TY - JOUR
T1 - Drivers and sustainability of bird hunting in Madagascar
AU - Borgerson, Cortni
AU - Bankoff, Richard J.
AU - Golden, Christopher D.
AU - Razafindrapaoly, Be Noel
AU - Rasolofoniaina, Be Jean Rodolph
AU - Rajaona, Delox
AU - Pascal, Elison
AU - De Angelo, Peter
AU - Martin, Dominic A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by the National Geographic Society (C280–14,C021–17,55616C‐20), Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Primate Action Fund, National Science Foundation (1513638), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN‐SOS 2018A‐117), and Forschungskredit of University of Zurich (FK‐21‐128). Institutional Animal Care and Use and Human Subjects Institutional Review Boards (No. 10‐0010,0595 University of Massachusetts Amherst; 12–0028,13‐1862,15‐0002,2230 Harvard University; 18‐19‐1349,19‐055,22‐077 Montclair State University) approved all research.
Funding Information:
This research was funded by the National Geographic Society (C280–14,C021–17,55616C-20), Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Primate Action Fund, National Science Foundation (1513638), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN-SOS 2018A-117), and Forschungskredit of University of Zurich (FK-21-128). Institutional Animal Care and Use and Human Subjects Institutional Review Boards (No. 10-0010,0595 University of Massachusetts Amherst; 12–0028,13-1862,15-0002,2230 Harvard University; 18-19-1349,19-055,22-077 Montclair State University) approved all research. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the communities in which we work, the editor, the anonymous reviewers, the Republic of Madagascar, and Madagascar National Parks for their continued support.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Conservation Letters published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2023/7/1
Y1 - 2023/7/1
N2 - Bird conservation depends on robust data on the densities of and threats to each species, and an understanding of the choices and incentives of bird hunters. This first comprehensive study of bird hunting and its effects in Madagascar uses 8 years of data on 87 bird species to determine bird densities and hunting pressure, incentives, choices, methods, spatial variation, and sustainability on the Masoala Peninsula of Madagascar. We find that bird hunting is common, affecting human wellbeing and, for some species, long-term population viability. Hunters caught more abundant species of lower trophic levels and consumers preferred the flavor of abundant granivores and nectarivores, while they disliked carnivores, scavengers, and species with common cultural proscriptions. Wealth increased species selectivity among consumers, whereas food insecurity increased hunting pressure overall. Projected and documented declines in at least three species are concerning, qualifying at least two for increased IUCN threatened species categories. We provide novel, data-driven assessments of hunting's threat to Madagascar's birds, identify key species of concern, and suggest both species- and consumer-specific conservation actions.
AB - Bird conservation depends on robust data on the densities of and threats to each species, and an understanding of the choices and incentives of bird hunters. This first comprehensive study of bird hunting and its effects in Madagascar uses 8 years of data on 87 bird species to determine bird densities and hunting pressure, incentives, choices, methods, spatial variation, and sustainability on the Masoala Peninsula of Madagascar. We find that bird hunting is common, affecting human wellbeing and, for some species, long-term population viability. Hunters caught more abundant species of lower trophic levels and consumers preferred the flavor of abundant granivores and nectarivores, while they disliked carnivores, scavengers, and species with common cultural proscriptions. Wealth increased species selectivity among consumers, whereas food insecurity increased hunting pressure overall. Projected and documented declines in at least three species are concerning, qualifying at least two for increased IUCN threatened species categories. We provide novel, data-driven assessments of hunting's threat to Madagascar's birds, identify key species of concern, and suggest both species- and consumer-specific conservation actions.
KW - Agapornis canus
KW - bushmeat
KW - conservation
KW - Coracopsis
KW - density
KW - Masoala National Park
KW - population viability analysis
KW - Treron australis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162969140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/conl.12960
DO - 10.1111/conl.12960
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85162969140
SN - 1755-263X
VL - 16
JO - Conservation Letters
JF - Conservation Letters
IS - 4
M1 - e12960
ER -