WOLF/MOOSE POPULATION MONITORING, ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: MCINTIRE-STENNIS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0224870
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2010
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2014
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIV
1400 Townsend Drive
HOUGHTON,MI 49931

Performing Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Non Technical Summary
This project is intended to maintain continuity in a long-term study of the relationships between wolves and moose in Isle Royale National Park, begun in 1958. The purposes are to monitor the population changes of and understand the dynamical relationships between wolves, moose, balsam fir, and moose ticks at Isle Royale. The isolation of the island by Lake Superior creates a relatively simplified ecosystem that is less impacted by human activity and more readily studied than that on the nearby mainland.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
136	0830	1070	100%

Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
0830 - Wild animals;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

wolf

moose

isle royale

moose ticks

balsam fir

predator

prey

Goals / Objectives
1. Monitor populations of wolves, moose, balsam fir, and moose ticks at Isle Royale (ISRO). For wolves and moose this monitoring includes estimates of abundance, vital rates (survival and recruitment), and predations rates. 2. Understand the dynamical relationships among these populations. Among the relationships we aim to understand are: (i) how the annual growth of balsam fir affects wolf and moose dynamics, and (ii) how patterns and rates of moose browsing affect the growth of balsam fir.

Project Methods
Proposed work at ISRO will occur during a 50-day winter study commencing early January and a 3-4-month summer study beginning late April each year. MTU will provide the services of principal investigator John A. Vucetich. Wolf surveys will involve opportunistic monitoring of radio-collared wolves in summer and a continuous effort, in winter only, to locate using light aircraft, all wolves as often as possible. Snow-tracking from aircraft is the primary method to locate uncollared wolves and will provide complete coverage of wolf predation during the winter. Prey carcasses will be examined on the ground to estimate food abundance for wolves and update a "reconstructed" estimate of moose population size and age structure. The moose population will be censused using the same procedure employed in the past ca. 15 years, i.e., intensive search of 91 plots in winter. This will begin after moose shift into coniferous habitats and visibility bias is stabilized so that 75% of the moose on plots can be consistently counted. This should provide an estimate of moose numbers with a 95% confidence interval <30% of the estimate, and an estimate of the proportion of moose calves. Summer moose observations will provide an early index to calf abundance in the subsequent cohort of moose. Population reconstruction probably provides the most accurate estimates of moose population size at ISRO. This technique tracks survival patterns of annual moose cohorts using animals recovered after death. At least half of each cohort should have died (after the age of 10 years) before the size of each cohort can be estimated, restricting application of the reconstruction technique to periods more than 10 yr. before the collection period. Nutritional condition of moose in midwinter will be evaluated using urea:creatinine ratios in snow urine. Condition for moose recovered after death will be estimated from bone pathology, bone marrow fat levels, cranial volume and metatarsal size. Moose ticks cause, among other things, hair loss in the late winter and early spring. Each spring the abundance of ticks is monitored by observing and photographing the amount of hair loss on ~50 individual moose. Winter moose diet is determined by collecting winter pellets and conducting microhistological analysis. Microscopic plant fragments in the scat are identified by comparison to a reference collection of potential food items. Selection patterns in moose diet are determined by comparing the diet with the plants in the areas of pellet collection. Balsam fir is measured directly each summer, including tree height distribution, annual height growth, and browse rate. We also monitor annual and spatial variation in C:N ratios of balsam fir plants. The wolf and moose surveys will occur each January and February. Monitoring of vegetation and ticks will occur each May and June. Data will be analyzed (statistical and chemical) and compiled during each Fall (September - November). Manuscripts will be worked on throughout the duration of the project.

