Question

Isle Royale SimBio lab model:

You have accepted a position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You are asked to advise the U.S. Park Service on likely future population fluctuations in wolf and moose populations on Isle Royale. National Park Service policy is not to intervene in natural ecological processes unless absolutely necessary.

a) Based on your understanding of current ecological concepts, especially the importance of numerical and functional responses of wolves and moose (Krebs, pages 222-223) as well as both direct and indirect species interactions, list three alternatives for the Park Service regarding how to manage the predator population that is currently threatened by local extinction on Isle Royale. What sources did you use in developing your alternative suggestions?

b) Explain which of the three alternatives you would select if you were the Park Superintendent.

Answer 1

1.The Isle Royale national park has been used over decades to study the predator-prey dynamics.As being isolated it has housed the moose(prey) and the predator wolves which migrated to the forest over time.The moose increasing populations were kept in checked by these wolves.Also the population of plant resources of the island were kept in checked by the predator-prey realtion.The new wolves over the time was not able to migrate due to human intervention and various environmental effects.Also the dogs introduced a specific virus to wolves.Hence due to inbreeding depression and introduction of virus the predator population has been drastically reduced to very low.Causing spike in moose populations, effecting the plant population and causing environment disbalance as a result.

The predator population has reduced to all time low-

Some measures can be undertaken are as follows-

1.The present population health should be regularly monitored and measures should be taken that they can breed effectively.

2.The introduction of alien invasive population should not be done at any cost especially if they can attack wolves.Also the human intervention due to experimental data collection should be stopped until population recover.

3.Though the genetic pool is already reduced the main culprit being inbreeding depression.So the healthy wild wolves should be introduced.So the population recovers and inbreeding depression effects lessen.

A2.If I would have been park superintendent I would have choosen third alternative as the inbreeding depression is the main result of population decline.So introduction of new individuals would uplifts the inbreeding depression. Increase the predator population and also keep in check the prey population.Hence helping to keep ecosystem stable.