how wolves change the course of a river book

How did the wolves change the rivers?

The wolves changed the rivers in as much as they readdressed the lost balance within the region, one we had created when we exterminated them. With a better balance between predator and prey, top meat eaters and top grazers, came the possibility for other species to thrive.

What are the benefits of wolves to the river system?

Wolves are top predators that have far-reaching beneficial effects upon entire ecosystems -- including the structure of rivers. Wolves are crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem -- a fact that was conveniently forgotten when they were exterminated from almost all of the continental United States by ranchers, farmers, trappers and hunters.

How did the introduction of wolves to the Americas increase biodiversity?

Thus, native flora was able to re-establish and re-grow, thereby increasing biodiversity by providing food and shelter to a growing variety of plants and animals. But remarkably, the presence of wolves also changed the rivers.

How did the presence of wolves change the behaviour of grazing animals?

The presence of wolves substantially changed the behaviour of large grazers. Wapiti deer stopped munching their way through the valleys and gorges where wolves could easily hunt them.

How did wolves change the course of rivers?

Remarkably, the presence of wolves also changed the rivers. Riverbank erosion decreased so the rivers meandered less, the channels deepened and small pools formed. The recovering vegetation stabilised the riverbanks, which in turn changed the geography and microclimate in the park.

How wolves Change Rivers narrated by George Monbiot?

George Monbiot: For more wonder, rewild the world In his TED Talk, George Monbiot poetically explains how reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park after a 70-year absence set off a “trophic cascade” that altered the movement of deer, sent trees soaring to new heights, attracted scores of new animals to the ...

Do you think wolves are a keystone species explain your answer?

Wolves are a critical keystone species in a healthy ecosystem. By regulating prey populations, wolves enable many other species of plants and animals to flourish. In this regard, wolves initiate a domino effect – “touching” songbirds, beaver, fish, and butterflies.

Why did a change in the wolf population affect the other organisms in the community?

The presence of wolves influences the population and behavior of their prey, changing the browsing and foraging patterns of prey animals and how they move about the land. This, in turn, ripples throughout plant and animal communities, often altering the landscape itself.

When will Wolf Nation be published?

One of our writers is working on a review of Brenda Peterson’s excellent book Wolf Nation, that is due to be published in early May. It is the remarkable story of the 300-year history of wild wolves in America and their relationship to humans over that time. We won’t spoil that, you can read it in our next print edition out in early April and online shortly after that.

What is the trophic cascade in Yellowstone National Park?

Over a short period of time they have set off what is known to scientists as a “trophic cascade”, an ecological process that begins at the top of the food chain and tumbles all the way through to the very bottom.

How did wolves affect the river system?

Remarkably, the presence of wolves also changed the rivers. Riverbank erosion decreased so the rivers meandered less, the channels deepened and small pools formed. The recovering vegetation stabilised the riverbanks, which in turn changed the geography and microclimate in the park.

How did the presence of wolves affect the behaviour of large grazers?

The presence of wolves substantially changed the behaviour of large grazers. Wapiti deer stopped munching their way through the valleys and gorges where wolves could easily hunt them. The vegetation was able to re-establish and re-grow, thereby increasing biodiversity by providing food and shelter to a larger variety of plants and animals.

When did wolves return to Yellowstone?

Wolves were once native to the US’ Yellowstone National Park — until hunting wiped them out. But when in 1995 the wolves returned, something interesting happened: the most remarkable “trophic cascade” occurred. The presence of wolves substantially changed the behaviour of large grazers.

Why did the Wapiti deer stop munching?

Wapiti deer stopped munching their way through the valleys and gorges where wolves could easily hunt them. The vegetation was able to re-establish and re-grow, thereby increasing biodiversity by providing food and shelter to a larger variety of plants and animals.

How did wolves change the river system?

But remarkably, the presence of wolves also changed the rivers. After reintroduction, it was noticed that riverbank erosion decreased so the rivers meandered less, the channels deepened and small pools formed. Why? The recovering vegetation stabilized the riverbanks, which in turn altered the geography of the park itself.

How did wolves change ungulates?

The presence of wolves even substantially changed ungulate behaviours. For example, the wapiti stopped munching their way through the valleys and gorges where wolves could easily ambush them . Thus, native flora was able to re-establish and re-grow, thereby increasing biodiversity by providing food and shelter to a growing variety of plants and animals.

What are the benefits of reintroduction of wolves?

After an absence of nearly 70 years, the beneficial influences of the reintroduced wolves almost immediately became apparent, and continue to be seen to this day. Since they are apex predators that primarily hunt ailing and aging ungulates -- particularly wapiti, Cervus canadensis, whose populations had exploded in Yellowstone -- wolves halted these herbivores' population expansions whilst improving their overall health. (These animals are more commonly known as "elk" -- note that the narrator in the accompanying video erroneously refers to these animals as "deer", implying that they are European red deer, Cervus elaphus, which they most certainly are not.)

How did the wolf cascade affect the ecosystem?

Removing the top predator triggered a wide range of effects that cascaded down through the entire web of life. Although only a total of 41 wolves were reintroduced and their total population remains small, they act as ecosystem engineers by creating niches that other animal and plant species can inhabit. This lovely little video documentary shows the cascading effects that restoring wolves to Yellowstone National Park has had:

How many wolves were reintroduced to the world?

Removing the top predator triggered a wide range of effects that cascaded down through the entire web of life. Although only a total of 41 wolves were reintroduced and their total population remains small, they act as ecosystem engineers by creating niches that other animal and plant species can inhabit.

Why are wolves important?

Wolves are crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem -- a fact that was conveniently forgotten when they were exterminated from almost all of the continental United States by ranchers, farmers, trappers and hunters. Meanwhile, the populations of other animals exploded. The entire ecosystem of the American wilderness was changed by rapidly ...

How did the ecosystem of the American wilderness change?

Meanwhile, the populations of other animals exploded. The entire ecosystem of the American wilderness was changed by rapidly expanding populations of large ungulates.