A new study published this month in the journal Ecology elucidates an ecological dance between wolves, coyotes, and pronghorn. Wildlife Conservation Society ecologist Kim Berger and colleagues analyzed wolf distribution data from the Yellowstone Ecosystem to evaluate the whether the observed increase in coyotes, resulting from the extirpation of wolves, accounted for high rates of coyote predation on pronghorn fawns. Take home message: wolves beat up on coyotes, and when wolves are not around - it's open season on baby pronghorn for coyotes. In areas where wolves are abundant, pronghorn fawn survivorship is four times higher than areas where wolves are absent.
Dr. Berger reveals yet another reason that apex predators, such as wolves, are critical to the health of ecosystems.
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