Dan MacNulty
@danmacnulty.bsky.social
Ecologist, Professor, Utah State University
Pinned
Dan MacNulty
@danmacnulty.bsky.social
· Nov 2
🧪About that “152×” Yellowstone aspen claim (see WaPo headline). In a new preprint we show it’s a math error that inflated the effect by 768%. Corrected: 17.5×. Preprint: doi.org/10.32942/X2W...
IFLScience reports that Ripple et al. “stand by their original assessment” and “have prepared a detailed reply explaining why [MacNulty et al.’s] criticisms are inaccurate.” Their reply “is set to be published as soon as possible.”🧪
www.iflscience.com/yellowstones...
www.iflscience.com/yellowstones...
December 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
IFLScience reports that Ripple et al. “stand by their original assessment” and “have prepared a detailed reply explaining why [MacNulty et al.’s] criticisms are inaccurate.” Their reply “is set to be published as soon as possible.”🧪
www.iflscience.com/yellowstones...
www.iflscience.com/yellowstones...
"For readers, the lesson is plain. Big claims deserve clear tests that do not stack the deck or skip steps."🧪
Unexpected twist: what you thought about Yellowstone wolves was a myth #EarthDotCom #EarthSnap #Earth
Unexpected twist: what you thought about Yellowstone wolves was a myth
In a new peer reviewed comment, researchers say Yellowstone’s wolf story needs a reset. The researchers challenged a claim that wolf recovery triggered one of the world’s strongest trophic cascade, predator changes that ripple through a food web. William J. Ripple, a long-time predator-prey ecologist at Oregon State University known for research on large carnivores
www.earth.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 AM
"For readers, the lesson is plain. Big claims deserve clear tests that do not stack the deck or skip steps."🧪
The story of Wolf 1329M provides a textbook example of the source-sink dynamic that limits the spread of Yellowstone wolves beyond the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. 🧪
wyofile.com/what-happens...
wyofile.com/what-happens...
November 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The story of Wolf 1329M provides a textbook example of the source-sink dynamic that limits the spread of Yellowstone wolves beyond the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. 🧪
wyofile.com/what-happens...
wyofile.com/what-happens...
World’s largest sage grouse lek and longest mule deer migration threatened by oil & gas lease sale in western Wyoming. wyofile.com/drilling-lea...
Public comments due Monday, 17Nov.
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui...
Public comments due Monday, 17Nov.
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui...
Drilling lease slated 2 miles from world’s largest sage grouse lek, center punching planet’s longest mule deer migration - WyoFile
Parcel 0712 is part of a complex of oil and gas leases in ecologically valuable sagebrush-steppe that the Bureau of Land Management has proposed for auction in June.
wyofile.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:53 AM
World’s largest sage grouse lek and longest mule deer migration threatened by oil & gas lease sale in western Wyoming. wyofile.com/drilling-lea...
Public comments due Monday, 17Nov.
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui...
Public comments due Monday, 17Nov.
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui...
🧪Now that the flaws in Ripple et al. (2025) are on record, it’ll be an interesting test of scientific integrity to see if and how that paper is used. This Science letter, for instance, cites Ripple et al. (2025) in calling for strict wolf protection across Europe. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
🧪Now that the flaws in Ripple et al. (2025) are on record, it’ll be an interesting test of scientific integrity to see if and how that paper is used. This Science letter, for instance, cites Ripple et al. (2025) in calling for strict wolf protection across Europe. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧪About that “152×” Yellowstone aspen claim (see WaPo headline). In a new preprint we show it’s a math error that inflated the effect by 768%. Corrected: 17.5×. Preprint: doi.org/10.32942/X2W...
November 2, 2025 at 6:03 AM
🧪About that “152×” Yellowstone aspen claim (see WaPo headline). In a new preprint we show it’s a math error that inflated the effect by 768%. Corrected: 17.5×. Preprint: doi.org/10.32942/X2W...
