The pulsed effects of reintroducing wolves on the carnivore community of Isle Royale

Large carnivores are being globally reintroduced with the goal of restoring ecological interactions. However, the extent that competitive interactions are restored within communities is often unclear. In a before–after study within Isle Royale National Park (in the US state of Michigan), we quantifi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in ecology and the environment 2024-08, Vol.22 (6), p.e2750-n/a
Main Authors: Rodriguez Curras, Mauriel, Romanski, Mark C, Pauli, Jonathan N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Canidae
Canis lupus
Carnivores
Demographics
Demography
Ecological effects
Foxes
National parks
Reintroduction
Wilderness
Wolves
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Large carnivores are being globally reintroduced with the goal of restoring ecological interactions. However, the extent that competitive interactions are restored within communities is often unclear. In a before–after study within Isle Royale National Park (in the US state of Michigan), we quantified the spatial, behavioral, trophic, and demographic effects of the reintroduction of a large carnivore (gray wolf; Canis lupus) on meso‐carnivores (red fox; Vulpes vulpes) and small carnivores (American marten; Martes americana). The wolf reintroduction produced a phase‐dependent pulse perturbation: wolves constrained the distribution of foxes, thereby benefiting martens, yet foxes altered their behavior, notably using human‐provided resource subsidies (campsites and food) more frequently, which buffered demographic consequences. Once wolf packs coalesced, all observed changes subsided, and competitive interactions returned to their pre‐wolf values. Our results show that some predicted—and often desired—consequences of large carnivore reintroductions may not be permanent due to the transitory dynamics of social carnivores and the presence of humans, even within a “pristine wilderness”.
ISSN:1540-9295
1540-9309
DOI:10.1002/fee.2750