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Data and results from this long-term research are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, popular articles for the general public, and through our website (www.isleroyalewolf.org). The results are useful to scientists studying theoretical and applied aspects of predation (e.g., USFWS, State of WY, National Park Service), university and high school teachers, and are widely published in news media because of public interest in the status of the gray wolf. The project contributes to the development of young scientists at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During the 4-year period (1 Oct 2010 – 30 Sept 2014): Four PhD students (Andrew Von Duyke, John Henderson, Brian Murray, Bob Montgomery) and one MS student (Grace Parikh) have worked on Isle Royale wolf-moose research. Summer ground-based field work provided valuable experience and training for 16 college students (Kadie Mercier, Keith Toornman, Roberta Ryan, Antoine Chery, Joe Ackerman, Kari Grebe, Tes Jackson, Micah Leinbach, Ellie Cosgrove, David Rolfes, Ethan Toczko, Ryan Oleynik, Will Lytle, Zach Merrill, Sean McWay, Nick Bennett). Nine undergrads (Eva Vrana, Jake Moran, Josh Isaac, Kyle Yarusso, Megan Baker, Natasha Fetzer, Ryan Priest, Scott Larson, Ted Maynard) assisted with lab work and/or data analysis. Two post-grads assisted with outreach (Nora Heikkinen), and lab work (Jon Bontrager). Approximately 160 members of the general public participated in citizen science by assisting with summer field work. Approximately 18% of participants in citizen science are teachers or other educators, bringing the experience directly into classrooms. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? During the 4-year period 1 Oct 2010 - 30 Sept 2014): Data and results from this long-term research were published in 16 peer-reviewed scientific journals, detailed in the "Products" section of this report. Other publications include: Vucetich JA & RO Peterson. 2014. The wolves of Isle Royale, 2013-14 Annual Report. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 16pp. Vucetich, JA. 2014. How and why I am concerned about wolves in National Geographic Kids Books on conserving endangered species edited by Jazynka K, MacNutly D, Raven-Ellison D. forthcoming. Vucetich, JA. 2013. Winter Study Notes from the Field, 2013. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 35pp Vucetich JA & RO Peterson. 2013. The wolves of Isle Royale, 2012-13 Annual Report. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 16pp. Vucetich JA & RO Peterson. 2012. The wolves of Isle Royale, 2011-12 Annual Report. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 16pp. Vucetich, JA. 2012. Winter Study Notes from the Field, 2012. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 35pp. Vucetich JA & RO Peterson. 2011. The wolves of Isle Royale, 2010-11 Annual Report. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 16pp. Vucetich, JA. 2011. Notes from the Field, 2011. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 43pp. Our website, The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale (www.isleroyalewolf.org), is aimed at a general audience and continues to be visited by >10k people annually. More than 3600 people have signed-up to receive occasional research updates via email. PI Vucetich has delivered 68 presentations at scientific conferences, university departmental seminars and to the general public. Other project participants have also given dozens of talks to hundreds of people. In the past 4 years, project participants have been interviewed numerous times about the Isle Royale wolf-moose project. These interviews have resulted in articles appearing in national and international print or radio media outlets (e.g., New York Times, Wash Post, Assoc Press, Audubon, BBC) and many regional print or radio media outlets. Annual Reports from every year are available on our website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Major spring and summer activities carried out each year of the 4-year period (1 Oct 2010 – 30 Sept 2014) include ground-based field work collecting bones from dead moose, measuring growth and browse rate of moose forage, collecting moose pellets for microhistological analysis, estimating tick infestation on moose, recording observations of wolf sign (tracks, scat, howling), and monitoring signals from radiocollared wolves. Live-trapping efforts to radio-collar and obtain blood samples for disease testing were made in spring of 2011 and spring of 2012. Major winter activities carried out during the each year of the 4-year period include aerial counts of wolves, observing social structure of the wolf population, observing wolf behaviour, aerial estimation of moose abundance and estimating kill rate. Winter ground-based field work during each year includes necropsy of wolf-killed moose, collection of moose urine for nutritional analysis, collection of moose pellets for genetic and diet analysis, collection of moose forage for chemical analysis, collection of wolf scat for genetic analysis. Major laboratory activities carried out during the 4-year period include estimating fat content of bone marrow of wolf-killed moose, chemical analysis of moose forage, moose genetic analysis, wolf genetic analysis and analysis of moose urine for UN:C ratios. The number of wolves was counted, the number of moose estimated, and the kill rate was calculated for each year during the 4-year funding cycle. In addition, bones from nearly 400 dead moose were collected; bone marrow analysis was conducted on 22 winter-collected moose carcasses; genetic samples were collected from the winter-collected moose carcasses; more than 500 samples of paired moose pellets and urine were collected; the locations of over 1100 winter moose beds were recorded; 280 samples of winter moose browse were collected; and nearly 400 wolf scats were collected for genetic analysis. The terminal growth and browse rate was measured on approximately 4,000 balsam fir trees, important winter forage for moose. Tick infestation was quantified for over 150 moose. Two wolves were live-trapped and radio-collared in spring of 2012; blood samples were collected for disease testing and genetic analysis. Some key results: 2011 2012 2013 2014 Wolf abundance 16 9 8 9 Moose abundance 515 750 975 1050 Wolf population growth rate -0.44 -0.11 0.125 --- Wolf population mortality rate 0.26 0.44 0.11 0.25 Kill rate 0.668 0.46 1.3 0.46 Predation rate 0.125 0.033 0.024 0.024 % hair damage by moose ticks 50 55 55 NA The full, detailed Annual Reports are available on our website: http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Vucetich JA, RO Peterson, MP Nelson. 2013. Response to Gostomski. George Wright Forum 30(1):101-102.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Montgomery RA, Vucetich JA, Roloff GJ, Bump JK, Peterson RO. 2014. Where Wolves Kill Moose: The Influence of Prey Life History Dynamics on the Landscape Ecology of Predation. PLoS ONE 9(3): e91414. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091414
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Peterson R, Vucetich JA, Bump J, Smith DW. (Invited paper) (2014). Trophic cascades in a multi-causal world: Isle Royale and Yellowstone. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. Accepted.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hedrick PW, Peterson RO, Vucetich LM, Adams JR, Vucetich JA. 2014. Genetic rescue in Isle Royale wolves: genetic analysis and the collapse of the population. Conservation Genetics 15:1111-1121.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale - Annual Report 2013-2014

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Data and results from this long-term research are useful to scientists studying theoretical and applied aspects of predation (e.g., USFWS, State of WY), and are widely published in news media because of public interest in the status of the gray wolf. The project contributes to the development of young scientists at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Changes/Problems: We anticipate no major changes uring the next reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two PhD students, Andy VonDuyke and John Henderson are currently working on Isle Royale wolf-moose research. Summer 2013 ground-based fieldwork provided valuable experience and training for college students Tes Jackson, Micah Leinbach, Kari Grebe, and Joe Ackerman. College students who gained valuable experience and training in lab work include Brecken Robb, Jake Moran, and Joshua Isaac. One post grad (B.S.), Jon Bontrager, worked with us in the lab during the past year. One post grad (B.S.), Nora Heikkinen, assisted with outreach. In summer 2013, nearly forty members of the general public participated in field work on Isle Royale. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been distributed to the scientific community through the publications in peer-reviewed journals (listed above). Our website: www.iselroyalewolf.org Our Annual Reports, every year from 1958 - 2013, all available free on our website. Winter Study notes from the field from 2008 - 2013 (current year on website). In the past 12 months, PI John Vucetich gave 14 talks to >700 people. J Vucetich has given countless interviews that appear in newspapers & on the radio. We cooperate with educators to use our work in classrooms and textbooks. In the past 12 months, collaborator R. Peterson gave ~12 talks to ~1000 people. In the past 12 months, collaborator M. Neslon gave 4 talks to ~325 people. In the past 12 months, C. Peterson gave 35 talks to >600 Isle Royale visitors. Over 1000 people visit our interpretive display at base camp on Isle Royale each summer What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We anticipate no major changes uring the next reporting period. Summer, winter and laboratory activities will remain as described in accomplishments listed above. Data analysis and paper writing will also continue.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Major spring and summer activities carried out during the past year include ground-based field work collecting bones from dead moose, measuring growth and browse rate of moose forage, collecting moose pellets for microhistological analysis, estimating tick infestation on moose, recording observations of wolf sign (tracks, scat, howling), radio-collaring wolves, and monitoring signals from radio-collared wolves. Major winter activities carried out during the past year include aerial counts of wolves, observing social structure of the wolf population, observing wolf behavior, aerial estimation of moose abundance and estimating kill rate. Winter ground-based field work during the past year includes necropsy of wolf-killed moose, collection of moose urine for nutritional analysis, collection of moose pellets for genetic and diet analysis, collection of moose forage for chemical analysis, and collection of wolf scat for genetic analysis. Major laboratory activities carried out during the past year (and continuing presently) include estimating fat content of bone marrow of wolf-killed moose, chemical analysis of moose forage, moose genetic analysis, analysis of moose urine for UN:C ratios, and microhistological analysis of moose pellets to assess diet.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Sand H, Vucetich JA, Zimmermann B, Wabakken P, Wikenros C, Pederson H, Peterson RO, Liberg O. 2012. Assessing the influence of preypredator ratio, prey age structure and pack size on wolf kill rates. Oikos. (doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20082.x)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Vucetich JA, Nelson MP, Peterson RO. 2012. Managing wolves on Isle Royale: What should be done if an icon of wilderness culture dies out? The George Wright Forum, 29(1): 126147
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Marucco F, Vucetich LM, Peterson RO, Adams JR, Vucetich JA. 2012. Evaluating the efficacy of non-invasive genetic methods and estimating wolf survival during a ten-year period. Conservation Genetics (DOI 10.1007/s10592-012-0412-4)13(6):1611-1622
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Frelich LE, Peterson RO, Dovciak M, Reich PB, Vucetich JA, Eisenhauer N. 2012. Trophic cascades, invasive species and body-size hierarchies interactively modulate climate change responses of ecotonal temperate-boreal forest. Phil Trans R Soc B 367:2955-2961 (doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0235)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Montgomery RA, JA Vucetich, RO Peterson, GJ Roloff, KF Millenbach. 2013. The influence of winter severity, predation and senescence on moose habitat use. Journal of Animal Ecology 82(2):301-309.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Peterson RO, JA Vucetich and LM Vucetich. 2013. Osteoarthritis in nature: osteoarthritis phenotypes are sexually dimorphic in moose (Alces alces). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 21:S69.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Vucetich JA & RO Peterson. 2013. The wolves of Isle Royale, 2012-13 Annual Report. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 16pp.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Vucetich, JA. 2013. Winter Study Notes from the Field, 2013. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 35pp.

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Data and results from this long-term research are useful to scientists studying theoretical and applied aspects of predation (e.g., USFWS, State of WY), and are widely published in news media because of public interest in the status of the gray wolf. The project contributes to the development of young scientists at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Changes/Problems: We anticipate no major changes uring the next reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two PhD students, Andy VonDuyke and John Henderson are currently working on Isle Royale wolf-moose research. Summer 2013 ground-based fieldwork provided valuable experience and training for college students Tes Jackson, Micah Leinbach, Kari Grebe, and Joe Ackerman. College students who gained valuable experience and training in lab work include Brecken Robb, Jake Moran, and Joshua Isaac. One post grad (B.S.), Jon Bontrager, worked with us in the lab during the past year. One post grad (B.S.), Nora Heikkinen, assisted with outreach. In summer 2013, nearly forty members of the general public participated in field work on Isle Royale. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been distributed to the scientific community through the publications in peer-reviewed journals (listed above). Our website: www.iselroyalewolf.org Our Annual Reports, every year from 1958 - 2013, all available free on our website. Winter Study notes from the field from 2008 - 2013 (current year on website). In the past 12 months, PI John Vucetich gave 14 talks to >700 people. J Vucetich has given countless interviews that appear in newspapers & on the radio. We cooperate with educators to use our work in classrooms and textbooks. In the past 12 months, collaborator R. Peterson gave ~12 talks to ~1000 people. In the past 12 months, collaborator M. Neslon gave 4 talks to ~325 people. In the past 12 months, C. Peterson gave 35 talks to >600 Isle Royale visitors. Over 1000 people visit our interpretive display at base camp on Isle Royale each summer What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We anticipate no major changes uring the next reporting period. Summer, winter and laboratory activities will remain as described in accomplishments listed above. Data analysis and paper writing will also continue.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Major spring and summer activities carried out during the past year include ground-based field work collecting bones from dead moose, measuring growth and browse rate of moose forage, collecting moose pellets for microhistological analysis, estimating tick infestation on moose, recording observations of wolf sign (tracks, scat, howling), radio-collaring wolves, and monitoring signals from radio-collared wolves. Major winter activities carried out during the past year include aerial counts of wolves, observing social structure of the wolf population, observing wolf behavior, aerial estimation of moose abundance and estimating kill rate. Winter ground-based field work during the past year includes necropsy of wolf-killed moose, collection of moose urine for nutritional analysis, collection of moose pellets for genetic and diet analysis, collection of moose forage for chemical analysis, and collection of wolf scat for genetic analysis. Major laboratory activities carried out during the past year (and continuing presently) include estimating fat content of bone marrow of wolf-killed moose, chemical analysis of moose forage, moose genetic analysis, analysis of moose urine for UN:C ratios, and microhistological analysis of moose pellets to assess diet.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Frelich LE, Peterson RO, Dovciak M, Reich PB, Vucetich JA, Eisenhauer N. 2012. Trophic cascades, invasive species and body-size hierarchies interactively modulate climate change responses of ecotonal temperate-boreal forest. Phil Trans R Soc B 367:2955-2961 (doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0235)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Montgomery RA, JA Vucetich, RO Peterson, GJ Roloff, KF Millenbach. 2013. The influence of winter severity, predation and senescence on moose habitat use. Journal of Animal Ecology 82(2):301-309.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Peterson RO, JA Vucetich and LM Vucetich. 2013. Osteoarthritis in nature: osteoarthritis phenotypes are sexually dimorphic in moose (Alces alces). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 21:S69.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Vucetich JA & RO Peterson. 2013. The wolves of Isle Royale, 2012-13 Annual Report. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 16pp.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Vucetich, JA. 2013. Winter Study Notes from the Field, 2013. Michigan Tech University. Houghton, MI. 35pp.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Sand H, Vucetich JA, Zimmermann B, Wabakken P, Wikenros C, Pederson H, Peterson RO, Liberg O. 2012. Assessing the influence of preypredator ratio, prey age structure and pack size on wolf kill rates. Oikos. (doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20082.x)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Vucetich JA, Nelson MP, Peterson RO. 2012. Managing wolves on Isle Royale: What should be done if an icon of wilderness culture dies out? The George Wright Forum, 29(1): 126147
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Marucco F, Vucetich LM, Peterson RO, Adams JR, Vucetich JA. 2012. Evaluating the efficacy of non-invasive genetic methods and estimating wolf survival during a ten-year period. Conservation Genetics (DOI 10.1007/s10592-012-0412-4)13(6):1611-1622