Claims about “wolves reshaping ecosystems” are powerful—but only if they’re accurate. This Aspen Times article on Colorado’s wolf reintroduction shows why getting the Yellowstone trophic cascade story right matters for public understanding and policy:
www.aspentimes.com/news/colorad...
www.aspentimes.com/news/colorad...
Could Colorado see widespread ecosystem changes from wolf restoration?
In Yellowstone National Park — where gray wolves were reintroduced starting in 1995 — researchers have gone back and forth on whether the restoration of wolves has impacted the ecosystem.
www.aspentimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Claims about “wolves reshaping ecosystems” are powerful—but only if they’re accurate. This Aspen Times article on Colorado’s wolf reintroduction shows why getting the Yellowstone trophic cascade story right matters for public understanding and policy:
www.aspentimes.com/news/colorad...
www.aspentimes.com/news/colorad...
October 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
🧪You may have heard that large-carnivore recovery in Yellowstone National Park triggered one of the world’s strongest trophic cascades. Our new open-access article explains why that story doesn’t hold up: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 14, 2025 at 6:26 PM
🧪You may have heard that large-carnivore recovery in Yellowstone National Park triggered one of the world’s strongest trophic cascades. Our new open-access article explains why that story doesn’t hold up: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🧪 New preprint
We critically evaluate claims of a strong trophic cascade in Yellowstone following wolf recovery, identifying major methodological flaws that undermine this conclusion.
Read the full analysis here (open access): doi.org/10.32942/X2Q...
#Ecology #Yellowstone #TrophicCascades
We critically evaluate claims of a strong trophic cascade in Yellowstone following wolf recovery, identifying major methodological flaws that undermine this conclusion.
Read the full analysis here (open access): doi.org/10.32942/X2Q...
#Ecology #Yellowstone #TrophicCascades
Flawed analysis invalidates claim of a strong Yellowstone trophic cascade after wolf reintroduction: A comment on Ripple et al. (2025)
doi.org
August 9, 2025 at 3:26 PM
🧪 New preprint
We critically evaluate claims of a strong trophic cascade in Yellowstone following wolf recovery, identifying major methodological flaws that undermine this conclusion.
Read the full analysis here (open access): doi.org/10.32942/X2Q...
#Ecology #Yellowstone #TrophicCascades
We critically evaluate claims of a strong trophic cascade in Yellowstone following wolf recovery, identifying major methodological flaws that undermine this conclusion.
Read the full analysis here (open access): doi.org/10.32942/X2Q...
#Ecology #Yellowstone #TrophicCascades
Reposted by Dan MacNulty
A bill that threatened to decimate Wyoming's mountain lion populations fell spectacularly flat on Tuesday.
Environmental groups, hunting orgs, houndsmen and citizens testified by the dozen encouraging lawmakers to kill a La Barge representative’s proposal to do away with science-based management.
Environmental groups, hunting orgs, houndsmen and citizens testified by the dozen encouraging lawmakers to kill a La Barge representative’s proposal to do away with science-based management.
Mountain lion ‘eradication bill’ backed up a tree by overwhelming opposition - WyoFile
Environmental groups, outfitters, hunters, houndsmen testified by the dozen against a measure that would have stripped cougars of any protections, and wildlife professionals of management authority.
wyofile.com
February 5, 2025 at 12:34 AM
A bill that threatened to decimate Wyoming's mountain lion populations fell spectacularly flat on Tuesday.
Environmental groups, hunting orgs, houndsmen and citizens testified by the dozen encouraging lawmakers to kill a La Barge representative’s proposal to do away with science-based management.
Environmental groups, hunting orgs, houndsmen and citizens testified by the dozen encouraging lawmakers to kill a La Barge representative’s proposal to do away with science-based management.
Two bills seeking to roughly halve Montana’s wolf population pass out of committee. HB 222 and HB 176 seek to reduce Montana’s wolf population by expanding the hunting season and lifting hunting and trapping limits. montanafreepress.org/2025/01/24/t...
