Long-term field studies of mammals: what the short-term study cannot tell us

Long-term studies provide us with crucial information for understanding mammalian biology, which is often lacking from short-term studies. In this Special Feature we focus on 7 mammalian taxa and review ways longterm studies have contributed to our knowledge of ecophysiology, social systems, population and community processes, and conservation. Our aims are to highlight the ways long-term studies on mammals have informed theory, to identify missing information needed to advance theory, and to suggest directions for future long-term studies on mammals.