Search the web to find a specific example that illustrates how changes in the population of one species affects populations of other species in the same ecosystem.
Discuss the cause(s) for change in populations (human activities involved?), label the species involved (producers, herbivores etc) and describe their interspecific interactions.
Grey Wolves also known as Canis Lupus were once found all over the Northern Hemisphere but have been hunted to near extinction though a few populations survived. From 1995 to 2000, 41 wild wolves from Canada and northwest Montana were released in Yellowstone National Park. These states include Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. In Yellowstone National Park a good percentage of their prey is Elk and in the summer, it is deer or bison. Many animals consume the remains of what the wolves do not eat. According to National Park Survives, when wolves kill an elk, ravens arrive almost immediately. Coyotes arrive soon after, waiting nearby until the wolves are sated. Bears will attempt to chase the wolves away and are usually successful. In the years 1995 to 2000, changes in wolf prey selection were affected and the kill rates through time resulted from complex interactions. The percentages of their prey significantly decreased because of weather patterns such as drought or harsh winters. Weather patterns influence forage quality and availability, ultimately impacting elk nutritional condition. This has forced the wolves to seek and spread out to establish territories with sufficient prey.
Wolves prey on larger animals such as elk, deer, and moose. They also eat birds, fish, lizards snakes and fruit. The reason behind its near extinction involves human activity and wolf pack behavior. Wolves attack domestic animals and because of this, humans do not take light of the situation, and fight back. This causes wolves to get shot, trapped, and poisoned because of their violent like behavior. Wolves then became the enemies of the ranchers and farmers when they turned to preying upon sheep and other livestock (Chapin III, Matson, & Vitousek, 2011)
Reference
Chapin III, F. S., Matson, P. A., & Vitousek, P. (2011). Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology. Springer Science & Business Media.
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