Ecological dynamics on Yellowstone's Northern Range / Committee on Ungulate Management in Yellowstone National Park, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Ungulate Management in Yellowstone National Park.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Elk--Ecology--Yellowstone National Park.

Elk.

American bison--Ecology--Yellowstone National Park.

American bison.

Ungulates--Ecology--Yellowstone National Park.

Ungulates.

Wildlife management--Yellowstone National Park.

Wildlife management.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (198 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone's Northern Range discusses the complex management challenges in Yellowstone National Park. Controversy over the National Park Service's approach of "natural regulation" has heightened in recent years because of changes in vegetation and other ecosystem components in Yellowstone's northern range. Natural regulation minimizes human impacts, including management intervention by the National Park Service, on the park ecosystem. Many have attributed these changes to increased size of elk and other ungulate herds. This report examines the evidence that increased ungulate populations are responsible for the changes in vegetation and that the changes represent a major and serious change in the Yellowstone ecosystem. According to the authors, any human intervention to protect species such as the aspen and those that depend on them should be prudently localized rather than ecosystem-wide. An ecosystem-wide approach, such as reducing ungulate populations, could be more disruptive. The report concludes that although dramatic ecological change does not appear to be imminent, approaches to dealing with potential human-caused changes in the ecosystem, including those related to climate change, should be considered now. The need for research and public education is also compelling.

Contents:

""Front Matter""; ""Acknowledgment of Review Participants""; ""Preface""; ""Contents""; ""Summary""; ""1 Introduction""; ""2 Historical Perspective: Yellowstone�s Changing Environment""; ""3 Present Conditions: Vegetation""; ""4 Present Conditions: Animals""; ""5 Conclusions and Recommendations""; ""References""; ""Appendix A Understanding the Past""; ""Appendix B Biographical Information on The Committee on Ungulate Management in Yellowstone National Park""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 138-167).

ISBN:

9780309169769

0309169763

9780309507738

0309507731

OCLC:

923255155