Potential impact of wolves Canis lupus on prey populations in eastern Poland

摘要: Abstract A 7000 km2 study area in eastern Poland supported c.50 wolves Canis lupus 1989 and 40 1992, high numbers of game constituting the staple food these predators. This paper assesses energetic requirements wolf population as well potential resources its preferred prey. On basis basal metabolism rate (BMR) daily consumption (DFC), we calculate that an average (35 kg) needs 13 421 kJ daily, which corresponds to 1·74 kg prey biomass. Calculations based on field (FMR2-for non-herbivorous mammals) yielded a 60% higher value, i.e. 2·77 meat per day. The yearly population, using two methods, ranged from 242 GJ (40 individuals, BMR DFC) 389 (50 FMR2), 31·5–51·0 tonnes edible tissues. Wolves preyed chiefly red deer Cervus elaphus roe Capreolus capreolus (70–85% total biomass consumed), wild boar Sus scrofa, hare Lepus europaeus, moose Alces alces small rodents. prey, censused snow tracking year-long observations, corrected drive censuses, was assessed at 879–943 tonnes. These data suggest remove no more than 10% (6·3–9·0%) available ungulates may not seriously affect local owners.