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Teaching and mentoring through direct involvement: ~40 members of the general public participated in field work through Research Expeditions and 4 college students (including 1 MTU undergrad) were summer field assistants. During the past year, Vucetich delivered 11 presentations to ~450 members of the public about Isle Royale wolves and moose. Bones from ~100 moose were added to the research collection. In Jan-Feb 2011, Vucetich maintained "Notes from the Field," which was carried by the New York Times in 15 postings for their "Scientists at Work" feature. During the past 12 months, Vucetich has been interviewed several times by members of the media for Isle Royale wolf-moose research. Currently 1 PhD student is conducting Isle Royale wolf-moose research. A portion of their work is supported by this McIntyre-Stennis funding. PARTICIPANTS: PI Assoc Professor John Vucetich; Research Assistant Professor Leah Vucetich; Research Professor Rolf Peterson; Research Associate Marcy Erickson; PhD student, Andy Von Duyke; MS student Ben Betterly; Undergrad lab & field assistants Will Lytle, Sean McWay, Zach Merrill, Nick Bennett, Scott Larson, Ted Maynard, Ryan Priest, Chelsea Mukawski, Michelle Kroll, Jon Bontrager, Natasha Fetzer. TARGET AUDIENCES: Annual study provides valuable current information on population status, dynamics, and interaction of wolves and moose on Isle Royale to scientists studying theoretical and applied aspects of predation. Results are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Results are also published in annual reports for both scientists and the general public. These results are widely published in news media because of a high level of public interest in the status of the gray wolf. The project seeks to contribute to the development of young scientists at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Information is provided online at www.isleroyalewolf.org. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Data and results from this long-term research are useful to scientists studying theoretical and applied aspects of predation (e.g., USFWS, State of WY), and are widely published in news media because of public interest in the status of the gray wolf. The project contributes to the development of young scientists at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. We continue to collaborate with documentary film-maker George Desort, videographer Matthew Monte, Jannikke Raikkonen (Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Frescativogen Stockholm, Sweden - inbreeding and congenitial bone deformities in Isle Royale wolves), philosopher Michael Nelson (Mich State Univ - environmental ethics and philosophy), Robert Wayne (UCLA - wolf genetics), Phil Hedrick (Arizona State Univ - wolf genetics), and Francesca Marucco (Centro conservatione e gestione grandi carnivori, Italy and Montana State Univ).

