Selective impacts of subsistence hunting on mammal communities in Manu National Park, Peru

Subsistence hunting in Manu National Park, Peru, appears to have selective impacts on mammal communities without causing significant depletion of most species. Research using camera trap data found that sites with no or low hunting pressure harbor relatively more large-bodied carnivores and species with long generation lengths and small litters, suggesting these are particularly vulnerable to hunting. Conversely, smaller-bodied rodents with short generation lengths and large litters dominate hunted sites. Surprisingly, large herbivores—commonly hunted—showed no significant decline across the gradient. The study also highlighted that habitat factors (e.g., distance to water bodies) can be more influential than hunting pressure for some species, underscoring the need for localized forest management strategies.

McFarlane, J. J., Chacón, O. M., Arauco‐Aliaga, R. P., Braunholtz, L., Sanderson, R., & Pfeifer, M. (2024). Selective impacts of subsistence hunting on mammal communities in Manu National Park, Peru. Biotropica, 56(5). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13367