Wolves and Ecosystem Dynamics

In 1995, 14 wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, revitalizing its ecosystem. The park, established in 1872, had seen its wolf population hunted to extinction by 1926, leading to ecological imbalance. The absence of wolves caused overgrazing by elk, affecting vegetation and other species. Recognized as endangered in 1974, efforts to restore wolves began, facing funding and legislative challenges. By 1995, wolves were reintroduced, reducing elk numbers and allowing vegetation and other species to recover. However, recent legislative measures threaten their survival, highlighting the fragility of conservation efforts.

What year were 14 wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park?

• 2005

• 1995

• 1990

• 2000

Who signed the National Park Protection Act into law?

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Ulysses S. Grant

• Woodrow Wilson

• Abraham Lincoln

By what year had all the northern Rocky Mountain wolf packs been hunted to extinction?

• 1900

• 1926

• 1974

• 1950

What is a trophic cascade?

• A conservation strategy

• A method of wolf hunting

• A series of changes in an ecosystem caused by the removal of a top predator

• A type of waterfall

Which species used willows to create their dams?

• Elk

• Beavers

• Bears

• Foxes

In what year was the Great Wolf officially recognized as endangered?

• 1980

• 1974

• 1965

• 1991

How many gray wolves were relocated from Canada to Yellowstone?

• 50

• 31

• 75

• 14

What impact did the reintroduction of wolves have on the elk population?

• It fluctuated

• It remained the same

• It decreased

• It increased

What was the estimated number of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2015?

• 400

• 300

• 200

• 500

What is one of the main challenges in conservation mentioned in the video?

• Quick destruction of ecosystems

• Slow legislative processes

• Difficulty in reintroducing species

• Lack of public interest