Reply: Predator-prey ratio dependence and regulation of moose populations

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Eberhardt, L L
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2000
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z99-224; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z99-224

The comment by Messier and Joly on a paper by Eberhardt (L.L. Eberhardt. 1997. Can. J. Zool. 75: 1940-1944) suggests that the data in the earlier paper do not demonstrate a regulatory effect of wolves (Canis lupus) on their ungulate prey. It appears that the disagreement results from the use of quite different models, with Messier's approach (F. Messier. 1994. Ecology, 75: 478-488) apparently depending on the assumption of an equilibrium between wolf abundance and prey abundance, while Eberhardt's model depicts non-equilibrium conditions. Some questions having to do with duplications in secondary data sources are further examined.