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Cited by 120Wildlife Ecology and ConservationEcology and biodiversity studiesRangeland and Wildlife Management

COTTONWOODS, ELK, AND WOLVES IN THE LAMAR VALLEY OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Beschta, Robert L.·2003·Ecological Applications
DOI 10.1890/02-5175
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Abstract

In September 2001, the diameter at breast height (dbh) of all cottonwood (Populus spp.) ≥5 cm in diameter was measured within a 9.5‐km 2 section of the Lamar Valley (elevation ∼2000 m), in northeastern Yellowstone National Park. A total of 700 trees were measured of which 71% were narrowleaf cottonwood (P. angustifolia) and 29% were black cottonwood (P. trichocarpa). Slightly more than half of the narrowleaf trees were growing on point bar landforms at three major meander bends of the Lamar River, with the remainder occurring in small groves spread across various floodplain surfaces within the valley. Almost all of the black cottonwood occurred on point bars at only two of the meander bend locations. Tree diameters for both species ranged mostly between 30 and 110 cm with a nearly total absence of cottonwoods between 5 and 29 cm in diameter. Age vs. diameter relationships were developed and used as a basis for estimating establishment dates for all narrowleaf cottonwoods. These relationships, in conjunction with the dbh data, indicated an absence of cottonwood recruitment (i.e., growth of seedlings/suckers into ≥5‐cm diameters trees) over approximately the last 60 years. The paucity of cottonwood recruitment appears to have occurred independently of fire history, flow regimes, channel migrations, or factors affecting normal stand development, but over the same period of time that wolves (Canis lupus) had been extirpated from Yellowstone National Park. With the removal of this wide‐ranging and keystone predator, elk (Cervus elaphus) populations were able to browse riparian plant communities unaffected by wolves.

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46 of 46 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • High browsing throughout the winter range in northeastern Yellowstone National Park following wolf removal essentially terminated recruitment of deciduous woody species over many decades.

    “High levels of browsing were so pervasive throughout the winter range in northeastern Yellowstone National Park following the removal of wolves that recruitment (i.e. the growth of seedlings and root sprouts into tall saplings or trees) of deciduous woody species was essentially terminated over a period of many decades (Ripple and Larsen, 2000;Larsen and Ripple, 2003;Beschta, 2003Beschta, , 2005;;”

    From River channel dynamics following extirpation of wolves in northwestern Yellowstone National Park, USA (2006) · cites this paper as Beschta, 2003

  • Elk browsing of woody riparian vegetation likely was less intense during the early 1900s when wolves were abundant.

    “Elk browsing of woody riparian vegetation likely was less intense during the early 1900s when wolves ( Canis lupus L.) were abundant”

    From WATER TABLES CONSTRAIN HEIGHT RECOVERY OF WILLOW ON YELLOWSTONE'S NORTHERN RANGE (2008) · cites this paper as Beschta 2003

  • Accumulating evidence suggests that winter browsing by an abundant elk population caused a fundamental change in the state of the northern elk wintering range of Yellowstone National Park.

    “Accumulating evidence suggests that winter browsing by an abundant elk ( Cervus elaphus L.) population caused a fundamental change in the state of the northern elk wintering range of Yellowstone National Park”

    From WATER TABLES CONSTRAIN HEIGHT RECOVERY OF WILLOW ON YELLOWSTONE'S NORTHERN RANGE (2008) · cites this paper as Beschta 2003

  • All but one of the studies to date documenting wolf-induced willow recovery have been conducted along the few large, low-gradient streams that were never hydrologically influenced by beaver, because they are too wide for beavers to dam.

    “All but one of the studies to date documenting wolfinduced willow recovery (Ripple et al. 2001, Beschta 2003, Ripple and Beschta 2003, 2004 b ) have been conducted along the few large, low-gradient streams that were never hydrologically influenced by beaver, because they are too wide for beavers to dam.”

    From WATER TABLES CONSTRAIN HEIGHT RECOVERY OF WILLOW ON YELLOWSTONE'S NORTHERN RANGE (2008) · cites this paper as Beschta 2003

  • Elk browsing of woody riparian vegetation increased in intensity after wolves were extirpated from the northern range.

    “increased in intensity after wolves were extirpated from the northern range”

    From WATER TABLES CONSTRAIN HEIGHT RECOVERY OF WILLOW ON YELLOWSTONE'S NORTHERN RANGE (2008) · cites this paper as Beschta 2003

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Authors
Beschta, R. L.
Affiliations
Oregon State University (US)
Corresponding author
Beschta, Robert L.
ORCID
Beschta, Robert L.
Venue
Ecological Applications
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-10
Volume
13
Issue
5
Pages
1295-1309
ISSN
  • 1051-0761 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-5582
DOI
10.1890/02-5175
OpenAlex
W2116505799
Cited by
120
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 9
FWCI
16.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
Ecological Applications (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Ecology and biodiversity studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Rangeland and Wildlife Management
Keywords
Populus trichocarpa, elk browsing, wolf reintroduction, riparian vegetation, point bars, meander bends, diameter at breast height, fire history, keystone predators, Yellowstone National Park

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