Elk antipredator behavior (original) (raw)

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 herbiv