How the wolves changed the rivers???????

[tarheel]

Found this on another forum and just had to share it. Opinions anyone?

http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/how-wolves-change-rivers/

 

[Ben Lamb]

It's an overly simplistic description of Trophic Cascades, but it does highlight the research that has been coming out of Yellowstone that does show increased productivity of riparian areas due to wolves pressuring elk out of the bottoms and distributing them more.

 

[MTbowhunter84]

I know a lot of the vegetation was probably grown back but was curious if at that point on time if the area was recovering from the fires of 88

 

[Ben Lamb]

The Trophic Cascade work has been done in riparian areas. The majority of those didn't burn during the fires. The research has focused heavily on the NW corner of the park: Lamar & Slough creeks, IIRC.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Wolves increased the number of beavers and muskrats, thus THEY are the reason why I keep getting snagged when I'm fly-fishing!

 

[elkslayer100]

I wonder how many songbirds it will take to feed my family..hmm. I would rather have the elk back.

 

[sagebrush]

I heard there was a new study showing wolves were responsible for the increase in the DOW and another showing how they were causing a major decrease in medical costs.

 

[huntRme]

I wonder how many songbirds it will take to feed my family..hmm. I would rather have the elk back.

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.

 

[jryoung]

Wolves increased the number of beavers and muskrats, thus THEY are the reason why I keep getting snagged when I'm fly-fishing!

The science is clear, more wolves will get you more beaver.

 

[bigskyblueman]

The Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd at 19,000 animals was far less of a management problem than the fiasco we have to live with now. Nothing wrong with more willows along the river, but I'd still rather have my Gardiner late tag.

 

[Western_Hunter]

More wolves = more trees = more beavers

or

Wolves - coyotes = more rabbits + mice = more eagles = 5x tree growth = better river system

Come on guys! Its a simple equation!

 

[RobG]

The Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd at 19,000 animals was far less of a management problem than the fiasco we have to live with now. Nothing wrong with more willows along the river, but I'd still rather have my Gardiner late tag.

Well now you eat more vegetables and are healthier. See how it works

I've seen a pretty dramatic effect on the willows in the Gallatin in the park. Yellowstone biologist Doug Smith says they aren't having much of these effects outside of the park.

 

[Straight Arrow]

My observation this past year is that elk in some SW Montana areas are herding up for increased security due to pressure from wolves and are less dispersed. That may be only my limited perspective, but it seems to be the case in some places.

Others' perspectives would be of interest to me.

 

[katqanna]

My observation this past year is that elk in some SW Montana areas are herding up for increased security due to pressure from wolves and are less dispersed. That may be only my limited perspective, but it seems to be the case in some places.

Others' perspectives would be of interest to me.

Straight Arrow, it is not just SW Montana, and it is not just wolves. An article written by French at the Gazette last spring, Northern park elk population still dropping, interviewing Doug Smith and FWP Karen Loveless, stated the bunching was due to predators. "In the old days, I'd see 300 to 500 elk out in the open," he said. "That's due to predation. A smaller herd is harder to find."

When I checked into the predation, I was told that it only accounts for about 10% of the elk decline, with wolves accounting for less than 3% of that 10%, mountain lions and grizzlies are the larger source.

I have academic papers on the herd bunching of ungulate species, a natural response for security from predators. I can dig them up and post later. I have a video I have to create for a strategy, this weekend.

BTW, y'alls syllogisms on this thread have cracked me up.