Author Archives: Nathan Lyle
Stable isotopes, ecological integration and environmental change: wolves record atmospheric carbon isotope trend better than tree rings
November 30, 2020
Large-scale patterns of isotope ratios are detectable in the tissues of organisms, but the variability in these patterns often obscures detection of environmental trends. We show that plants and animals at lower trophic levels are relatively poor indicators of the … read more
Posted in Biology | Tagged ecological integrator, palaeoenvironment, stable isotopes, Wolf
Outsized effect of predation: Wolves alter wetland creation and recolonization by killing ecosystem engineers
November 30, 2020
Gray wolves are a premier example of how predators can transform ecosystems through trophic cascades. However, whether wolves change ecosystems as drastically as previously suggested has been increasingly questioned. We demonstrate how wolves alter wetland creation and recolonization by killing … read more
Posted in Trophic Cascade
Population responses of common ravens to reintroduced gray wolves
November 30, 2020
Top predators have cascading effects throughout the food web, but their impacts on scavenger abundance are largely unknown. Gray wolves (Canis lupus) provide carrion to a suite of scavenger species, including the common raven (Corvus corax). Ravens are wide‐ranging and … read more
Posted in Trophic Cascade | Tagged Canis lupus, common raven, Corvus corax, gray wolf, scavenger, Yellowstone National Park
Wolf Delisting Challenges Demonstrate Need for an Improved Framework for Conserving Intraspecific Variation under the Endangered Species Act
November 30, 2020
If applied generally to other species, the 2019 rule’s approach to ESA implementation would represent a significant scaling back of recovery efforts for widely distributed species that would increase both short term vulnerability and long-term loss of adaptive potential. Recent … read more
Posted in Front Page News, News | Tagged adaptive potential, Canis lupus, conservation genomics, distinct population segment, recovery planning
2020 Mini-Grants Awarded
November 29, 2020
Thanks to your support, the National Wolfwatcher Coalition awarded two mini grants. The recipients are The Voyageurs Wolf Project and Tundra Speaks. The Voyageurs wolf project is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota and Voyageurs National Park. They … read more
Posted in Grants
Wolves without borders: Transboundary survival of wolves in Banff National Park over three decades
October 27, 2020
Large carnivores are important ecological drivers of ecosystem dynamics when they occur at ecologically effective densities. They are also challenging to conserve, especially in transboundary settings such as along borders of parks and protected areas. Here, we tested for effects … read more
Posted in Hunting Wolves | Tagged carnivore, Exploitation, hunting, mortality, Protected area, trapping, yellowstone


