Research Alert
Newswise — Each year, WCS scientists author or co-author nearly 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3 Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet – in bite sized helpings – of some of this published work.
1. Many scavenger species are in a state of rapid decline and there is growing evidence these declines can drastically alter ecological food webs.
2. Researchers looked at evidence supporting the increase in “mesoscavengers” – those less-efficient scavengers occupying mid-trophic levels – and increase in carrion in the face of declining apex scavengers.
3. The authors further examine the ecological and human well-being implications of apex scavenger decline, including carrion removal and disease regulation services.
Study and Journal: "The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well-being" from Ecology Letters
WCS Co-Author(s): James Watson , Director WCS Science and Research Initiative