Review of the ecological role of the American bison (Bison bison) to identify the potential effects of its reintroduction in the ecosystems of Northern Mexico

Abstract

The reintroduction of the American bison (Bison bison) in Mexico has important implications for the ecosystems they will inhabit, given their critical ecological role as keystone species and ecosystem engineers. The objective of this work was to analyze the information published on the effects of the American bison worldwide, to understand its potential impacts on the ecosystems of northern Mexico. Three search engines (Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest) were used to conduct a systematic review. The studies (n = 75) covered a period of 29 years (1995-2024), with the majority (66) reporting an increase in the measured effects and only 6 decreased the measured effects. The imost frequently reported factors associated with bison activity were grazing, presence, dung, wallows, and the relationship with fire dynamics, mainly influencing grassland vegetation, mammals, birds, arthropods, and nutrient recycling. The review results suggest that reintroducing bison within their historical range in Mexico would contribute to grassland restoration, if the carrying capacity is not surpassed.