Carrion ecology: concepts, interdisciplinary synthesis, and perspectives

@article{moleon2026carrion,
  title = {{Carrion ecology: concepts, interdisciplinary synthesis, and perspectives}},
  author = {Marcos Moleón and José A. Sánchez‐Zapata and Travis L. DeVault and Wayne M. Getz and Zebensui Morales‐Reyes and Daniel Redondo‐Gómez and Lara Naves‐Alegre and Solange A. Batista‐Nunes and Esther Sebastián‐González and Juan M. Pérez‐García and Kelly A. Waters and Thijs van Overveld and Craig Smith and Nuria Selva and Thomas A. Schlacher and Graeme Ruxton and Jesús Rodríguez and Martina‐M. Quaggiotto and Paula L. Perrig and Norman Owen‐Smith and Thomas M. Newsome and Isabel Navas and Yoshihiro Nakashima and Ana Mateos and Carlos Martínez‐Carrasco and Daniel Martín‐Vega and Berta Martín‐López and Antoni Margalida and Sergio A. Lambertucci and Adam Kane and Kevin Healy and Akane Hashizume and Antonio J. García‐Fernández and José A. Donázar and M. Eric Benbow and James C. Beasley and Philip S. Barton and Kathleen A. Alexander and Eneko Arrondo},
  journal = {Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1002/brv.70203},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/brv.70203},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Carrion ecology: concepts, interdisciplinary synthesis, and perspectives
AU  - Marcos Moleón
AU  - José A. Sánchez‐Zapata
AU  - Travis L. DeVault
AU  - Wayne M. Getz
AU  - Zebensui Morales‐Reyes
AU  - Daniel Redondo‐Gómez
AU  - Lara Naves‐Alegre
AU  - Solange A. Batista‐Nunes
AU  - Esther Sebastián‐González
AU  - Juan M. Pérez‐García
AU  - Kelly A. Waters
AU  - Thijs van Overveld
AU  - Craig Smith
AU  - Nuria Selva
AU  - Thomas A. Schlacher
AU  - Graeme Ruxton
AU  - Jesús Rodríguez
AU  - Martina‐M. Quaggiotto
AU  - Paula L. Perrig
AU  - Norman Owen‐Smith
AU  - Thomas M. Newsome
AU  - Isabel Navas
AU  - Yoshihiro Nakashima
AU  - Ana Mateos
AU  - Carlos Martínez‐Carrasco
AU  - Daniel Martín‐Vega
AU  - Berta Martín‐López
AU  - Antoni Margalida
AU  - Sergio A. Lambertucci
AU  - Adam Kane
AU  - Kevin Healy
AU  - Akane Hashizume
AU  - Antonio J. García‐Fernández
AU  - José A. Donázar
AU  - M. Eric Benbow
AU  - James C. Beasley
AU  - Philip S. Barton
AU  - Kathleen A. Alexander
AU  - Eneko Arrondo
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/17
JO  - Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
DO  - 10.1002/brv.70203
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/brv.70203
AB  - Carrion is a ubiquitous resource in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, yet it has long been overlooked in ecological research. Over the past two decades, studies on carrion and the many organisms that exploit it have flourished, revealing not only wide‐ranging ecological functions but also significance far beyond ecology. This growing body of knowledge underscores the need for the formal recognition and consolidation of carrion ecology as a distinct ecological discipline. In this review, we begin by outlining the ecological features that make carrion a unique resource, provide practical definitions of scavenger and scavenging to reduce persistent ambiguities, describe carcass decomposition by linking stages with insect succession, and position carrion within a broader scientific context. Building on this foundation, we then pursue three main goals. First, we show how incorporating carrion ecology enriches ecological concepts and paradigms across levels of biological organisation, from individuals to ecosystems. Second, we emphasise how expanding knowledge of carrion ecology informs many disciplines beyond ecology. Third, we present a conceptual framework that integrates the diverse ecological functions of carrion across eco‐evolutionary timescales and addresses the structured and dynamic connections among the multiple disciplines concerned with carrion. By underscoring the ecological and interdisciplinary relevance of this resource, our framework not only clarifies the components and flows of the carrion system but also highlights opportunities for novel cross‐disciplinary collaborations. As carrion ecology continues to mature as a scientific field, we expect that this review and synthesis will consolidate current knowledge, stimulate innovative research across disciplines, and firmly position carrion ecology within the broader ecological and scientific landscape.
SN  - 1464-7931
SN  - 1469-185X
ER  -