Potential contribution of mammals to human well-being in Argentina

ALONSO ROLDÁN, V.; CAMINO, M.; ARGOITIA, A; CAMPOS, C.M.; CARUSO, N.; EDER, E.B.; BALDI, R.; BIROCHIO, E.D.; CAPPA, F.; LASSAGA, M.V.; OLMEDO, M.L.; FORMOSO, A.E.; D'AGOSTINO, V.; GONZÁLEZ NOSCHESE, C.S.; UDRIZAR SAUTHIER, D. E.; JUÁREZ, C.P.; DEGRATI, M.; IGLESIAS, M.; COELHO, L.; SOSA DROUVILLE, A.; PRIOTTO, J.W.

MASTOZOOLOGí­A NEOTROPICAL

UNIDAD DE ZOOLOGÍA Y ECOLOGÍA ANIMAL, INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS ARIDAS, CRICYT, CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2022

0327-9383

Mammals are key components of biodiversity mediating ecosystem functions, mainly 55 because of the diversity of forms and functions of this group. Understanding and making explicit 56 the role of mammals underpinning Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) or directly 57 contributing to human well-being would help to influence policy formulation towards sustainable 58 development and nature conservation. Through a workshop held at the XXXII Jornadas 59 Argentinas de Mastozoología and subsequent collaborative work, we compiled information 60 related to Mammal’s Contributions to People in Argentina (MCP-Arg) based on participants’ 61 interpretation of the available literature and their field experience. Argentinian mammals 62 contribute to 12 of the 18 defined NCPs. We derived numerous MCP-Arg from studies that 63 focused mainly on ecological processes and conservation, revealing an information gap in MCP-64 Arg description, quantification, and mapping. All taxa contribute similarly to the overall 65 contributions, highlighting the importance of preserving mammal diversity. Conservation should 66 also be framed at the local community rather than regional scales, aiming to preserve ecological 67 functioning and contributions to human well-being, especially within regulation contributions. 68 Our results show destructive feedback between threats and habitat-related contributions, with 69 habitat degradation being the greatest threat to mammalian contributions and habitat maintenance 70 the most threatened one. Our research indicates that a substantial amount of knowledge about 71 MCP-Arg is available through narratives and interpretations. Considering the NCP approach to 72 mammalian research, we can make significant contributions to both mammal conservation and 73 human well-being.