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Wolf Reintroduction Fails to Achieve Habitat Goal

April 14, 2011.

An article in the Ecological Society of America's journal discussed research showing that the re-introduction of wolves into the Yellowstone ecosystem has failed to meet a key habitat goal -- allowing aspen stands to regenerate.

"The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone beginning in 1995 was heralded as a great success, not only because it re-established an extirpated species, but because it was expected to restore ecosystem function through cascading indirect effects on other species," the researchers said.

While elk numbers did decline, the team concluded that there had not been a noticeable change in the foraging behavior of the animals.

"This study not only confirms that elk are responsible for the decline of aspen in Yellowstone beginning in the 1890s, but also that none of the aspen groves studied after wolf restoration (in the mid-1990s) appear to be regenerating, even in areas risky to elk," the lead author explained.

More from the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/science-environment-11178293

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