Cited by 663Wildlife Ecology and ConservationWildlife Conservation and Criminology AnalysesConservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management

The impact of hunting on tropical mammal and bird populations

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Benítez-López, A., Alkemade, R., Schipper, A. M., Ingram, D. J., Verweij, P. A., Eikelboom, J. A. J., Huijbregts, M. A. J.·2017·Science

Abstract

Quantifying hunting-induced defaunation: As the human population grows and increasingly encroaches on remaining wildlife habitat, hunting threatens many species. Benítez-López et al. conducted a large-scale meta-analysis of hunting trends and impacts across the tropics (see the Perspective by Brashares and Gaynor). Bird and mammal populations were considerably lower in areas where hunting occurred. Although commercial hunting and proximity to roads and urban centers were the most damaging factors, all hunting had worrying impacts, even in protected areas. Protection and alternative approaches for sustainable subsistence hunting must be implemented soon if we are to prevent further, rapid defaunation. Science , this issue p. 180 ; see also p. 136

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.aaj1891

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Authors
Benítez-López, A., Alkemade, R., Schipper, A. M., Ingram, D. J., Verweij, P. A., Eikelboom, J. A. J., & Huijbregts, M. A. J.
Affiliations
  • Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University, Post Office Box 9010, NL-6500 GL, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
  • Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (NL)
  • University of Sussex (GB)
  • Utrecht University (NL)
Venue
Science
Published
2017-04-14
Volume
356
Issue
6334
Pages
180-183
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2605583228
Cited by
663
References
123
Citations by year
2026: 85 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 84 · 2023: 95 · 2022: 73 · 2021: 71 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 10
FWCI
35.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • Sussex Research Online (University of Sussex) (submittedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Sussex
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
Keywords
hunting, defaunation, tropical mammals, tropical birds, population decline (ecology), wild meat trade, hunting pressure, protected areas, commercial hunting, biodiversity loss, human accessibility
MeSH terms
Animals, Birds, Human Activities, Mammals, Population Density, Biodiversity, Extinction, Biological

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