Author Archives: Nathan Lyle

Minnesota moose are some tough critters but research is showing that complex factors are combining to make their survival more and more precarious. Just how tough are moose? And how complex can the situation become for the largest member of … read more

After spending millions of dollars and tracking hundreds of moose with GPS collars, scientists have pinpointed the primary culprit behind the animal’s ever-shrinking numbers in Minnesota. It’s the deer. Parasites they carry into Minnesota’s North Woods have emerged as the … read more

Declines in moose (Alces alces) populations have occurred repeatedly during the past century on the southern fringe of moose range in central and eastern North America, generally in the same geo-climatic regions. These prolonged declines, occurring over a number of … read more

Humans have been controlling carnivore numbers for centuries. Predator hunting, however, may indirectly influence predator-prey dynamics unintentionally by influencing the age- and sex-structure of predator populations that exhibit intraspecific (IS) variation in prey selection. We tested for IS in a … read more

The extent to which prey space use actively minimizes predation risk continues to ignite controversy. Methodological reasons that have hindered consensus include inconsistent measurements of predation risk, biased spatiotemporal scales at which responses are measured and lack of robust null … read more

The expansion or recovery of predators can affect local prey populations. Since the 1940s, coyotes (Canis latrans) have expanded into eastern North America where they are now the largest predator and prey on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). However, their effect … read more