Historic and prehistoric human-driven extinctions have reshaped global mammal diversity patterns

Abstract

Aim To assess the extent to which humans have reshaped Earth's biodiversity, by estimating natural ranges of all late Quaternary mammalian species, and to compare diversity patterns based on these with diversity patterns based on current distributions. Location Globally. Methods We estimated species, functional and phylogenetic diversity patterns based on natural ranges of all mammalian species (n = 5747 species) as they could have been today in the complete absence of human influence through time. Following this, we compared macroecological analyses of current and natural diversity patterns to assess whether human‐induced range changes bias evolutionary and ecological analyses based on current diversity patterns. Results We find that current diversity patterns have been drastically modified by humans, mostly due to global extinctions and regional to local extirpations. Current and natural diversities exhibit marked deviations virtually everywhere outside sub‐Saharan Africa. These differences are strongest for terrestrial megafauna, but also important for all mammals combined. The human‐induced changes led to biases in estimates of environmental diversity drivers, especially for terrestrial megafauna, but also for all mammals combined. Main conclusions Our results show that fundamental diversity patterns have been reshaped by human‐driven extinctions and extirpations, highlighting humans as a major force in the Earth system. We thereby emphasize that estimating natural distributions and diversities is important to improve our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological drivers of diversity as well as for providing a benchmark for conservation.

Global mammal beta diversity shows parallel assemblage structure in similar but isolated environments

“…In contrast, our results are consistent with previous intercontinental comparisons of small mammal assemblages in desert regions, in which small mammal communities also showed a high heterogeneity of species and traits within and among continents [59,60]. The current patterns of beta diversity are undoubtedly impacted by humans since their emergence, through extinctions and range contractions [63]. Therefore, the historical patterns of convergence or radiation between and among realms and biomes might also have been obscured.…”

Genetic turnovers and northern survival during the last glacial maximum in European brown bears

“…(Valdiosera et al, 2007). This is also in agreement with a general trend of mountainous areas being less vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts (Faurby & Svenning, 2015). B.P.…”

Snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus): potential distribution and its implication for conservation

“…Li et al (2002) provide evidence that Rhinopithecus was first extirpated from lower elevation during the last 400 years. Higher elevation areas are more remote and difficult for humans to access and utilize and other studies have found less deforestation, more reforestation and afforestation, less range contraction, and less extinction in topographically steep areas (Laliberte and Ripple 2004; Fisher 2011; Sandel and Svenning 2013; Faurby and Svenning 2015; Nüchel and Svenning 2017). Furthermore, many other species in the region, e.g., giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) and red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ), have also been impacted by strong anthropogenic pressure during the recent centuries with population declines and range retractions as consequences (Ceballos and Ehrlich 2002; Zhu et al 2010; Hu et al 2011).…”