Impacts of Anthropocene Defaunation on Plant-Animal Interactions

Abstract

Defaunation, the local decline in animal abundance, the contraction of their range, and global extinction of species, is an overlooked manifestation of the Anthropocene. Available information however shows that it is an omnipresent and impactful disturbance on biodiversity which is causing significant disruptions in species interactions networks, including plant-animal interactions. In some instances, defaunation leads to the local extinction of interactions such as herbivory. Furthermore, defaunation can cause cascading effects reverberating throughout the community and ultimately threatening Earth’s biodiversity and life support systems. This chapter aims at introducing the readers to this critical, contemporary issue of the Anthropocene.