A Geographic Assessment of the Global Scope for Rewilding with Wild-Living Horses (Equus ferus).
Abstract: Megafaunas worldwide have been decimated during the late Quaternary. Many extirpated species were keystone species, and their loss likely has had large effects on ecosystems. Therefore, it is increasingly considered how megafaunas can be restored. The horse (Equus ferus) is highly relevant in this context as it was once extremely widespread and, despite severe range contraction, survives in the form of domestic, feral, and originally wild horses. Further, it is a functionally important species, notably due to its ability to graze coarse, abrasive grasses. Here, we used species distribution modelling to link locations of wild-living E. ferus populations to climate to estimate climatically suitable areas for wild-living E. ferus. These models were combined with habitat information and past and present distributions of equid species to identify areas suitable for rewilding with E. ferus. Mean temperature in the coldest quarter, precipitation in the coldest quarter, and precipitation in the driest quarter emerged as the best climatic predictors. The distribution models estimated the climate to be suitable in large parts of the Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Australia and, combined with habitat mapping, revealed large areas to be suitable for rewilding with horses within its former range, including up to 1.5 million ha within five major rewilding areas in Europe. The widespread occurrence of suitable climates and habitats within E. ferus' former range together with its important functions cause it to be a key candidate for rewilding in large parts of the world. Successful re-establishment of wild-living horse populations will require handling the complexity of human-horse relations, for example, potential conflicts with ranchers and other agriculturalists or with other conservation aims, perception as a non-native invasive species in some regions, and coverage by legislation for domestic animals.
Publication Date: 2015-07-15 PubMed ID: 26177104PubMed Central: PMC4503665DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132359Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research focuses on the potential for rewilding of wild-living horses (Equus ferus) worldwide. It combines species distribution modelling with habitat, climatic conditions, and human-related factors to identify suitable areas for rewilding horses.
Understanding the Research
There are a few key aspects of the research that are essential to comprehend. These include:
- The motivation for the study, which stems from the significant reduction of megafauna during the late Quaternary period. Noting the loss of many species that played a vital role in ecosystems, the research sets out to explore the possibilities of rewilding — restoring animals to their natural habitats.
- The focus on the horse (Equus ferus), a species known for its past widespread distribution and importance in grazing coarse, abrasive grasses. This research is centered on understanding where this species might successfully be reintroduced.
- Use of species distribution modelling to estimate climatically suitable areas for wild-living E. ferus. This model links the locations of current wild horse populations to climate, which helps in assessing potential areas for rewilding.
- The three best climatic predictors identified — mean temperature and precipitation in the coldest quarter, and precipitation in the driest quarter. These factors play significant roles in identifying potential rewilding areas.
- The combination of climate suitability, habitat mapping, and past and present distributions of equid species to identify areas suitable for rewilding with E. ferus.
Findings of the Study
Key discoveries from the study comprise of:
- The identification of suitable climates for rewilding in large parts of the Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.
- The revelation of large areas suitable for rewilding with horses within its former range, including up to 1.5 million hectares within five major rewilding areas in Europe.
- The conclusion that the widespread occurrence of suitable climates and habitats, along with the horse’s important functions, make it a key candidate for rewilding in large parts of the world.
Challenges for Implementation
Several challenges for the successful re-establishment of wild-living horse populations emerge from the research:
- The complexity of human-horse relations, particularly potential conflicts with ranchers, agriculturalists, and other conservation aims.
- The perception of horses as non-native invasive species in some regions.
- The necessity to navigate and potentially adjust legislation for domestic animals to encompass rewilded horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Naundrup PJ, Svenning JC.
(2015).
A Geographic Assessment of the Global Scope for Rewilding with Wild-Living Horses (Equus ferus).
PLoS One, 10(7), e0132359.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132359 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Africa
- Americas
- Animal Distribution / physiology
- Animals
- Australia
- Climate
- Climate Change
- Conservation of Natural Resources / legislation & jurisprudence
- Conservation of Natural Resources / methods
- Ecosystem
- Europe
- Geography
- Horses / physiology
- Humans
- Models, Theoretical
- Population Dynamics
- Wilderness
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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