Elk antipredator behavior

rdf:langString Elk antipredator behavior

rdf:langString Antipredatory behaviors are actions an animal performs to reduce or rid themselves of the risk of being prey. Many studies have been done on elk to see what their antipredator behaviors consist of. One of the most commonly known consequences of the large elk population throughout Yellowstone National Park is the significant decline in the recruitment of aspen (Populus tremuloides). Wolves were reintroduced to the park seventeen years ago. The decrease in elk that the wolves brought should allow the aspen to recuperate and be able to mature once again. The anti-predatory responses moved elk further into the trees and away from young aspen groves. If these responses can have such a profound effect on the community structure itself, there are likely to be important consequences for the herbivore that adopts these new responses. One of these major costs of anti-predatory behavior of elk is a compromised diet that results in poor health. Elk must do what is necessary to survive, even when there are negative effects associated with their new behaviors. When an animal feels the cost of anti-predatory behaviors, those costs are called risk-effects. Some risk-effects felt by the elk include decreased health due to compromised diet and decreased reproductive rate. This decrease in reproduction rate results in a smaller population size.