Yellowstone wolves spur recovery of bears' berries

[klr]

The return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park may be leading to an improvement in the diet of grizzly bears, a study suggests.

When wolves were eradicated from Yellowstone in the early 20th Century, the elk population boomed, devastating berry-shrubs relied upon by bears.

Details are published in the Journal of Animal Ecology.

A team from Oregon and Washington links the reintroduction of predatory wolves with a fall in over-browsing by elk.

There is a consequent recovery in the availability of late-summer berries, the favoured pre-hibernation food of the grizzly bear.

The study indicates that the number of berries measured in bear droppings has doubled as elk numbers have decreased, following the wolves' return in the 1990s.

The complex interactions of the Yellowstone ecosystem were revealed in data measured before and after the reintroduction of wolves.

...

Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23495074

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Well duh!

[klr]

Yeah, I know it's not brand new news, but it's still good.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Yeah, I know it's not brand new news, but it's still good.

Yep, and more proof that an ecology that can support the alpha predator is healthy.

[Mysturji]

Don't eat my berries!

[Sean Hayden]

How many berries would you need to satisfy even just a couple of bears?

[mistermack]

How many berries would you need to satisfy even just a couple of bears?

Lots.
Or lots and lots, to be more specific.
But inland bears DO rely on berries to fatten up in late summer and fall. They eat vast quantities of them.
And the bushes rely on the bears to spread their seeds, so it's a mutual thing.

I would imagine that more bushes would also encourage diversity of all kinds, as they provide nesting opportunity for birds, and food for caterpillars, and cover for cats etc.

I also read a report that more wolves and fewer elk meant more beavers, as the elk eat down the willow saplings, before they can grow. Which means more beaver lakes, more fish, more dragonflies etc. etc.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Wolves also drive off coyotes. Coyotes kill or harass beaver. The wetlands the beavers create is a water source in the dry season and a fishing ground for all kinds of critters.

[Tero]

I like the occasional wild berry mylself. Have not inspected my droppings lately.

[pErvinalia]

One should inspect their droppings regularly.

[Mysturji]

There's a thread for that.

[mistermack]

There's a thread for that.

Really? I had imagined some kind of scoop. Or just shit in a margarine tub. Although it does taint the margarine a bit.

[laklak]

Margarine IS shit.

[Gallstones]

http://www.flixxy.com/how-wolves-change ... system.htm

[cronus]

It's rather simplistic to say things have improved, simply because it appears that way now. Re-introduction of predator species could have unforeseen consequences in the years and decades to come when many higher species will see populations plummet on account of climate change. Wolves might be beneficial in a 'business as normal' weather/vegetarian schema. Yes, it is easy to make things as they were....might need ongoing monitoring and careful control of predator populations and locations, humans may soon be incapable of, in order to keep the good news flowing.