Journal article 26 views 10 downloads
Long‐term changes in functional diversity and its implications for mammalian conservation and ecological restoration in a grassland ecosystem
,
Catalina Pimiento ,
Tiago B. Quental,
Pedro L. Godoy
Functional Ecology
Swansea University Author:
Catalina Pimiento
-
PDF | Version of Record
© 2026 The Author(s). Functional Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Download (4.53MB)
DOI (Published version): 10.1111/1365-2435.70378
Abstract
Paleontological data provide information on natural environments prior to human influence, which are useful for tracking changes in ecosystem functioning through time. During the Late Pleistocene, about 10% of terrestrial mammalian species were extinct in South America. Given the key ecological role...
| Published in: | Functional Ecology |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0269-8463 1365-2435 |
| Published: |
Wiley
2026
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa72077 |
| Abstract: |
Paleontological data provide information on natural environments prior to human influence, which are useful for tracking changes in ecosystem functioning through time. During the Late Pleistocene, about 10% of terrestrial mammalian species were extinct in South America. Given the key ecological roles played by the megafauna, different approaches to ecological restoration are constantly debated. Among these, livestock has been suggested as an important factor for biodiversity maintenance and for the conservation of ecological processes, particularly in grassland ecosystems. We investigated the ecological impacts of the biodiversity loss during the Late Pleistocene extinctions, focusing on terrestrial mammals from the Brazilian Pampa as a study model. To do so, we quantified and compared the functional diversity of assemblages from the Pleistocene (pre‐extinction), Holocene (post‐extinction) and Recent (post‐extinction + introductions), and assessed whether introduced herbivores are suitable substitutes for lost species. Our results show that functional loss has outpaced taxonomic decline since the Late Pleistocene. Introduced species, despite playing a role in filling some lost ecological functions, are mainly functionally redundant. Common domesticated livestock species, such as cattle (Bos spp.), are not functionally similar to any extinct species in this South American landscape. Conversely, some introduced species may be fulfilling ecological functions left vacant by the megafauna. From a functional perspective, we also identified current endangered species that are functionally unique and specialized. This study illustrates how paleontological data may be useful for delineating and improving conservation and ecological restoration, and highlights that future conservation decisions should prioritize species important for preserving ecosystem functions. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
alien species, extinction, livestock, megafauna, Pampa, Quaternary, South America |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo. Grant Number: 2024/09825-7;
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior. Grant Number: 88887.020039/2024-00. |