Preview

Ecological Benefits Of Wolf

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
718 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ecological Benefits Of Wolf
World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved from www.wwf.org.

The World Wildlife Fund is a nature conservation organization that began in 1961. Their mission is “to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature”. Their website provides a host of information ranging from habitats to endangered species and the threats that occur. Under the about us section, there are 40 of their employed experts listed. Each individual has a link that provides information about them including their education and experience. The World Wildlife Fund website will be beneficial to this research because it supplies so much information to give a base knowledge of different habitats and the animals within it and also how both are endangered.
The Sierra
…show more content…
The author discusses the benefits the wolves have on the habitat and the other animals in Yellowstone. The wolves are the natural predator in the Yellowstone habitat and thus are a keystone species. Once it was decided to remove the wolves from the park, the habitat and the other animals began to suffer. Once the wolves were completely gone, the coyote became the predator, but they weren’t large enough to take down the bigger animals such as elk and deer. These animals are grazers and once they didn’t have to worry about a predator, they overgrazed the land, which inhibits the growth of trees and other plants. This suppression affects beavers and birds as well as other animals. Scavengers in Yellowstone are also dependant on wolves because they feed on the wolves’ kills and without them they …show more content…
and Fahrig, L. (2005). Habitat loss decreases predator-prey ratios in a pine-bark beetle system. Oikos, 110(2): 265-270. Retrieved from www.citeulike.org/user/article/511332.
“Habitat loss decreases predator-prey ratios in a pine-bark beetle system” is a scientific article written about research conducted by Ryall and Fahrig. In the article, the authors include an introduction, methods, conclusions, and a discussion. In the introduction, they quote other authors about deforestation and how it truly impacts species. They then told us their two predictions for the outcome of the research. In the conclusion they tell the reader that both of their predictions were supported. The two authors of the article are credible because they have degrees in the ecology field. They also list other sources that have high credibility because they have degrees as well and have a career in these types of studies. This article will be helpful in the research because it’s a detailed example of how habitat loss decreases predator prey ratios.
Gerber, B. and DiCaprio, L. (producers), & Conners, L. and Conners, N.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Bio 303 Study Guide

    • 1482 Words
    • 6 Pages

    ECOLOGY 303 Exam 3 Name______________________ Section_____________________ 7 Multiple Choice (2.5pts. each) NOTE START AT 51 on scantron! 51.) A species-species interaction where both species benefit from the interaction is called: a.) Predation b.) Amensalism c.)…

    • 1482 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In recent years, we have seen the ecosystem flourish due to a successful reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. We have seen a steady decrease in elk population, which in turn helped create a successful trophic cascade. Looking at graphs we can see that the wolf reintroduction has done its job, and we see a more than 50% decrease in population of elk. But what could happen if the wolf population doubled. We could see a total extermination of elk from Yellowstone and a decrease in visitors to Yellowstone, but in turn we could see in increase in the population of wolves, water animals, birds, and bears.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scared To Death Summary

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ed Yong's article, "Scared to Death", describes how returning wolves to Yellowstone affected the elk population's patterns and behaviors. Many people believe that the fear of being eaten is what drives animals away. However, this theory is not completely true. The Yellowstone elk population was thriving, but the wolves' return impacted it on many different levels.…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Wolf Hunting Case Study

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Case study 1 examines the current debate on wolf hunting taking place in Michigan. Wolves impact the ecosystems in which they live by keeping the role of predator and prey in balance. There must be enough wolves (supply) to fulfil this role (demand). The legalization of wolf hunting may not directly relate to economics but can be used to compare balancing an ecosystem versus balancing the market. The economic problem presented in the video is how to go about maintaining this balance. When natural resources are scarce who should make the decisions on how to use these resources individuals or the government.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One of the threats is to the wolves food supply. Another threat is the building of roads and pipelines may clear parts of their natural habitat, displacing and destroying its prey.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the 1940s ecologist Aldo Leopold penned his now famous essay “Thinking like a Mountain.” In his youth Leopold killed a wolf, but with reflection and wisdom that comes with age, he realized that wolves played a critical role in the interaction between prey species like deer and elk and plant communities. After seeing how too many deer and elk can strip a mountain of its vegetation, Leopold lamented that we needed to learn to think like a mountain — in other words, have a long-term view of the ecological role and value of predators.…

