Ecology of Bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Summary

Bringing the geologically historic record to bear on questions of ecosystem evolution is a goal emphasized in recent National Research Council reports. Within this context one species has become significant, the bison of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Recent expansion of the population, and its subsequent migration outside federal lands, has created concern among federal managers, local ranchers, and conservation groups. However, much of what is known about pre-management herds is based on historic records and modern studies. While both are invaluable sources, they have limitations. For example, historic studies are often anecdotal and modern studies are based largely on small, isolated herds. The purpose of my research is to develop a longer-term historical perspective on the mammalian community of the GYE. The lack of knowledge of the mammalian community is notable considering all that is known about the glacial, climate, and vegetative history. An initial step in this research is the study of bison ecology through the application of stable isotope signatures (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium) derived from discrete downtooth samples of modern and prehistoric bison. The third molars from 14 adult bison were selected from archaeological assemblages providing a detailed time-resolution record of each individual.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20953