Wolf Reintroduction Debate
Articles
Wolf Reintroduction: Ecological Management and the Substitution Problem on JSTOR. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/43441657?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
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Ripple, W. J., & Beschta, R. L. (2011). Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15 years after wolf reintroduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.005
Nilsen, E. B., Milner-Gulland, E. J., Schofield, L., Mysterud, A., Stenseth, N. C., & Coulson, T. (2007). Wolf reintroduction to Scotland: public attitudes and consequences for red deer management. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 274(1612), 995–1002. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSPB.2006.0369
Mao, J. S., Boyce, S., Singer, F. J., Vales, D. J., Vore, J. M., & Merrill, E. H. (2005). HABITAT SELECTION BY ELK BEFORE AND AFTER WOLF REINTRODUCTION IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, 69(4), 1691–1707. https://doi.org/10.2193/0022-541X(2005)69[1691:HSBEBA]2.0.CO;2
M, A., L, C., R, L., CA, G., EM, M., PG, M.-G., O, M., NE, S.-M., & J, S. (2012). Consensus on criteria for potential areas for wolf reintroduction in Mexico. Conservation Biology : The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 26(4), 630–637. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1523-1739.2012.01888.X
Hendricks, S. A., Sesink Clee, P. R., Harrigan, R. J., Pollinger, J. P., Freedman, A. H., Callas, R., Figura, P. J., & Wayne, R. K. (2016). Re-defining historical geographic range in species with sparse records: Implications for the Mexican wolf reintroduction program. Biological Conservation, 194, 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOCON.2015.11.027
Bright, A. D., & Manfredo, M. J. (2008). A conceptual model of attitudes toward natural resource issues: A case study of wolf reintroduction. Http://Dx.Doi.Org.Subzero.Lib.Uoguelph.ca/10.1080/10871209609359048, 1(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209609359048
Beschta, R. L., & Ripple, W. J. (2016). Riparian vegetation recovery in Yellowstone: The first two decades after wolf reintroduction. Biological Conservation, 198, 93–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOCON.2016.03.031
Conclusion
Lastly, the presence of wolves has a trophic cascade effect on vegetation consumed by wolf prey species. These arguments demonstrate that there is sound ecological evidence which supports the reintroduction of wolves to their historic habitat areas.
Previous human attempts to substitute the natural ecosystem services that the wolves provided were insufficient at providing the essential interaction (directly and indirectly) with the surrounding environment.
Interactions include...
Marking territory
Leaving scraps
Prey
To conclude, the reintroduction of wolves has been beneficial for stabilizing other species populations within their ecosystem. We can see this with popular surveys such as with Yellowstone, the reintroduction of wolfs aided in rebalancing the populations of elk. Ultimately this lead to the passive restoration of Yellowstone's vegetation as well its ecosystems and habitats.
Counterarguments
Ecosystem changes in Yellowstone National Park are due to climate change and environmental factors, not wolf reintroduction.
Species of plant can be found with increased plant growth due to increased wolf presence (Mao et al., 2005).
Multiple woody species (aspen, cottonwood, and willows) have begun recruiting since wolf reintroduction (Ripple & Beschta, 2011).
Wolf reintroduction has indirect effects on other species interactions (Adam Pérou Hermans 2014)
most species benefit indirectly from wolves returning because the ecosystem evolved with them present and without them. Currently many species population ratios are destabilized.
Wolves are a threat to their prey species
In this case Elk
At times human activity poses a larger threat to elk populations( NPS 2007)
daily human presence
Habitat reduction
Hunting
Wolves are a population control for elk, which can overgraze their habitat and cause ecological damage when left unchecked.
Arguments
The presence of wolves as top predators affects the habitat selection of elk, and subsequently, through trophic cascades, impacts the growth and abundance of woody plants.
Yellowstone has demonstrated that elk select different habitats based on the presence of wolves. Increased wolf presence in certain areas has subsequently led to an absence of elk, which allows for increased plant growth due to less browsing of the elk and demonstrates the effects of a trophic cascade (Mao et al., 2005), (Ripple & Beschta, 2011).
Human management of ecosystems, which have human activity act as a substitute for wolves in the food chain does not replace all the aspects of the role that wolves play in the ecosystem(Adam Pérou Hermans 2014).
Human activities do not replace the effects wolves would have indirectly with their surrounding environment.
Ex.After making a kill and
consuming what it needs
it'll leave scraps which
scavengers rely on.
Species diversity increases ecosystem stability due to increased interactions.
Real world example: Yellowstone National Park
Since the reintroduction of the wolves Elk populations have decreased while vegetation has been giving the opportunity to recuperate previous population numbers.
After years of wolf culling efforts began in 1995
to reintroduce wolfs to the ecosystem.
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to explore Wolf reintroduction and the various benefits that occurs when reintroduction is done correctly. In order to reintroduce a species to their original if not better range it is imperative you have both, a sound ecological basis but the public acceptance of the human population in the surrounding area. This paper will demonstrate the importance of reintroduction and aid with the public acceptance of the topic.
What is wolf reintroduction?
Wolf reintroduction was presented to Congress. The purpose of reintroduction of natural predators would help to stabilize the region
Wolf reintroduction involves the reintroduction of a portion of wolves in areas where native wolves populations have become absent.
