Carrion ecology: concepts, interdisciplinary synthesis, and perspectives
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.
Authors
- Nuria Selva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3389-201X)
- Akane Hashizume (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1493-2354)
- Norman Owen‐Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8429-1201)
- Philip S. Barton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8377-2211)
- Marcos Moleón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3126-619X)
- James C. Beasley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9707-3713)
- Paula L. Perrig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4269-9468)
- Sergio A. Lambertucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2624-2185)
- Carlos Martínez‐Carrasco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8742-0109)
- Yoshihiro Nakashima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2415-5555)
- Zebensui Morales‐Reyes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4529-8651)
- Thomas M. Newsome (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3457-3256)
- M. Eric Benbow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2630-0282)
- Daniel Redondo‐Gómez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8942-8203)
- Eneko Arrondo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1728-9800)
- Esther Sebastián‐González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7229-1845)
- Daniel Martín‐Vega (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5626-5441)
- Juan Peréz-García
- Antoni Margalida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0576-3993)
- Adam Kane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2830-5338)
- Kathleen A. Alexander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7338-5341)
- Antonio J. García-Fernández (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9509-9124)
- José A. Donázar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9433-9755)
- Kevin Healy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3548-6253)
- Thijs van Overveld
- Lara Naves‐Alegre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4712-4129)
- Ana Mateos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0676-9836)
- Kelly A. Waters
- Berta Martín-López
- Jesús Rodríguez
- Travis L. DeVault
- José A. Sánchez-Zapata
- Graeme Ruxton
- Thomas A. Schlacher
- Isabel Navas
- Wayne M. Getz
- Craig Smith
- Martina‐M. Quaggiotto
- Solange A. Batista‐Nunes
Institutions
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Nihon University (JP)
- Universitat de Miguel Hernández d'Elx (ES)
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg (DE)
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- University of Stirling (GB)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- University of Alicante (ES)
- Berkeley College (US)
- Deakin University (AU)
- Universidad de La Laguna (ES)
- University of Georgia (US)
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- University of the Sunshine Coast (AU)
- Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
- Universidad de Alcalá (ES)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- Savannah River National Laboratory (US)
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES)
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (ES)
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (ES)
- Institute of Nature Conservation (PL)
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (ES)
- University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant (US)
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (JP)
- Universidad Nacional del Comahue (AR)
- Universidad de Murcia (ES)
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Michigan State University (US)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
- Published
- 2026-07-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/brv.70203
- Primary Topic
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- “la Caixa” Foundation
- Asociación Española De Ecología Terrestre
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas