Yellowstone cascade lab
Change the conditions. Watch the whole system respond.
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Scenario
Wolf presence
60%
Starting deer pressure
80%
Years after reintroduction
3 years
Wolves absent
1995 recovery
Strong cascade
Play 10-year recovery
Living system
Yellowstone trophic cascade simulation
A causal network from wolves through deer behavior and vegetation to beavers and river stability.
Wolves
present
Deer behavior
shifting
Vegetation
suppressed
Beavers
scarce
River
eroding
Behavior shifts first.
Deer begin avoiding exposed areas, but the forest needs more time to recover.
Year 3
Deer browsing pressure
43%
Vegetation recovery
27%
Riverbank stability
34%