Interações entre pessoas e mamíferos silvestres no mundo: usos, conflitos e conservação

Abstract

Mammals are used for various purposes by human groups worldwide. However, the selection and use of species are not random, as they are influenced by the biological and ecological characteristics of the species, as well as cultural and socioeconomic factors. Currently, the exploitation of mammals to meet human needs, along with the increasing demands of the wildlife trade (including parts, products, and live animals), poses a significant threat to many species. This study therefore, analyses the factors that determine the selection and use of wild mammals on a global scale. The main objectives were to test how species traits influence the selection of species for the wildlife trade, use as pets, and for food (bushmeat), as well as species involved in conflicts with humans. Additional objectives were to identify the regions with the greatest species richness and to assess whether there is bias in studies investigating mammal consumption in these categories. Through a systematic review, we compiled a comprehensive database and used phylogenetic comparative methods to test whether species traits influence mammal consumption and conflicts with humans. Furthermore, we tested which socioeconomic variables influence the consumption of these animals and how they do so. A significant number of species are used in the wildlife trade (n = 458), as pets (n = 704), as food (n = 1,486), and are involved in conflict with humans (n = 713). Among the recorded species, at least 162, 300, 391, and 160 are considered threatened by trade, use as pets, bushmeat consumption, and conflicts with humans, respectively. Species traits determine their use in all categories investigated. Generally, species with larger body mass and wider distribution are more frequently used as pets, as food (bushmeat), and in conflicts with humans. In addition, larger and more widely distributed species are more frequently commercialised (they have more body parts used and are commercialised for more purposes). Species ́ uses are grouped phylogenetically, meaning that evolutionary closely related species are involved in the same categories investigated. Species ́ uses are globally widespread; however, countries in tropical areas have greater species richness in each of the categories investigated. Based on our results, at least 127, 65, 133, and 125 countries were involved in the consumption of mammal for trade, pets, bushmeat, and in conflicts with humans, respectively. Low-and-middle income countries have greater species richness in all four categories that we have investigated. Overall, our results substantially expand knowledge of the determinants of consumption and conflicts involving wild mammals by human populations, and enable better contextualisation on a global scale to inform public policies aimed at mitigating problems related to the consumption of these animals, both for the populations of the exploited species and to ensure the well-being of human populations.