M issing Lynx and Trophic Cascades in Food Webs: A Reply to Ripple et al

Ripple et al. (2011) proposed a hypothesis th a t the recovery o f gray wolves {Canis lupus) may positively affect the viahility o f threatened C anada lynx {Lynx canadensis) populations in the contiguous U nited States th rough indirect species interactions. Ripple et al. (2011) proposed 2 key trophic linkages connecting w olf restoration w ith lynx recovery. First, recovering w olf populations may benefit lynx through reduced interference and exploitative com petition w ith coyotes (C. latrans). Second, recovering w olf populations may henefit lynx th rough reduced exploitative com petition am ong ungulates and snowshoe hares {Lepus americanus), the prim ary prey o f lynx. B oth proposed linkages have w eak or contradictory empirical support in the available literature on lynx-hare ecology, casting doubt on the utility o f Ripple et al.’s (2011) hypothesis. D ebate over Ripple et al.’s (2011) hypothesis dem onstrates the im portance o f experi­ m ental or comparative docum entation w hen proposing trophic cascades in complex food webs. In this case, publishing unsupported opinions as hypotheses th a t concern complex trophic interactions is a potential disservice to lynx conservation th rough misallocated research, conservation funding, and misplaced public perception. © 2012 T h e W ildlife Society.