Wild and domestic animals shape herbivory threats to endangered plants differently

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Wild and domestic animals shape herbivory threats to endangered plants differently
Authors: Domínguez Lozano, Felipe, Navas, Sandra, Sánchez De Dios, Rut
Contributors: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Source: Docta Complutense
instname
Publisher Information: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: Ecología (Biología), Medio ambiente natural, 2410.05 Ecología Humana, 2417.13 Ecología Vegetal, Botánica (Biología), Plant conservation, 3106.01 Conservación, Protected areas, Grazing, 5102.11 Ganadería, Mountains, Spanish flora, 591.5, Rare plants, 502.1, 581.5
Description: In this study, we focus on threatened flora in Spain to analyze the role of various drivers of herbivory in the process by which plants become endangered, attempting to identify patterns in the drivers and threats. Thus, using Hurdle negative binomial regression models, we first test whether herbivory, as a reported threat, is spatially related to its drivers. In the second step, through exploratory data analysis, we study patterns of the herbivory threat in relation to biogeography and conservation factors. Finally, we model the spatial relationships of herbivory to produce a map of hotspots. Our main finding points to wild herbivores, rather than domestic animals, as the major contributors to defining the present spatial distribution of herbivory threatened plants in Spain. Furthermore, we identify the elevation variable as another important factor. Thus, at higher altitudes, there is a correlation between the number of rare plants, high wild herbivores presence, and the existence of protected areas. At present, mountain areas experience conflicts of interest in the conservation of wildlife and rare plants. At the same time, in lower- elevation areas, livestock are no longer concentrated in the lowlands, which reduces direct pressure on rare plants. Accordingly, we propose specific management strategies: for lowland areas, we propose promoting the presence of wild herbivores. At higher altitudes, we propose to use of natural predators as a tool for plant conservation. In the case of Island herbivory, the active removal of non-native animals using negotiation with diverse social groups is necessary.
Document Type: Article
File Description: application/pdf
Language: English
ISSN: 1572-9710
0960-3115
DOI: 10.1007/s10531-025-03026-9
Access URL: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120262
Rights: CC BY
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....acfa2dcfd58c749b6bd7f5c4aa46f86e
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:In this study, we focus on threatened flora in Spain to analyze the role of various drivers of herbivory in the process by which plants become endangered, attempting to identify patterns in the drivers and threats. Thus, using Hurdle negative binomial regression models, we first test whether herbivory, as a reported threat, is spatially related to its drivers. In the second step, through exploratory data analysis, we study patterns of the herbivory threat in relation to biogeography and conservation factors. Finally, we model the spatial relationships of herbivory to produce a map of hotspots. Our main finding points to wild herbivores, rather than domestic animals, as the major contributors to defining the present spatial distribution of herbivory threatened plants in Spain. Furthermore, we identify the elevation variable as another important factor. Thus, at higher altitudes, there is a correlation between the number of rare plants, high wild herbivores presence, and the existence of protected areas. At present, mountain areas experience conflicts of interest in the conservation of wildlife and rare plants. At the same time, in lower- elevation areas, livestock are no longer concentrated in the lowlands, which reduces direct pressure on rare plants. Accordingly, we propose specific management strategies: for lowland areas, we propose promoting the presence of wild herbivores. At higher altitudes, we propose to use of natural predators as a tool for plant conservation. In the case of Island herbivory, the active removal of non-native animals using negotiation with diverse social groups is necessary.
ISSN:15729710
09603115
DOI:10.1007/s10531-025-03026-9