Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves
Wolf-prey research has focused on single-prey systems in North America dominated by moose (Alces alces) or white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Elk (Cervus elaphus) are social ungulates and the main prey item of wolves (Canis lupus) in Banff National Park (BNP), Alberta. Grouping behaviour ma...
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Language: | English |
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2002
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-059 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z02-059 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z02-059 2024-09-30T14:22:02+00:00 Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves Hebblewhite, Mark Pletscher, Daniel H 2002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-059 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z02-059 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 80, issue 5, page 800-809 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 2002 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z02-059 2024-09-19T04:09:49Z Wolf-prey research has focused on single-prey systems in North America dominated by moose (Alces alces) or white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Elk (Cervus elaphus) are social ungulates and the main prey item of wolves (Canis lupus) in Banff National Park (BNP), Alberta. Grouping behaviour may affect the functional response of predators by changing how predators encounter and kill prey. We studied wolf predation on elk in BNP during the winters of 19971998 and 19981999 and tested how elk group size affected the availability of and encounter rates with elk groups and attack success of wolves. Wolves encountered larger elk groups than expected based on availability, and killed more elk from large groups than expected based on numbers of encounters. Elk group size increased with elk density in BNP. Increased rates of encounter with and success of attacking large elk groups, and the positive group size density relationship may be a mechanism for density-dependent predation. We developed a predation-risk model to test the prediction that grouping will benefit individual elk, given this predation regime. Elk appeared to adopt two different strategies to minimize predation risk: living in small herds that were rarely encountered by wolves or living in large herds that reduced their predation risk through dilution. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canis lupus Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 80 5 800 809 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Wolf-prey research has focused on single-prey systems in North America dominated by moose (Alces alces) or white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Elk (Cervus elaphus) are social ungulates and the main prey item of wolves (Canis lupus) in Banff National Park (BNP), Alberta. Grouping behaviour may affect the functional response of predators by changing how predators encounter and kill prey. We studied wolf predation on elk in BNP during the winters of 19971998 and 19981999 and tested how elk group size affected the availability of and encounter rates with elk groups and attack success of wolves. Wolves encountered larger elk groups than expected based on availability, and killed more elk from large groups than expected based on numbers of encounters. Elk group size increased with elk density in BNP. Increased rates of encounter with and success of attacking large elk groups, and the positive group size density relationship may be a mechanism for density-dependent predation. We developed a predation-risk model to test the prediction that grouping will benefit individual elk, given this predation regime. Elk appeared to adopt two different strategies to minimize predation risk: living in small herds that were rarely encountered by wolves or living in large herds that reduced their predation risk through dilution. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hebblewhite, Mark Pletscher, Daniel H |
spellingShingle |
Hebblewhite, Mark Pletscher, Daniel H Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
author_facet |
Hebblewhite, Mark Pletscher, Daniel H |
author_sort |
Hebblewhite, Mark |
title |
Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
title_short |
Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
title_full |
Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
title_fullStr |
Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
title_sort |
effects of elk group size on predation by wolves |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-059 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z02-059 |
genre |
Alces alces Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 80, issue 5, page 800-809 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z02-059 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
80 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
800 |
op_container_end_page |
809 |
_version_ |
1811646850837512192 |