This essay discusses the manner in which biodiversity relates to the interactions among different organisms and environment. The focus of the paper is on the impact of the presence of wolves in the Yellowstone National Park. Before the reintroduction of the wolves in the park in 1995, the nature of the environment was much different from the present situation after they were brought back into the park. In the absence of the wolves, the elk population of the forest exploded, which grazed their way across the landscape, killing young trees and brush. The high population of herbivorous animals, particularly the deer, fed and exhausted the available vegetation in the park. According to Beschta (2006), in the 1930s, the environmental scientists were worried about the level of degradation of the national park and the quantity of soil erosion. There was a gradual but steady change in the composition of plants and animals, as the park experienced more vegetation cover, which was greener and healthier than the one that existed before the year 1995 (Cassidy et al., 2015). High vegetation cover attracted more birds and other animals, which had an impact on the overall food web of living organisms in Yellowstone National Park.
The reintroduction of the wolves brought about significant trophic cascades, as they feed on elks among other animals within the ecosystem limited the behavior and density of their prey thereby enhancing the survival of other species in the lower trophic level. As the population of elk reduced, more vegetation has grown, and the height of trees increased significantly. The thick vegetation cover and tall trees attract more birds, such as songbirds to the forest of the park. Besides, the presence of berries in the regenerating shrubs increases the population of bears, which feed on the new berries in the environment. Bears have reinforced the impact of wolves by killing calves belonging to elks. The action of bears further improved the vegetation cover and the population of the species that directly depend on the trees and shrubs. The beaver, which were absent, came into life and their population has grown exponentially. The beavers are believed to have also become ecosystem engineers, operating similar to wolves, by creating niches for other species within Yellowstone National Park. Beavers in the park build beaver dams, which provide a conducive environment for the growth of succulents. Grizzlies eat succulents enabling the former to grow and improve trout as well as aspen habitat (Jones, 2017). Beavers need aspen for food and building beaver dams, and these dams provide an elaborate habitat for the aspen. The number coyote significantly increased while wolves were absent. However, when wolves were reintroduced in the park, coyotes were killed, providing a conducive environment for the increase of the population of rabbits and mice, which subsequently brought in more foxes and hawks in the ecosystem.
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The regeneration of vegetation changed the nature and behavior of rivers in different ways and magnitudes. Shrubs and trees provide the necessary anchorage for the soil, thus minimizing soil erosion. More pools and started to form and the river channels narrowed because of the reduction of soil erosion. Riverbanks have become more stabilized than ever before, and the river courses become fixed because of the regenerating forests (Beschta, 2006).
The introduction of wolves into the local environment has both useful and devastating effects on the existing ecosystem. First, they will face the significant challenge of survival given adversarial history they have with human beings. Despite the fact they rarely attack humans, they are still considered one of the world’s most fearsome animals and natural villains. Anti-wolves have spearheaded the belief, and it still exists in the minds of people living in the locality. Wolves are known to prey on domestic animals for food, and this tendency exposes them to human attack. Most residents in the local area rear domestic animals such as cows, goat, sheep, and pigs. Therefore, the introduction of the wolves in the environment will expose them to these domestic animals since there are a few other wild animals, such as elk and coyotes that exist in Yellow National Park. This condition reduces the chances of survival of wolves as they will be shot, trapped, or poisoned for fear of preying on domestic animals. According to Cassidy (2015), the Defenders of Wildlife have paid approximately $155,000 to compensate the ranchers for the losses incurred by the wolves.
On the other hand, introducing wolves might help in improving the vegetation cover in the nearby forest by preying on the high population of zebras. The wolves will decrease the bottom-heaviness of the ecosystem by increasing the number of predators. The current large number of zebras has reduced the vegetation cover, thus interfering with other species within the ecosystem. However, this process should be done in moderation to achieve the desired objective. Too large number of wolves may eliminate their limited number of prey in the area. The elimination of zebras among other preys may force them to interfere with domestic animals, thus triggering human-animal adversary.
Biodiversity has significant benefits, principal among them restoring the native ecology. Besides, the existence of various types of living organisms promotes tourism as people from different parts of the world travel around to observe them. Tourist activities generate revenue in different ways as well as creating job opportunities in the local community. Despite the effort made by different environmental groups in prevention and preservation of various species, some individuals, such as poachers and charcoal-burners continue to interfere with the natural ecosystem.
References
Beschta, R. L., Painter, L. E., Levi, T., & Ripple, W. J. (2016). Long-term aspen dynamics, trophic cascades, and climate in northern Yellowstone National Park. Canadian Journal of Forest Research , 46 (4), 548-556.
Cassidy, K. A., MacNulty, D. R., Stahler, D. R., Smith, D. W., & Mech, L. D. (2015). Group composition effects on aggressive interpack interactions of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Behavioral Ecology , 26 (5), 1352-1360.
Jones, K. R. (2017). Restoring the ‘fierce green fire’: animal agency, wolf conservation and environmental memory in Yellowstone National Park. BJHS Themes , 1-18.
