Question

Propose at least two different hypotheses as to why the wolf population numbers in Table 1 dropped slightly from 2003-2004 and then seemed to drop significantly from 2007-2011

Table 1-Number of wolves and number of packs at the end of each year* 199519961997 1998 1999 200020012002200320042005 119 132 148 174 118 51 86 112 118 21 # Wolves # Packs 8 10 13-14 2006 20072008 2009 20102011 136 124 96 97 98 # Wolves # Packs 1995-1999 data represents Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA); 2000-2011 data is specific to Yellowstone National Park

Answer 1

1.Disease kills a number of pups and old adults. distemper killed two-thirds of the pups . Infectious canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus, and bordetella have also have been confirmed among Yellowstone wolves, but their effect on mortality is unknown.

2.Most of the decrease has been in packs where it has been attributed primarily to the decline in the elk population and available territory. Canine distemper and sarcoptic mange have also been factors in the population decline.