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The wolves were re -introduced into Yellowstone in 1995, more than 60 years after their eradication from the National Park. ; | Credit: William Campbell/Sygma Photo via Getty Images
Yellowstone wolves help new generations of young trembling trees grow high and join the forest canopy – the first generation of such trees in the northern range of Yellowstone in 80 years.
Gray wolves (Canis lupus) disappeared from Yellowstone National Park until 1930 After a major loss of habitat, people’s hunting and government eradication programs. In addition to these best predators, the elk populations (Cervus Canadensis) increased. In their largest population, 18,000 moose from grasses and shrubs, as well as leaves, twigs and bark of trees, ranged in their largest population, such as tree bark Shaking tremors (Populus). This stopped the seedlings to establish themselves, and in the 1990s the survey did not find the Aspen seedlings.
“You had older trees and then nothing at the bottom” Luke painterEcologist and main author of the new research in Oregon State University, Live Science said.
But when in 1995 The wolves were re -introduced and the image began to change. As the wolf numbers increased, the elk residents in the park have fallen dramatically, and now it has fallen to about 2000.
In a new study published on Tuesday (July 22) in the magazine Forest ecology and managementThe artist and his colleagues interviewed Aspen – specific forest areas where these trees grow.
Related: The re -introduction of wolves to Yellowstone helped a whole ecosystem flourishing, 20 years of study findings
The team returned Three areas surveyed in 2012 to investigate changes to the number of sprouts of aspen. Out of 87 Aspen stands studied, a third of the world had many tall aspen seedlings, indicating that the trees are healthy and grow. Another third of the stands had tall seedlings patches.
“We see a significant new growth of Young Aspen and this is the first time we found it on our plots,” said the artist. This is a young aspen with a boot that is greater than 2 inches (5 centimeters) at the height of the chest – which has not been visible there since the 1940s, he added.
“This does not mean that they are not going to kill or die of something, but this is a pretty good sign that we get some new trees,” the Painter noted. “When they become larger, they become more resistant.”
Such trees are old enough to distribute themselves, either by sending new shoots from their roots, quite a distance from the main tree, or through the seed, he said.
Researchers found tall carpers in two places studied. | Credit: Photo provided by Luke Painter, College of OSU Agricultural Sciences.
However, while the jeloustoun shiver is recovering, they are not yet out of the forest. The elk population has fallen but the bison (Bison Bison) The number has increased in some places in recent years.
Bison for wolves is much harderSaid the painter, so more and more bison can occur as a new restraint of Aspen in some places.
The artist stated that changes in Aspen’s recovery show the impact of a major predator’s renewal, such as change, such as change.
He told Aspen’s repeated effect, he told Live Science. “Aspen is the main type of biodiversity. The canopy is more open than with conifers, and you get a filtration light that creates a habitat that supports a variety of plants.”
This means that berry -making shrubs, insects and birds are impetus as well as species such as beavers because Trees are the desired food and building material for semi -water rodentsAlong with willows and cotton, which grow near the water in the region.
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There are also hints that since the wolves have been introduced, the Bear and Puma region has been increasing, the painter said, but it is unclear why.
“The article shows important ecological benefits from wolf recovery to Yellowstone National Park” Dominick SpraCKLENProfessor of the University of Leeds, UK Biosphere and atmosphere, who has explored potential The impact of the re -introduction of wolves in Scotlandsaid direct science.
“Ecosystems that lack large carnivores often become increasingly balanced,” SpraCKLEN said. “While re -introducing carnivores, there are important challenges related to the coexistence of a person and outdoor life, this work emphasizes the great ecological benefits that such restoration efforts can bring.”