Everyone scavenges: From pole to equator, nature's recyclers perform a widespread and largely unheralded service.

This article explores the role of scavengers in ecosystems, with a focus on the scavenger community in the Kluane region of the Yukon in Canada. The study challenges the common perception of scavengers, revealing that they include not only expected species like ravens and magpies but also unexpected ones like Canada jays, lynx, and chipmunks. The research emphasizes the complex impacts of prey species on food webs and highlights the need for further study of scavengers. The article also discusses the global presence of scavengers and their importance in nutrient recycling. It concludes by highlighting the positive contributions of scavengers, such as vultures, in waste removal and disease prevention. The decline in vulture populations in India, linked to the use of diclofenac, has led to an increase in stray dog populations and an increase in dog bites and exposure to rabies in humans. In Spain, vultures have saved farmers an estimated $50 million by consuming livestock carcasses. Scavengers also play a crucial role in reducing disease risk by removing animal remains infected with brucellosis. Pumas contribute significantly to scavenger communities in North and South America, while brushtail possums in the Australian Alps are unexpected scavengers of kangaroo carcasses. However, scavengers face threats from climate change and habitat loss, and further research is needed to fully understand their role in ecosystems and disease transmission. [Extracted from the article]

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