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Gray wolves as climate change buffers in Yellowstone
Christopher C Wilmers1, Wayne M Getz
1Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. cwilmers@nature.berkeley.edu <cwilmers@nature.berkeley.edu>
Climate change shortens winters in Yellowstone, reducing vital winter carrion for scavengers. Reintroduced gray wolves (Canis lupus) mitigate this, buffering food availability and supporting scavenger adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Wildlife Conservation
Background:
- Climate change and top predator activity influence scavenger communities.
- In Yellowstone, winter conditions and gray wolves (Canis lupus) dictate carrion availability for scavengers.
- Changing climate patterns in Yellowstone pose risks to scavenger food resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze long-term weather data for winter condition trends in Yellowstone.
- To model the synergistic effects of climate change and wolf presence on scavenger food resources.
- To understand how climate-driven alterations in carrion availability impact scavenger species.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 55 years of Yellowstone weather data to identify winter condition trends.
- Use of an empirically derived model to simulate the impact of snow thaw and wolf presence on carrion availability.
- Assessment of climate change effects on resource availability for scavenger species.
Main Results:
- Yellowstone winters are shortening, characterized by decreased snowfall and more frequent thaws.
- Early snowmelt without wolves significantly reduces late-winter carrion, creating food bottlenecks for scavengers.
- Gray wolves mitigate carrion reduction caused by early thaws, buffering climate change impacts.
Conclusions:
- Climate change alters winter conditions, potentially disrupting scavenger food webs.
- Top predators like wolves play a crucial role in stabilizing ecosystems under climate change.
- Maintaining intact food chains, including apex predators, is vital for ecosystem resilience to environmental change.
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