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Location: East Midlands, UK
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,775
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18-05-2009, 05:23 PM
"Wolves, like many other predators, such as foxes and mink, do not need a predator to hold their numbers down. Wolf pack numbers are regulated by territoriality (each wolf pack monopolises the food on an area of land from which it excludes other wolves). Territories space out packs and wolves without territory eventually die without successfully raising young. Thus wolves largely regulate their own numbers"
I thought this was rather interesting.
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Location: london, UK
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 583
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18-05-2009, 05:33 PM
Originally Posted by Gnasher 
Apologies to the moderators, as this is strictly a bit off topic, but whilst doing some wolf habitat research, I came across this statement on the Wolf Trust website:
"Wolves, like many other predators, such as foxes and mink, do not need a predator to hold their numbers down. Wolf pack numbers are regulated by territoriality (each wolf pack monopolises the food on an area of land from which it excludes other wolves). Territories space out packs and wolves without territory eventually die without successfully raising young. Thus wolves largely regulate their own numbers"
I thought this was rather interesting.
I think this has been covered before; resources limit the success of wolves. Wolves are an apex predator, like humans, bears etc they have no predator above them in the food chain so to speak.
Loved your theory about the evolution of Tundra wolves by the way: but I think a few biologists might not agree. They have been in the Tundra for thousands of years!
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Location: Back in Canada, finally!!!!!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 245
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18-05-2009, 07:14 PM
Originally Posted by Gnasher
As for Ellesmere, I never said there had been a population explosion - you must have misunderstood what I was saying. Just the opposite - the living is poor on Ellesmere, this is the whole point that Mech was making ! BECAUSE the living was so poor, the wolves were living in what could be described as the "new model" state (because unfortunately due to man's persecution, wolves have been driven away from desirable places like Yellowstone, to undesirable places such as Ellesmere).
What makes you think Ellesmere is "undesirable"? It is full of wildlife, there is plenty to hunt. Artic fox like it, so do Polar bears and so does the wolf.
I've re-read it to see if your interpretation can be justified, and I don't think it can.
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Location: UK
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,551
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19-05-2009, 06:38 AM
Originally Posted by Promethean
I've re-read it to see if your interpretation can be justified, and I don't think it can.
Wys
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Location: East Midlands, UK
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,775
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19-05-2009, 06:58 AM
Originally Posted by Promethean
How could this be described as a new model when the wolves of Ellesmere have been there for as long as we've known. We also observe the same in Baffin Island. Nobody "drove" the wolves into Ellesmere or Baffin for that matter. They have been part of that ecosystem for a long time. And they are full time residents.
What makes you think Ellesmere is "undesirable"? It is full of wildlife, there is plenty to hunt. Artic fox like it, so do Polar bears and so does the wolf.
I've re-read it to see if your interpretation can be justified, and I don't think it can.
This is what someone said about the place :
"Ellesmere Island is very dry. Wildlife tends to congregate in large thermal oases where sufficient water sustains the sparse vegetation that nourishes muskoxen, arctic hares and other animals. Although snow does accumulate during the long, dark arctic winter, it must not come too early in the autumn if healthy numbers of muskoxen and arctic hares are to survive. If the snow comes too early, it will cover the vegetation, and the muskoxen will not have enough to eat to build up the reserves they need to survive the bitter cold and depleted food supply in winter. This is life on the edge."
Doesn't sound like an ideal habitat for wolves to me. There is plenty to hunt during good years, but the overall picture seems grim, as the above quote shows ... "This is life on the edge". However, although their numbers are very small, the wolves remain there, I am convinced, by the very fact that they are left in peace by man. They show little fear of David Mech and colleagues. And why should they be fearful? They are safe on Ellesmere from the trophy hunter's gun.
What a very lucky man Dave Mech is, I would give my back teeth to spend some time on Ellesmere observing these magnificent creatures. By the way, I have been reading David Mech's fascinating Blogs written when living on the island - they are extremely interesting, and some lovely photos too !
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