The consequences of novel food ingestion for wildlife

Human actions significantly impact ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide and disrupt multiple ecological processes. Human actions are increasingly being recognised for their diverse effects on wildlife. One such implication is the rise of novel foods in wild animal's diets. This study aims to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate a multi-level framework that addresses how novel food impacts the phenotype, fitness, demography, ecology and evolution of wildlife. I found there was strong evidence that
novel food could have broad-scale influences on wildlife. In particular, wildlife often demonstrated positive phenotypic, fitness and population-level consequences. However, in contrast, novel food generally produced negative effects on wildlife-related ecological processes. Overall, novel food has complex benefits and cost for wildlife. However, continued research is required to better address knowledge gaps, including the evolutionary consequences of novel food on wildlife.