Large mammals are threatened worldwide. Life histories characterized by long life spans, delayed age at first reproduction, iteroparity, small litter sizes, high maternal investment in offspring, and long generation times expose many iconic large mammals to elevated risks of extinction. Among these risks are habitat loss, habitat degradation, escalating threats of climate change, illegal killing, disease, or inbreeding. Comprehending the threats faced by large mammals, and exploring how to counter those challenges effectively, are important steps toward conserving wild populations now and in the near future.
The objective of this Integrated Research Topic is to provide an overview of the challenges to conserving viable populations of large terrestrial mammals in modern landscapes, including a critical evidence-based evaluation of the effectiveness of past and present solutions aimed at addressing these challenges.
We seek evidence-based papers related to the success or failure of conservation of wild, free-ranging terrestrial mammals, especially ungulates and the carnivores that prey upon them. Papers that span or integrate multiple sub-disciplines are encouraged. Submissions should be of interest to biologists studying other vertebrates. Research papers, or timely reviews of important topics (including case histories and systematic reviews) are welcome. We do not seek notes, or techniques papers; instead, we encourage manuscripts that use innovative approaches to answer questions pertaining to the conservation of large terrestrial mammals. To be considered for this Research Topic, papers should be broadly related to one or more these formative sub-disciplines in conservation biology:
• Demographics (including harvest and predator-prey dynamics)
• Legal or illegal hunting
• Genetics (including inbreeding and effective population sizes)
• Disease as causes or contributors to population declines
• Protected areas
• Success or failures of translocations
• Habitat loss, modification, or degradation
• Climate change
Large mammals are threatened worldwide. Life histories characterized by long life spans, delayed age at first reproduction, iteroparity, small litter sizes, high maternal investment in offspring, and long generation times expose many iconic large mammals to elevated risks of extinction. Among these risks are habitat loss, habitat degradation, escalating threats of climate change, illegal killing, disease, or inbreeding. Comprehending the threats faced by large mammals, and exploring how to counter those challenges effectively, are important steps toward conserving wild populations now and in the near future.
The objective of this Integrated Research Topic is to provide an overview of the challenges to conserving viable populations of large terrestrial mammals in modern landscapes, including a critical evidence-based evaluation of the effectiveness of past and present solutions aimed at addressing these challenges.
We seek evidence-based papers related to the success or failure of conservation of wild, free-ranging terrestrial mammals, especially ungulates and the carnivores that prey upon them. Papers that span or integrate multiple sub-disciplines are encouraged. Submissions should be of interest to biologists studying other vertebrates. Research papers, or timely reviews of important topics (including case histories and systematic reviews) are welcome. We do not seek notes, or techniques papers; instead, we encourage manuscripts that use innovative approaches to answer questions pertaining to the conservation of large terrestrial mammals. To be considered for this Research Topic, papers should be broadly related to one or more these formative sub-disciplines in conservation biology:
• Demographics (including harvest and predator-prey dynamics)
• Legal or illegal hunting
• Genetics (including inbreeding and effective population sizes)
• Disease as causes or contributors to population declines
• Protected areas
• Success or failures of translocations
• Habitat loss, modification, or degradation
• Climate change
