Grey wolves—Isle Royale

• Published in: PLOS ONE
• Main Authors: Vucetich, John A., Peterson, Rolf O.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University PressOxford 2004
• Subjects: Alces alces; Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198515562.003.0018; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/44963810/book_8191_section_153737621.ag.pdf

Abstract The wolves (Canis lupus) of Isle Royale, an island in Lake Superior (North America), have been studied with their primary prey, the moose (Alces alces), continuously and intensively since 1959. This environment is unique because on Isle Royale for a number of reasons: humans do not exploit wolves or moose, wolves are the only predator of moose, moose comprise an overwhelming majority of wolf prey, and the annual exchange of wolves and moose with the mainland is negligible. This chapter presents a chronology of research for this wolf-moose system, general characteristics of the wolf population, and reviews some insights learned from studying the ecology of these wolves.