What is the role of the wolf in the forests of the Iberian Peninsula?

On September 22, 2021, we received the wonderful news (and I apologize for my lack of impartiality) that the hunting of the Iberian wolf was prohibited throughout the Spanish national territory. The measure came thanks to the incorporation of the species in the List of Species under the Special Protection Regime . Which implies that hunting it is a serious offense that carries a prison sentence of six months to two years, a fine between € 3,001 and € 200,000 and a special disqualification for profession or trade and for the exercise of the right to hunt or fish from two to four years. Although autonomous communities such as Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León have announced that they will appeal the decision through the courts , it seems that, for now, these canids will have a well-deserved truce and their populations will be able to gradually recover.

For this reason, I believe that it is always a good time to remember the fundamental ecological role of the Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus ) in our forests, known as ecosystem services:

Control of wild herbivores

The wolf is at the top of the food chain, that is, it is a super predator that fulfills the function of limiting the overpopulation of herbivores , capable of destroying the vegetation cover of our forests.

Disease regulation

By reducing the density of sick animals and disease vector species (such as tuberculosis), they keep livestock and the humans that live with them healthy. In addition, they prevent people who eat bush meat from catching certain diseases.

Carrion removal

In certain cases, wolves can also act as scavengers, like vultures. In this way they eliminate part of the corpses that lie in the forest and the diseases associated with them, in addition to contributing to the recycling cycle of nutrients in the ecosystem.

Generation of food for other species

In order not to have to invest energy to defend a corpse and to avoid the risk of a confrontation, the wolves do not remain to watch the bodies of their prey, so that these tend to remain partially devoured. This fact creates a new food source for other groups of animals, such as scavenger beetles, raptors or mesocarnivores (such as foxes), in addition to decomposers (bacteria and fungi), which will return the nutrients from the prey to the soil.

Control of dangerous species

Wolves can limit populations of species that can pose a threat to humans, such as feral dogs.

Carbon storage contribution

By limiting the number of herbivores, wolves promote forest recovery. In this way, more trees and plants can grow capable of absorbing and fixing CO₂.

The ecological functions of wolves go much further. It is a fact that when the wolf disappears or is actively eliminated from an ecosystem, it becomes unbalanced and the populations of its prey grow without limit, which can cause irreparable damage.

References:

What the wolf gives us. Ecosystem and social benefits of the Iberian wolf. WWF report. Web: https://wwfes.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/manifiesto_lo_que_el_lobo_nos_da.pdf