Ecological Dynamics of Feral Equid Populations

Feral equids, primarily descended from domestic horses, have established populations across diverse landscapes on every inhabited continent. Their ecological dynamics are shaped by interactions with native flora and fauna, hydrological regimes and land-use patterns. As large herbivores with high mobility and broad diet breadth, feral horses influence plant community composition through selective grazing, trampling and seed dispersal. In semi-arid and arid rangelands they may alter soil structure, reduce vegetation cover and exacerbate erosion, ultimately modifying water infiltration and microhabitat availability. Competition for limited water and forage can displace native ungulates, while exclusion of feral horses often leads to rapid vegetation recovery and shifts in ecosystem function. Spatial patterns of movement reflect resource distribution and seasonal constraints, driving concentration at critical water sources and corridors. Management approaches range from population reduction and fertility control to habitat restoration, each with trade-offs for animal welfare, stakeholder acceptance and long-term ecosystem resilience. Understanding the balance between ecological impact and naturalisation of feral equids is essential for informed conservation strategies and sustainable rangeland management worldwide.

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Ecological Dynamics of Feral Equid Populations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecological dynamics of feral equid populations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Exclosure: A fenced or otherwise protected area that prevents animal access, used to assess impacts of grazing or trampling.

Resource partitioning: Segregation of habitat use or timing of resource use among species to reduce direct competition.

Immunocontraception: A fertility control technique that uses vaccines to induce an immune response against reproductive hormones or proteins.

Aggregate stability: The ability of soil particles to remain bound together, which affects erosion risk and water infiltration.

References

1. Feral horses influence both spatial and temporal patterns of water use by native ungulates in a semi‐arid environment. Ecosphere (2018).
2. Reimmunization increases contraceptive effectiveness of gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine (GonaCon-Equine) in free-ranging horses (Equus caballus): Limitations and side effects. PLOS ONE (2018).
3. An assessment of feral horse impacts on treeless drainage lines in the Australian Alps. Ecological Management & Restoration (2019).
4. Effects of feral free‐roaming horses on semi‐arid rangeland ecosystems: an example from the sagebrush steppe. Ecosphere (2014).