Isle Royale Ecosystem Dynamics

The lecture discusses the ecological significance of Isle Royale, focusing on its unique island biogeography and the long-term wolf-moose study. It highlights the simplicity of the Isle Royale ecosystem compared to more complex systems like Yellowstone, emphasizing the value of studying isolated ecosystems to understand predation and species interactions. The lecture concludes with insights into the ideal conditions that make Isle Royale a valuable research site.

What is one of the key reasons the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project is valuable to science?

• It is located in a tropical region.

• It has a large number of predators.

• It has a high human population.

• It is an island, providing a unique ecological study environment.

Which famous example of island biogeography did Darwin study?

• The Hawaiian Islands

• The Galapagos Islands

• The Canary Islands

• The Caribbean Islands

Why are there fewer mammal species on Isle Royale compared to the mainland?

• The island is too small to support any mammals.

• Mammals have difficulty reaching and surviving on the island.

• There is a lack of food on the island.

• The island is too hot for most mammals.

Which species is known to have swum to Isle Royale?

• White-tailed deer

• Moose

• Black bears

• Coyotes

How did wolves arrive on Isle Royale?

• They swam across the lake.

• They walked across a frozen ice bridge.

• They flew over the lake.

• They were introduced by humans.

What happens to white-tailed deer when they attempt to swim to Isle Royale?

• They are eaten by predators.

• They often freeze and wash up dead.

• They successfully reach the island.

• They adapt to the cold waters.

Which species went extinct on Isle Royale shortly after the arrival of wolves?

• Black bears

• White-tailed deer

• Coyotes

• Moose

What is a key difference between the food web on Isle Royale and Yellowstone?

• Yellowstone has no human interaction.

• Isle Royale has only one large predator and one large prey.

• Yellowstone has a simpler food web.

• Isle Royale has more predators.

Why is Isle Royale considered 'just the right size' for the study?

• It is large enough to support a diverse range of species.

• It is small enough to prevent any species from going extinct.

• It is the perfect size to maintain a single predator-prey relationship.

• It is too small for any significant ecological study.

What is a significant challenge in studying complex ecosystems like Yellowstone?

• Lack of predators

• Too many interconnecting species interactions

• No human involvement

• No prey species