic species that are threatened with extinction (Goodman & Benstead, 2005; Myers et al, 2000). Madagascar is also home to many free‐roaming dogs that are known to negatively impact a variety of wildlife species including birds, lemurs, carnivorans, and other small mammals (Wampole et al, 2021). Furthermore, human attitudes and behaviors toward dogs can influence the impact of dogs on wildlife.…”

Preliminary survey of the threatened carnivores in the Daraina Loky-Manambato Protected Area, Madagascar

“…Habitat selection and preference for each native carnivoran varies across the eastern rainforest region. For a summary of habitat use see Wampole et al (2021). Over the past decade, most of Madagascar's national parks have been surveyed and the carnivore populations within them estimated (Gerber et al 2010, Murphy et al 2018.…”

“…Between 1996 and2016, 9.2% of humid forests and 1.1% of dry deciduous forests in the Loky-Manambato PA were destroyed (Goodman andWilme 2006, Goodman et al 2018). Deforestation and forest degradation leads to decreased carnivore populations in Madagascar (Wampole et al 2021).…”

“…Madagascar's carnivores, like other small carnivores, are difficult to study due to their elusive behavior, large home ranges, and low population densities Racey 2005, Brooke et al 2014). To survey and estimate Madagascar's carnivores, studies have employed motion activated camera traps to photographically capture fauna that cross the camera's line of sight (Wampole et al 2021). These authors reviewed carnivore research in Madagascar and found the primary threats to carnivores include forest loss and fragmentation, invasive predators, disease transmission, and poaching.…”