Global synthesis reveals that ecosystem degradation poses the primary threat to the world’s medicinal animals

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

article

Monica L. Short¹  Chris T. Darimont¹ 

[1]Department of Geography, University of Victoria

[2]Raincoast Conservation Foundation

关键词: animals;    conservation;    endangerment;    ethnomedicine;    ethnozoology;    global;    medicine;    threats;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-12174-260121

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Although overexploitation threatens some high-profile medicinal animals, little is known about global patterns in the use of—and threats to—medicinal animals. We examined data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List and a literature survey to identify a diverse catalog of medicinal animals (n = 1660). Most known species (~77%) are chordates in terrestrial habitats (~72%). Intensity of use generally maps to biodiverse regions with low human development. Most (~63%) species are decreasing, and primary threats relate to habitat loss and modification. Many (~62%) species have multiple uses, which is associated with higher endangerment and threats from exploitation than species used solely for medicine. Spiritual use medicinal species have a higher proportion of “at-risk” species (~19%) than those used otherwise (~6%), potentially owing to associations among rarity, perceived efficacy, and demand. These findings can inform spatially and taxonomically explicit biocultural strategies to safeguard not only biodiversity but also important human–animal relationships.

【 授权许可】

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