Two bills seeking to roughly halve Montana’s wolf population pass out of committee
HB 176 and 222, which seek to reduce wolf numbers, will advance to the Montana House for a floor vote.
montanafreepress.org
January 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Two bills seeking to roughly halve Montana’s wolf population pass out of committee. HB 222 and HB 176 seek to reduce Montana’s wolf population by expanding the hunting season and lifting hunting and trapping limits. montanafreepress.org/2025/01/24/t...
Montana seeks to cap its wolf population at 450. House Bill 176 proposes several measures to reduce wolf numbers when the population is at or above 450, including allowing a single hunter to kill an unlimited number of wolves. Hearing: today, 3 PM MST. bills.legmt.gov#/laws/bill/2...
Bill Explorer
Explore, track, and stay informed on legislative bills in Montana with the Montana Legislature Bill Explorer application. Access detailed information, monitor bill progress, and engage with the legis...
bills.legmt.gov
January 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Montana seeks to cap its wolf population at 450. House Bill 176 proposes several measures to reduce wolf numbers when the population is at or above 450, including allowing a single hunter to kill an unlimited number of wolves. Hearing: today, 3 PM MST. bills.legmt.gov#/laws/bill/2...
New open access paper by John Benson & colleagues explores the drivers of group cohesion in social canids. Cohesion varies widely, shaped by life history, prey, group size, and humans. In wolves, it declines as pack size grows or human disturbance increases. 🧪 doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
December 16, 2024 at 2:36 PM
New open access paper by John Benson & colleagues explores the drivers of group cohesion in social canids. Cohesion varies widely, shaped by life history, prey, group size, and humans. In wolves, it declines as pack size grows or human disturbance increases. 🧪 doi.org/10.1002/ecy....
Reposted by Dan MacNulty
Our new paper offers rare insights into the ecology of wolves in the High Arctic. GPS tracking revealed relatively high wolf densities, year-round territories, and likely sustainable muskox predation—but also potential risks to endangered Peary caribou. doi.org/10.1002/jwmg...
TWS Journals
Wolves in a productive area of Canada's High Arctic remain on territories year-round at densities similar to populations farther south, primarily preying on muskoxen and Arctic hares. The high densit...
doi.org
December 9, 2024 at 2:38 AM
Our new paper offers rare insights into the ecology of wolves in the High Arctic. GPS tracking revealed relatively high wolf densities, year-round territories, and likely sustainable muskox predation—but also potential risks to endangered Peary caribou. doi.org/10.1002/jwmg...
Our new paper offers rare insights into the ecology of wolves in the High Arctic. GPS tracking revealed relatively high wolf densities, year-round territories, and likely sustainable muskox predation—but also potential risks to endangered Peary caribou. doi.org/10.1002/jwmg...
TWS Journals
Wolves in a productive area of Canada's High Arctic remain on territories year-round at densities similar to populations farther south, primarily preying on muskoxen and Arctic hares. The high densit...
doi.org
December 9, 2024 at 2:38 AM
Our new paper offers rare insights into the ecology of wolves in the High Arctic. GPS tracking revealed relatively high wolf densities, year-round territories, and likely sustainable muskox predation—but also potential risks to endangered Peary caribou. doi.org/10.1002/jwmg...
Much appreciate @soseaemerald.bsky.social for helping the public understand our recent paper debunking the myth that fear of wolves drives aspen recovery in Yellowstone. The lead image features another wily canid—the coyote. doi.org/10.1002/ecm.... southseattleemerald.org/news/2024/12...
Weekend Reads | Elk, Wolves, and Habitat Recovery in Yellowstone National Park
There's an old saying: "Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story." This weekend's read is the truth behind a really good story about habitat recovery in Yellowstone National Park. In case ...
southseattleemerald.org
December 8, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Much appreciate @soseaemerald.bsky.social for helping the public understand our recent paper debunking the myth that fear of wolves drives aspen recovery in Yellowstone. The lead image features another wily canid—the coyote. doi.org/10.1002/ecm.... southseattleemerald.org/news/2024/12...