A Reappraisal of the Evidence for Regulation of Wolf Populations

The dogma that gray wolf (Canis lupus) population densities in naturally occurring systems are limited almost solely by available ungulate biomass is based upon studies that fit straight line linear regressions (Type 1 numerical response) to data collected at 32 sites across North America. We fit Ty...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 2011-04, Vol.75 (3), p.726-730
Main Authors: Cariappa, C. A, Oakleaf, John K, Ballard, Warren B, Breck, Stewart W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal populations
Asymptotes
Biomass
Canis lupus
Carnivores
Data processing
Datasets
Density dependence
exploitation
numerical response
Population density
Population dynamics
Population ecology
Population levels
Population regulation
Prey
prey limitation regulation
Reintroduction
Sample size
Self
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
Ungulates
Wildlife ecology
Wildlife management
Wolves
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Summary:The dogma that gray wolf (Canis lupus) population densities in naturally occurring systems are limited almost solely by available ungulate biomass is based upon studies that fit straight line linear regressions (Type 1 numerical response) to data collected at 32 sites across North America. We fit Type 1,2, and 3 response functions to the data using linear and nonlinear regression as appropriate and found that the evidence supported wolf population regulation by density-dependence as much as limitation by prey availability. When we excluded 4 of 32 points from the original data set because those points represented exploited or expanding wolf populations the data suggested that wolf populations are self regulated rather than limited by prey biomass by at least a 3:1 margin. In establishing goals for sustainable wolf population levels, managers of wolf reintroductions and species recovery efforts should account for the possibility that some regulatory mechanism plays an important role in wolf population dynamics.
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.1002/jwmg.74