Headlines:Humans are the most diverse and dangerous predators on Earth, study finds
July 21, 2023.
A new study published in the Communications Biology section of nature.com reveals that humans use or threaten almost 15,000 vertebrate species for various purposes, such as food, pets, medicine, and sport. This is much more than any other predator on the planet, and has serious implications for biodiversity and ecosystem function.
The researchers analyzed data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to estimate the extent and diversity of human predation across six vertebrate classes. They found that humans exploit about a third of all vertebrate species, and that exploitation is a threat for 12% of them. Also, 4% of all vertebrates are at risk of extinction due to human use.
The study also compared humanity’s predatory niche with other wide-ranging predators of vertebrates, such as sharks, lions, and eagles. They found that humans prey on 5 to 300 times more species than these predators, and that there is a high overlap in their prey. This suggests that humans might compete with other predators and affect their populations and behavior.
The researchers also examined the ecological traits of the exploited species, such as body size, diet, habitat, and reproduction. They found that humans target species that are larger-bodied, longer-lived, have more herbivorous diets, and have larger habitat breadths than those not used. They also found that those species at risk of extinction occupy a disproportionally large and unique region of trait space, meaning that their loss would reduce the ecological diversity present in ecosystems.
The study highlights the evolutionary and cultural factors that have shaped humanity’s predatory niche over time. Humans evolved as meat-eating, tool-using, and cooperative hunters, which enabled them to overcome the limitations of other predators. They also developed material, medicinal, and companion animal culture, which expanded their use of wildlife beyond food. Also, advances in technology, global commerce, and trade have allowed humans to exploit a wide range of species across the globe.
The study calls for urgent action to prevent further loss of species and ecological function due to human predation. It suggests that society needs to recognize the effects of human predation on nature and learn from place-based management systems that have enabled sustainable harvests over millennia. It also recommends reducing consumption, promoting sustainable harvests, and protecting habitats as ways to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem function.