    • 150 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Trophic Cascade Essay

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages

    After the wolves were reintroduced it began to restore the trophic cascade. The reduced browsing because of the altered behavior allowed increase in the recruitment of woody plants like Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and willow (Salix spp.) (Ripple and Beschta 2012). Without the elk decimating woody plants populations they were able to regenerate. This resulted in an increase in multiple species native to the park. These species included bison (Bison bison), beaver (Castor canadensis), and bears (Ursus arctos). The relative abundance and richness of 6/7 species of songbirds also increased because of the increased recruitment (Ripple and Beschta 2012). The wolves also have a positive effect on the age/sex structure. By concentrating on calves and older females they consistently eliminate the older sicker elk that are less suitable to survive. The wolves rarely prey on females in their reproductive prime or full grown males. The reintroduction has also had a positive effect on the bison population. The elk and bison share 80% of the same browsing food source. As elk are driven from their preferred browsing areas the bison are able to exploit the areas with the most nutritional…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Red Wolf Memo

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The purpose of this memo is to explain the causes of extinction within the Red wolf population and the Black bear population. The topics chosen explain how this issue came about, what factors created, and provided some solutions on how to prevent it and keep these endangered species’ population thriving. There were several ways the black bear and red wolf came to the brink of extinction and these article provide multiple solutions to sustain and endangered species.…

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The main issue being reported in each article was the concern from environmentalists, governmental employees, and ranchers with taking the gray wolf off the endangered species list, thereby removing hunting protections. These differing opinions have caused significant controversy and years of court-room battling.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the years since the wolf reintroduction, Yellowstone has become a premiere scientific laboratory for wilderness observation and ecosystem recovery. Scientists have come from around the world to watch the effect wild wolves have on the park. We have discovered that an ecological effect called the “trophic cascade” has taken over Yellowstone, with the wolves initiating a more natural ecosystem balance than has been seen in over sixty-five years.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the time we live in today we still struggle with the issue of wildlife conservation. Wildlife conservation is important, as animals can not speak for the selves and need us to create a voice for them. Former United States President Jimmy Carter has a strong opinion towards wildlife conservation shown in a foreword to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land. In the foreword by Jimmy Carter, he uses effective rhetorical devices in his argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In addition to eliminating weak members of elk herds, hence strengthening the heard as a whole, wolves keep herds on the move and maintain the balance of the herd in reform to the fragile wilderness. In moving the herd frequently, wolves preserve groves of aspens and other smooth-barked trees, improving the stability of the ground and preventing damaging erosion, especially near river and stream banks essential for the survival of fish, beavers, and even aquatic-oriented birds. An imbalance in the wolf population has repercussions on the entire ecosystem, ranging from the more easily seen populations of elk to the more blurred effects on fish and expanding even further to animals who depend on fish, ultimately affecting even markets in our economy. This “trophic cascade,” named by biologists and ecologists, have a wide array of repercussions which can occasionally be irreversible. Entire populations can easily be wiped clear from existence, giving way to a devastating mudslide of devastation and a whole new era of demanding complications. In a field study, Ecologist William Ripple and his Oregon State University colleague Robert Beschta reported that “within three years after wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park elk populations fell, pockets of trees and shrubs began rebounding. Beavers returned, coyote numbers dropped and habitat flourished for fish and birds.” And yet, people…

    • 1602 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Actually, those species are vital in the Yellowstone environment. For instance, Gray wolves were reintroduced after being extinct in Yellowstone in the 1900s as farmers complained about the damage Gray wolves did to their livestock. After removal of wolves, Yellowstone elk began to overpopulate due to a lack of their natural enemies, causing vegetation to vanish there, affecting animals like rabbits, mice, and much more, which depend on that vegetation. Decreased number of those herbivore endangered carnivore, such as coyotes and foxes, as well. Just a removal of wolves by humans has brought the ecosystem out of balance. However, the bright side is that, since reintroduction of Gray wolves in 1995, the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park is showing some recovery, telling us that it may not be too late and humans may be able to correct what they have done against the Mother Nature. The history of Yellowstone National Park tells us that we humans can easily destroy the ecosystem but a recovery effort is possible and worth to…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sanctifying The Wolf

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Is the Wolf a Real American Hero?, Middleton writes that wolves didn't fix Yellowstone, and the trophic cascade believed to have been caused by wolves is false. Studies conducted in the 1990's showed that aspens and willows were regrowing, but follow-up studies showed that despite the 60 percent elk reduction, trees hadn't regrown. A Colorado State University study, focused on willows, determined that too much damage had been done for wolves to undo. Without wolves, elk increased, elk reduced willows, without willows, beavers declined, without beavers, rivers deepened and the water tables dropped below the root level of willows. Focusing on wolves as the savior of Yellowstone detracts from other…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Wolf Reintroduction

    • 1417 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Over time Yellowstone National Park have undergone factors that have destroyed their wolf population. With this decline, or as others say habitual extinction, individuals began to understand the importance that these animals (1) had on a working ecosystem. In 1975 the wolf reintroduction process to Yellowstone began, however, it is still going on today due to it being such an extensive course of action.…

    • 1417 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays