Isle Royal Gray Wolf Population
Nichols-Felan 1
Sandy Nichols-Felan
Professor Caroline McNutt
Biology 104
15 June 2011
This paper is about the Isle Royal Gray Wolf Population. This paper will discuss when the Gray Wolf first appeared there, their population when they were first studied, how the numbers have remained in check, the importance of the Moose population as it impacts the number of the Gray Wolves, their current population number and what has caused their population decline, what is being considered to help increase their population numbers, and finally conclude with what I believe should be done to resurrect their current population and why. To begin, the Gray Wolves first came to Isle Royale in about the year 1950 by walking on an ice bridge from Canada. Since 1958 the wolves have been studied and their population numbers recorded every year. Each winter to mid-January to early-March, the numbers of wolves are counted on Isle Royale. Since the studies first began in 1958, they have shown that Isle Royal will have an average number of about 24 wolves living in Isle Royale at any given time. (isleroyalewolf.org). Now that we have discussed when the Gray Wolf first appeared in Isle Royale and their population when they were first studied, we will look at how their numbers have remained in check. Over the course of studying the Gray Wolves for the last 50 years, it seems that the primary regulatory influence was believed to be food supply or social controls, or some
Nichols-Felan 2 combination, and high pup mortality in other wolf populations has been regarded as important in reducing their growth potential and the finding of an apparently malnourished pup on Isle Royal in 1964 suggests that food shortages during the pup-rearing season were of regulatory significance (isleroyalewolf.org). Now that we have discussed how the Gray
Sandy Nichols-Felan
Professor Caroline McNutt
Biology 104
15 June 2011
This paper is about the Isle Royal Gray Wolf Population. This paper will discuss when the Gray Wolf first appeared there, their population when they were first studied, how the numbers have remained in check, the importance of the Moose population as it impacts the number of the Gray Wolves, their current population number and what has caused their population decline, what is being considered to help increase their population numbers, and finally conclude with what I believe should be done to resurrect their current population and why. To begin, the Gray Wolves first came to Isle Royale in about the year 1950 by walking on an ice bridge from Canada. Since 1958 the wolves have been studied and their population numbers recorded every year. Each winter to mid-January to early-March, the numbers of wolves are counted on Isle Royale. Since the studies first began in 1958, they have shown that Isle Royal will have an average number of about 24 wolves living in Isle Royale at any given time. (isleroyalewolf.org). Now that we have discussed when the Gray Wolf first appeared in Isle Royale and their population when they were first studied, we will look at how their numbers have remained in check. Over the course of studying the Gray Wolves for the last 50 years, it seems that the primary regulatory influence was believed to be food supply or social controls, or some
Nichols-Felan 2 combination, and high pup mortality in other wolf populations has been regarded as important in reducing their growth potential and the finding of an apparently malnourished pup on Isle Royal in 1964 suggests that food shortages during the pup-rearing season were of regulatory significance (isleroyalewolf.org). Now that we have discussed how the Gray
Cited: "Bone Deformities Linked To Inbreeding In Isle Royale Wolves." www.sciencedaily.com. N.p., 11 Apr. 2009. Web. 16 June 2011. "Female shortage threatens Isle Royale wolf population ." www.miningjournal.net. Ed. John Flesher. N.p., 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 15 June 2011. "Inbreeding taking toll on Michigan wolves." www.msnbc.msn.com. N.p., 4 Apr. 2009. Web. 17 June 2011. "Isle Royale Wolf." www.isleroyalewolf.org. N.p., 2011. Web. 15 June 2011. [pic]"Scat reveals an immigrant in Isle Royale wolves ' gene pool." www.sciencedaily.com. N.p., 13 Mar. 2011. Web. 16 June 2011.