Biological Reviews: Freshwater megafauna shape ecosystems and facilitate restoration

The European beaver (Castor fiber) is one of the aquatic megafauna. | Graphic: Studio Adén

Biological Reviews: Freshwater megafauna shape ecosystems and facilitate restoration

Large Animals promote freshwater biodiversity

The population abundance of large freshwater animals such as sturgeons, giant catfish, river dolphins, hippos, crocodylians and large turtles has declined sharply worldwide, as has the size of their distribution areas. While the causes of the declines of these megafauna have been frequently investigated, our knowledge of the impacts of megafaunal loss in freshwater ecosystems remains limited. Researchers from IGB in cooperation with colleagues from the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, the Aarhus University, the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research and the University of Granada, demonstrate that native megafauna shape habitat structure and can promote biodiversity in freshwaters. Protecting and reinstating these species can therefore contribute to ecosystem restoration of inland waters.

here is the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/brv.13062