Less well understood is the impact of predation of sick individuals on prey population health. Prey population growth rates are less impacted by predation when predators go for juveniles or elderly adults, as these individuals have lower reproductive values. Selective predation can have important impacts on prey population dynamics. Predators tend to select individuals that are easier or less risky to hunt. Selective predation means that a particular type of prey occurs more frequently in a predator’s diet than what is expected based on the prey type’s frequency in an environment. Wolves also showed a strong preference for elderly moose over prime-aged adults. Wolves preyed more on prime-aged adult moose with osteoarthritis than healthy prime-aged individuals. Carcasses left behind by wolves provide food for other animals such as scavengers and redistribute nutrients.Ī new study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution found another way in which wolves may be beneficial for biodiversity: selective predation. Wolves keep prey populations, such as deer, elk, and moose, in check, which benefits vegetation. Predators may lead to human-wildlife conflicts, as wolves can pose a threat to livestock and pets.Įven so, multiple case studies, such as the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone, have shown that the presence of wolves favors ecosystem health. Yet their return has not been well-received by everyone.
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The US has seen an increase in their wolf populations across the country, and extensive conservation efforts have led to a comeback across Europe. But after decades of habitat destruction and human persecution, wolves now only occupy about two thirds of their former range. They were once one of the most widely distributed wild mammals on Earth. Over the last decade, wolves have been at the center stage of conservation news. The results indicate that wolves play an important role in keeping prey populations healthy and have considerable implications for the conservation management of predator and prey populations.
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A new study found that wolves select adult moose based on age and osteoarthritis, a chronic disease that can be influenced by genetics. Predators may keep prey populations healthy by acting as a selective force against genetic diseases. By Suzanna Burgelman, Frontiers science writer Image: Rolf Peterson