Click this link https://exchange.iseesystems.com/public/isee/wolves-and-trees/index.html#page1 and summarize the following questions.
A keystone species is a species within an ecosystem that influences most all other species in that system. If a keystone species is removed from the system, the system will either collapse or the removal will cause a dramatic change in the species composition of the system. Use the link above to access the ISEE Exchange website to explore a systems model related to the removal of the wolves, a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park.
Click on the paw to open the model and read the background of the story. Next, explore the box-and-arrow type model of the effect of wolves on vegetation in Yellowstone National Park.
Summarize the cause-and-effect model in words, including the effect on other animals and ‘ecosystem’ or ‘land health’.
– What would happen to a system if wolves are removed from it?
Next, explore the box-and-arrow model.
– What is the connection/relationship between wolves and moose & elk?
– How did the removal of wolves from Yellowstone change the behavior of the elk and moose?
– What is the indirect effect of wolves on the beaver population?
– Why does this happen?
– How are birds in the system affected?
– How does the decline of beavers lead to a decline in aquatic insect populations?
– What did the extermination of wolves affect the ‘health’ of rivers?
– How did the presence of wolf kills (carrion) affect other animals?
– How did the reintroduction of wolves change the bison and elk behavior?
– How did this affect the vegetation along rivers?
– How did this affect the beaver population?
– Why do you think we refer to wolves as ‘keystone species’ to Yellowstone?
– What is a ‘keystone species’?
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