Biologist John Laundre responding to the NY TIMES op ed piece entitled IS THE WOLF A REAL AMERICAN HERO?---This Editorial severely questioned whether top carnivores like the wolf have a top down impact on herbivores and subsequently the bioligical diversity of the plant community that both the Wolves and the hoofed browsers occupy----Laundre's response as follows: "The study cited in this op-ed was flawed and we (Ripple, et al. have a comment appearing in an upcoming Ecology pointing it out".............. "Also, my contention is that: how can a study done over 10 years AFTER the wolves have come back, document much when all of the adjustments have already been done?".......... "Of course they will not see big differences because those big differences have already occurred"............. "What they are seeing is the results of those adjustments, a system already altered".......... "Our data clearly showed that elk underwent a major shift in habitat use within 3 years after the wolves arrived"................... "What they are studying are those fine tuned adjustments that major shift will not be as obvious"......... "What it really is is mass action ecologists striking back at the behavioral ecologists"............. "They can not conceive that behavior will have a major ecological impact",,,,,,,,,"it does not fit their mathematical models"............ "Also, young researchers trying to make a name for themselves has a lot to do with it"........... "I guess that is how science works, pretty much how human nature does!"

READ JOHN LAUNDRE'S PEER REVIEWED "PREDATION RISK AND FEAR ARE CONCEPTS WELL ESTABLISHED IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR...........click on link below

www.cof.orst.edu/leopold/papers/Laundre_etal2010.pdf

by JW Laundré - ‎2010 - 

Abstract: “Predation risk” and “fear” are concepts well established in animal behavior literature. ..... bison: reestablishing the “landscape of fear” in Yellowstone.

wolves altering the feeding habits of elk

One of the Studies that John Laundre feels is flawed as it relates to the top down impacts of Wolves on herbivores and the plant community both predator and prey occupy

http://www.wyocoopunit.org/index.php/archives/2010/kauffman-m-j-j-brodie-and-e-s-jules-2010-are-wolves-saving-yello/