Name: _____________________________________ Name: _____________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: _____

How could the reintroduction of so few wolves into the Yellowstone National Park cause such dramatic changes in the ecosystem?
Questions to ask yourself: How can one change in an ecosystem lead to further changes? What determines the size of different populations within an ecosystem?
Graph Directions: Use the graph below to show how you think the populations of wolves and elk changed between 1995 - present. Use two different colors to represent each organism.
Population size of Wolves and Elk in Yellowstone (1995-2016)

1990

1995
(Reintroduction of 14 wolves)

2000

2005

2010

2016

Explain the connection between the two organisms. How does one population of organisms affect the other?

Yellowstone National Park BEFORE wolf reintroduction

Yellowstone National Park AFTER wolf reintroduction

What did it look like?

Relationships between organisms

Org
anis
m1

Explain Why?

Org
anis
m2

relati
onsh
ip

Choose an animal and describe its role/niche

in the ecosystem

Relationships between organisms

Org
anis
m1

Org
anis
m2

What did it look like?

relati
onsh
ip

Describe how that same animals role/niche

has changed after the reintroduction.

Animal: __________________________

Questions/Wonderings: I would like to know more about OR I dont understand OR how does _____ work?

Explain Why?