Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation
Long-term population fluctuations of wolves and moose in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, are used to evaluate a central tenet of the 'natural regulation' concept commonly applied by the National Park Service (NPS) in the United States, namely, that wild cervid populations exhibit dens...
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1999
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ftmichigantuniv:oai:digitalcommons.mtu.edu:michigantech-p-33017 2023-05-15T13:13:15+02:00 Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation Peterson, Rolf O. 1999-01-01T08:00:00Z https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/13714 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0010:WMIOIR]2.0.CO;2 unknown Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/13714 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0010:WMIOIR]2.0.CO;2 Michigan Tech Publications Alces alces Canis lupus Disease Genetics Isle Royale Michigan (USA) Limitation Moose National park Predation Regulation Starvation Wolf text 1999 ftmichigantuniv https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0010:WMIOIR]2.0.CO;2 2022-01-23T10:48:51Z Long-term population fluctuations of wolves and moose in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, are used to evaluate a central tenet of the 'natural regulation' concept commonly applied by the National Park Service (NPS) in the United States, namely, that wild cervid populations exhibit density dependence which, even in the absence of large predators, will stabilize population growth. This tenet, restated as a hypothesis, is rejected based on moose population response to a chronic wolf decline. In 1980-1996 with wolf numbers down, partly due to introduced disease, moose numbers increased to a historic high level. There was insufficient density dependence in moose reproduction and mortality to stabilize moose numbers. In 1996 moose suffered a crash; 80% died, primarily from starvation. These fluctuations, along with the possibility that the highly inbred wolf population may become extinct, will challenge NPS policy. The long-standing NPS management tradition of nonintervention may not be compatible with the current policy that stresses maintenance of natural ecological processes, such as a predator-prey system. Text Alces alces Canis lupus Michigan Technological University: Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech |
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Michigan Technological University: Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech |
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ftmichigantuniv |
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unknown |
topic |
Alces alces Canis lupus Disease Genetics Isle Royale Michigan (USA) Limitation Moose National park Predation Regulation Starvation Wolf |
spellingShingle |
Alces alces Canis lupus Disease Genetics Isle Royale Michigan (USA) Limitation Moose National park Predation Regulation Starvation Wolf Peterson, Rolf O. Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation |
topic_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus Disease Genetics Isle Royale Michigan (USA) Limitation Moose National park Predation Regulation Starvation Wolf |
description |
Long-term population fluctuations of wolves and moose in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, are used to evaluate a central tenet of the 'natural regulation' concept commonly applied by the National Park Service (NPS) in the United States, namely, that wild cervid populations exhibit density dependence which, even in the absence of large predators, will stabilize population growth. This tenet, restated as a hypothesis, is rejected based on moose population response to a chronic wolf decline. In 1980-1996 with wolf numbers down, partly due to introduced disease, moose numbers increased to a historic high level. There was insufficient density dependence in moose reproduction and mortality to stabilize moose numbers. In 1996 moose suffered a crash; 80% died, primarily from starvation. These fluctuations, along with the possibility that the highly inbred wolf population may become extinct, will challenge NPS policy. The long-standing NPS management tradition of nonintervention may not be compatible with the current policy that stresses maintenance of natural ecological processes, such as a predator-prey system. |
format |
Text |
author |
Peterson, Rolf O. |
author_facet |
Peterson, Rolf O. |
author_sort |
Peterson, Rolf O. |
title |
Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation |
title_short |
Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation |
title_full |
Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation |
title_fullStr |
Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Wolf-moose interaction on Isle Royale: The end of natural regulation |
title_sort |
wolf-moose interaction on isle royale: the end of natural regulation |
publisher |
Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech |
publishDate |
1999 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/13714 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0010:WMIOIR]2.0.CO;2 |
genre |
Alces alces Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus |
op_source |
Michigan Tech Publications |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/13714 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0010:WMIOIR]2.0.CO;2 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1999)009[0010:WMIOIR]2.0.CO;2 |
_version_ |
1766257007900229632 |