About this Research Topic
Protected areas are essential components of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision, and large and medium-sized mammals are among the most iconic and important species in many protected areas worldwide. However, the conservation status of these mammals has been deteriorating due to various anthropogenic factors such as habitat destruction, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts, among others. According to recent reports by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), about 30% of large mammal species are threatened with extinction, with primates, ungulates, and carnivores being among the most endangered groups. This alarming situation calls for urgent and effective conservation efforts, particularly within protected areas.
To date, much research has focused on understanding the ecological processes that underlie the population dynamics and community structure of large and medium-sized mammals in protected areas. For example, studies have shown that large mammal populations can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, influencing vegetation composition, nutrient cycling, and other ecosystem processes. However, our understanding of the complex interactions between large mammal populations, their habitat requirements, and the management strategies implemented in protected areas remains incomplete.
Recent research has highlighted the importance of integrating ecological theory and management practices to enhance the effectiveness of protected area management in conserving large mammal populations. For example, studies have shown that restoring natural disturbance regimes, such as wildfires or flooding, can benefit large mammal populations by creating habitat heterogeneity and promoting species diversity. Similarly, research has demonstrated the importance of considering the social and economic contexts of protected areas when designing management strategies, to ensure that conservation efforts are socially acceptable and economically sustainable. Given these recent developments, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive review and synthesis of the latest research on protected area management and large mammal conservation, grounded in ecological theory and informed by management practice.
This special issue aims to fill this gap by bringing together original research, reviews, and perspectives on the topic of protected area management and large mammal conservation. The special issue will focus on both theoretical and practical aspects, including field-based studies that provide insights into the effectiveness of different management strategies for protecting large mammal populations. Through this collection of articles, we hope to enhance our understanding of the complex interactions between large mammal populations, their habitat requirements, and the management strategies implemented in protected areas. We aim to identify best practices and innovative approaches for conserving large mammal populations within protected areas, as well as to highlight emerging research needs and opportunities in this field. Ultimately, we hope that this special issue will contribute to the development of evidence-based conservation policies and management strategies that ensure the long-term survival of large mammal populations in protected areas.
This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research on protected area management and large mammal conservation. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives on a range of topics, including the ecological processes underlying large mammal populations and community structure, the effectiveness of different management strategies for protecting large mammal populations, and the social and economic contexts of protected areas. Potential manuscript themes include, but are not limited to:
l The ecological principles underlying mammal population conservation, including population dynamics, habitat requirements, and species interactions.
l The impacts of protected area management on the population dynamics and ecology of large and medium-sized mammals, including topics such as habitat management, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflict.
l The application of technological and methodological tools for the conservation of large and medium-sized mammals, such as the use of drones for population monitoring and biodiversity models to assess habitat quality.
l The role of community engagement and education in the conservation of large and medium-sized mammals, including topics such as citizen science, traditional ecological knowledge, and community-based conservation approaches.
l The effects of climate change on large mammal populations in protected areas
l Human-wildlife conflict management strategies in protected areas
l The role of citizen science in large mammal monitoring and conservation
l Innovative technologies for monitoring large mammal populations in protected areas
l The use of conservation corridors and habitat restoration for large mammal conservation
l The role of protected areas in conserving migratory large mammals
To date, much research has focused on understanding the ecological processes that underlie the population dynamics and community structure of large and medium-sized mammals in protected areas. For example, studies have shown that large mammal populations can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, influencing vegetation composition, nutrient cycling, and other ecosystem processes. However, our understanding of the complex interactions between large mammal populations, their habitat requirements, and the management strategies implemented in protected areas remains incomplete.
Recent research has highlighted the importance of integrating ecological theory and management practices to enhance the effectiveness of protected area management in conserving large mammal populations. For example, studies have shown that restoring natural disturbance regimes, such as wildfires or flooding, can benefit large mammal populations by creating habitat heterogeneity and promoting species diversity. Similarly, research has demonstrated the importance of considering the social and economic contexts of protected areas when designing management strategies, to ensure that conservation efforts are socially acceptable and economically sustainable. Given these recent developments, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive review and synthesis of the latest research on protected area management and large mammal conservation, grounded in ecological theory and informed by management practice.
This special issue aims to fill this gap by bringing together original research, reviews, and perspectives on the topic of protected area management and large mammal conservation. The special issue will focus on both theoretical and practical aspects, including field-based studies that provide insights into the effectiveness of different management strategies for protecting large mammal populations. Through this collection of articles, we hope to enhance our understanding of the complex interactions between large mammal populations, their habitat requirements, and the management strategies implemented in protected areas. We aim to identify best practices and innovative approaches for conserving large mammal populations within protected areas, as well as to highlight emerging research needs and opportunities in this field. Ultimately, we hope that this special issue will contribute to the development of evidence-based conservation policies and management strategies that ensure the long-term survival of large mammal populations in protected areas.
This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research on protected area management and large mammal conservation. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives on a range of topics, including the ecological processes underlying large mammal populations and community structure, the effectiveness of different management strategies for protecting large mammal populations, and the social and economic contexts of protected areas. Potential manuscript themes include, but are not limited to:
l The ecological principles underlying mammal population conservation, including population dynamics, habitat requirements, and species interactions.
l The impacts of protected area management on the population dynamics and ecology of large and medium-sized mammals, including topics such as habitat management, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflict.
l The application of technological and methodological tools for the conservation of large and medium-sized mammals, such as the use of drones for population monitoring and biodiversity models to assess habitat quality.
l The role of community engagement and education in the conservation of large and medium-sized mammals, including topics such as citizen science, traditional ecological knowledge, and community-based conservation approaches.
l The effects of climate change on large mammal populations in protected areas
l Human-wildlife conflict management strategies in protected areas
l The role of citizen science in large mammal monitoring and conservation
l Innovative technologies for monitoring large mammal populations in protected areas
l The use of conservation corridors and habitat restoration for large mammal conservation
l The role of protected areas in conserving migratory large mammals
Keywords: protected areas, large mammals, biodiversity conservation, population dynamics, management practices, medium-sized mammal
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
