Implications of taxonomic bias for human–carnivore conflict mitigation

Claire F Hoffmann,Robert A Montgomery

doi:10.1017/s0030605321000582

Claire F Hoffmann, Robert A Montgomery

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605321000582

Copy DOI

Abstract

AbstractCarnivore population declines are a time-sensitive global challenge in which mitigating decreasing populations requires alignment of applied practice and research priorities. However, large carnivore conservation is hindered by gaps among research, conservation practice and policy formation. One potential driver of this research–implementation gap is research bias towards charismatic species. Using depredation of livestock by large carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa as a case study, we examined whether taxonomic bias could be detected and explored the potential effects of such a bias on the research–implementation gap. Via a literature review, we compared the central large carnivore species in research to the species identified as the primary livestock depredator. We detected a substantial misalignment between these factors for two species. Spotted hyaenasCrocuta crocutawere the most common depredator of livestock (58.5% of studies), but were described as a central species among only 20.7% of the studies. In comparison, African lionsPanthera leowere the most common central species (45% of studies) but were the primary depredator in just 24.4% of studies. Such patterns suggest that taxonomic bias is prevalent within this research. Although spotted hyaenas may depredate livestock most often, their low charisma in comparison to sympatric species such as the African lion and leopardPanthera pardusmay be limiting research-informed conservation efforts for them. Efforts to mitigate human-carnivore conflict designed for one species may not be applicable to another co-occurring species, and thus, taxonomic bias could undermine the efficacy of interventions built to reduce livestock depredation by carnivores.

Highlights

We examined the ways in which misalignment among these factors could contribute to the research–implementation gap affecting human–carnivore conflict mitigation
We detected a misalignment of this type within research on livestock depredation by carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa
We found that spotted hyaenas were the central species in only a small proportion of studies despite being the most common primary livestock depredator

Summary

Introduction

More than % of the remaining large carnivore species have declining population trajectories (Chapron et al, ; Ripple et al, ; Eklund et al, ). Widespread concerns relating to carnivore conservation are reflected in the literature; publication of peer-reviewed research has increased exponentially in the last decades (Krafte Holland et al, ; Montgomery et al, a,b; Lozano et al, ). This literature has identified a number of drivers of carnivore population declines, including habitat loss, prey depletion, disease and climate change (Inskip & Zimmermann, ; Estes et al, ; Ripple et al, ; Wolf & Ripple, ). Retaliation for livestock depredation is consistently cited as one of the primary threats to carnivore population persistence (Inskip & Zimmermann, ; Tumenta et al, ; Ripple et al, ; Krafte Holland et al, ; van Eeden et al, a,b)

Methods

Results

Conclusion