Wolf Reintroduction Essay

One of the most renowned rewilding projects which has demonstrated the effects rewilding has on a whole ecosystem, was the reintroduction of grey wolves (Canis lupus) into Yellowstone National Park in the North West of the United States. The wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995-1996 and have subsequently recolonised the whole park and some of the surrounding area known as the greater Yellowstone ecosystem (GYE) (Smith et al., 2003). The reintroduction of the wolves has had a great effect on the ecosystem of Yellowstone; the wolves have greatly reduced the numbers of ungulates, especially Elk which have been found to support the wolf packs almost entirely (Smith et al., 2003). The wolves have also had an effect on many of the other organisms …show more content…
As a result of wolves predating the Elk of Yellowstone, the fauna has been under less pressure and studies have shown that there have been significantly higher levels of growth in some plant species since the reintroduction. For example, it has been shown that Aspen is being browsed significantly less and its population is higher (Ripple et al., 2001) than before the reintroduction and a negative correlation was found between amount of grazing and the height of the Aspen (Ripple & Beschta, 2012). There has also been shown to be effects on two species of Willow (Salix geyeriana and Salix boothii) where stem growth was shown to have doubled since 1996, this study by Beyer et al. (2007), also proved that this change was not due to other factors such as climate and that it was the presence of wolves that was the significant factor in the change of growth of the