Large animals, such as the imperious African elephant, most vulnerable to impact of human expansion

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/uoe-las100416.php

Public Release: 4-Oct-2016
Large animals, such as the imperious African elephant, most vulnerable to impact of human expansion
University of Exeter

Some of the most iconic giants of the animal kingdom, such as the imperious African elephant, are most vulnerable to the detrimental impact of human expansion, new research has shown.

A team of scientists, led by Lewis Bartlett from the University of Exeter, have studied the alarming extent changes to the natural environment - through activities such as farming, expansion and climate change - have on the local ecosystem.

In particular, the team studied the influence that habitat loss and fragmentation - where once great swathes of land are broken into smaller, isolated patches - can have on native wildlife.

They discovered that larger animals, such as the the elephant, are more vulnerable to changes to their natural surroundings - and so be most exposed to the threat of extinction.

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