Sometimes, it's easy to forget the important role predation plays in sustaining an ecosystem. In the video below, a native wolf species is reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. These notorious bad guys — the villains of much folklore — were released into the park after a 70-year absence. Scientists hoped to improve the overall health of the wildlife, but the results were better than they ever imagined.
In the seven decades that the park was wolf-free, deer populations had increased dramatically. While they may seem harmless, deer in excessive numbers can and did devastate the ecosystem. The deer consumed all plant-life, stripping the area of greenery and driving away other competing herbivores and tree-dwellers. In order to restore the park to its former grandeur, wolves were a necessary ingredient. When the wolves returned, a ‘trophic cascade’ occurred, regulating Yellowstone's food chain.
In the time since the wolves were reintroduced to the park, plant-life rebounded, species diversity drastically improved, and even the rivers became cleaner and more stable — all thanks to one small yet mighty pack of beautiful animals.
This takes my breath away. Please SHARE this video with your friends on Facebook!
