The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park had a notable positive effect on the beaver population, particularly through the regulation of elk and other herbivore populations. The correct answer among the options provided would be:
Increased population by eating a competitor.
Here’s how it works:
When wolves were reintroduced, they began to prey on elk, which are herbivores that heavily graze on vegetation. As the elk population decreased, there was less pressure on the willow and aspen trees along riverbanks—the primary food source for beavers. With more abundant vegetation, beaver populations began to increase because they had more food and building material for their dams. In turn, an increase in beaver populations can enhance the ecosystem, as their dams create wetlands that benefit various other species.
Thus, while wolves do not directly eat beavers, their presence helps control the populations of other herbivores that compete with beavers for food, leading to increased beaver populations.
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