Publications

• 1.Peterson RO, Vucetich JA, Beyer D, Schrage M, Raikkonen J. 2011. Phenotypic Variation in Moose: The island rule and the moose of Isle Royale. Alces 47:125-133. (Dec 2011)
• 2.Vucetich JA, Vucetich LM, Peterson, RO. 2012. The causes and consequences of partial prey consumption by wolves preying on moose. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 66: 295-303, DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1277-0. (on-line Oct 2011; print Feb 2012).
• 3.Hedrick P, J Adams, JA Vucetich. 2011. Genetic Rescue: Re-evaluating and Broadening the Definition. Conservation Biology (Dec 2011).
• 4.Vucetich JA, Hebblewhite M, Smith DW, Peterson RO. 2011. Predicting prey population dynamics from kill rate, predation rate and predator-prey ratios in three wolf- ungulate systems. Journal of Animal Ecology 80:1236-1245. (Nov 2011) (May 2011-doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01855.x).
• 5.Gore ML, Nelson MP, Vucetich JA, Smith AM, Clark MA. 2011. Exploring the ethical basis for conservation policy: the case of inbred wolves on Isle Royale, USA. Conservation Letters 4(5):394-401. (Oct/Nov 2011)
• 6.Adams JR, LM Vucetich, PW Hedrick, RO Peterson, JA Vucetich. 2011. Genomic sweep and potential genetic rescue during limiting environmental conditions in an isolated wolf population. Proceedings Royal Soc B 278:3336-3344 (doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0261) (March 2011).
• 7.Nelson, MP, JA Vucetich, RO Peterson, LM Vucetich. 2011. The Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project (1958-present) and the Wonder of Long-Term Ecological Research. Endeavour 35(1):30-38 (Feb 2011).
• 8.Silvia, WJ, RO Peterson, WF Silvia, JA Vucetich, AW Silvia. 2011. The occurrence and morphology of a lateral metatarsal splint bone in moose (Alces alces). The Anatomical Record 294(2):231-235 (Feb 2011).

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Teaching and mentoring through direct involvement: 40 members of the general public and one MTU undergrad participated in field work through Research Expeditions and 4 college students were summer field assistants. During the past year, Vucetich delivered 18 presentations to over 1500 members of the public about Isle Royale wolves and moose. Bones from over 100 moose were added to the research collection. In Jan-Feb 2010, Vucetich maintained "Notes from the Field," which posts on the internet the progress and discoveries of our winter field season, viewed by approximately 15,000 people, and a hard-copy version was sold in the Isle Royale visitors' centers. During the past 12 months, Vucetich has been interviewed several times by members of the media for Isle Royale wolf-moose research. Currently 1 PhD student is conducting Isle Royale wolf-moose research. A portion of their work is supported by this McIntyre-Stennis funding. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. John A. Vucetich, Dr. Leah M. Vucetich, Research Associate Marcy Erickson, and undergraduate students: Scott Larson, Natasha Fetzer, Ted Maynard, Kyle Yarusso, Eva Vrana, Megan Baker, Will Lytle, Sean McWay, Zachary Merrill, Nick Bennett. TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientists, wildlife managers, students, and the general public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Data and results from this long-term research are useful to scientists studying theoretical and applied aspects of predation (e.g., USFWS), and are widely published in news media because of public interest in the status of the gray wolf. The project contributes to the development of young scientists at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. We continue to collaborate with documentary film-maker George Desort, videographer Matthew Monte, Bradley Swanson (Central Michigan University - moose genetics), Jannikke Raikkonen(Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Frescativogen Stockholm, Sweden - inbreeding and congenitial bone deformities in Isle Royale wolves), philosopher Michael Nelson (Mich State Univ - environmental ethics and philosophy), Robert Wayne (UCLA - wolf genetics), Phil Hedrick (Arizona State Univ - wolf genetics), and Francesca Marucco (Centro conservatione e gestione grandi carnivori, Italy and Montana State Univ).

Publications

• Vucetich JA, Hebblewhite M, Smith DW, Peterson RO. 2011. Predicting Prey population dynamics from kill rate, predation rate and predator-prey ratios in three wolf- ungulate systems. Journal of Animal Ecology 80:1236-1245. (May 2011-doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01855.x.)
• Adams JR, LM Vucetich, PW Hedrick, RO Peterson, JA Vucetich. 2011. Genomic sweep and potential genetic rescue during limiting environmental conditions in an isolated wolf population. Proceedings Royal Soc B 278:3336-3344 (doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0261 (March 2011).
• Nelson, MP, JA Vucetich, RO Peterson, LM Vucetich. 2011. The Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project 1958-present and the Wonder of Long-Term Ecological Research. Endeavour 35 1:30-38 (Feb 2011).
• Silvia, WJ, RO Peterson, WF Silvia, JA Vucetich, AW Silvia. 2011. The occurrence and morphology of a lateral metatarsal splint bone in moose (Alces alces). The Anatomical Record 294(2):231-235 (Feb 2011).