Yellowstone wolf (Canis lupus) denisty predicted by elk (Cervus elaphus) biomass
November 24, 2015
The Northern Range (NR) of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) hosts a higher prey biomass density in the form of elk (Cervus elaphus L., 1758) than any other system of gray wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) and prey reported. Therefore, it is important to determine whether that wolf–prey system fits a long-standing model relating wolf density to prey biomass. Using data from 2005 to 2012 after elk population fluctuations dampened 10 years subsequent to wolf reintroduction, we found that NR prey biomass predicted wolf density. This finding and the trajectory of the regression extend the validity of the model to prey densities 19% higher than previous data and suggest that the model would apply to wolf–prey systems of even higher prey biomass.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2015 |
---|---|
Title | Yellowstone wolf (Canis lupus) denisty predicted by elk (Cervus elaphus) biomass |
DOI | 10.1139/cjz-2015-0002 |
Authors | L. David Mech, Shannon Barber-Meyer |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
Index ID | 70159937 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
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