As Predators, Wolves Provide Vital Boost To Ecosystems, Particularly Plants, Through Their Kills

[hatrack]

As hunting wolves is legal again in two American states, Montana and Idaho, researchers have discovered an important role these large predators play in creating nutrient hotspots in forest environments. Researchers from Michigan Technological University found that when wolves take down their prey—in this case moose—they do more than simply keep a check on herbivore populations. The corpses of wolf-hunted moose create hotspots of forest fertility by enriching the soil with biochemicals. Due to this sudden up-tick in nutrients, microbial and fungal growth explodes, in turn providing extra nutrients for plants near the kill.

"This study demonstrates an unforeseen link between the hunting behavior of a top predator—the wolf—and biochemical hot spots on the landscape," said Joseph Bump, an assistant professor in Michigan Tech's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and first author of the research paper. "It's important because it illuminates another contribution large predators make to the ecosystem they live in and illustrates what can be protected or lost when predators are preserved or exterminated."

To discover the importance of wolf kills to forest ecosystems, the researchers studied a 50 year record of more than 3,600 moose carcasses in the Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale—an island on Lake Superior—is famous for its well-researched relationship between wolves and moose trapped on an island.

To uncover the connection between wolf-hunting and biodiversity hotspots, the researchers measured nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium levels at sites of wolf-kills and measured that against control sites. They also surveyed the microbes and fungi near the kills and analyzed leaf tissue of the large-leaf aster, a favorite food for moose. The contrasts between kill sites and control sites were stark: soils at kill sites had 100 to 600 percent more inorganic nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. They also had an average of 38 percent more bacterial and fungal fatty acids, which researchers say is proof of increased growth of bacteria and fungi in the area, while nitrogen levels in plants at kill sites were 25 to 47 percent higher than control.

EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/1102-hance_wolves_nutrients.html

[zonkers]

1. Fascinating. Thanks for posting.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. Well, yea. But they kill cattle on govt. land.

What a lame excuse. The farmers can get reimbursed for their losses.

I love the wolves. I want them there. And it's my taxes that pay for those parks.

[zeaper]

4. Don’t worry

Those Park wolves are safe. The only ones that are hunted are the ones that leave the Park.

[Greyskye]

5. Has anyone told the wolves that?

:shrug:

[kestrel91316]

3. (Kali-ma nods smugly as she reads this)