Beaver dams are associated with enhanced amphibian diversity via lengthened hydroperiods and increased representation of slow‐developing species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Romansic ◽  
Nicolette L. Nelson ◽  
Kevan B. Moffett ◽  
Jonah Piovia‐Scott
Keyword(s):  
Beaver Dams

Beaver Dams Induce Hyporheic and Biogeochemical Changes in Riparian Areas in a Mountain Peatland

Wetlands ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1017-1032
Author(s):  
Xiaoyue Wang ◽  
Erin L. Shaw ◽  
Cherie J. Westbrook ◽  
Angela Bedard-Haughn
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Beaver Dams

scholarly journals Impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes in a mountain stream

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 3541-3556 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Majerova ◽  
B. T. Neilson ◽  
N. M. Schmadel ◽  
J. M. Wheaton ◽  
C. J. Snow
Keyword(s):  
Overland Flow ◽  
Stream Temperature ◽  
Mountain Stream ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Beaver Dam ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Continuous Stream ◽  
Beaver Dams

Abstract. Beaver dams affect hydrologic processes, channel complexity, and stream temperature in part by inundating riparian areas, influencing groundwater–surface water interactions, and changing fluvial processes within stream systems. We explored the impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes at different spatial and temporal scales within a mountain stream in northern Utah over a 3-year period spanning pre- and post-beaver colonization. Using continuous stream discharge, stream temperature, synoptic tracer experiments, and groundwater elevation measurements, we documented pre-beaver conditions in the first year of the study. In the second year, we captured the initial effects of three beaver dams, while the third year included the effects of ten dams. After beaver colonization, reach-scale (~ 750 m in length) discharge observations showed a shift from slightly losing to gaining. However, at the smaller sub-reach scale (ranging from 56 to 185 m in length), the discharge gains and losses increased in variability due to more complex flow pathways with beaver dams forcing overland flow, increasing surface and subsurface storage, and increasing groundwater elevations. At the reach scale, temperatures were found to increase by 0.38 °C (3.8 %), which in part is explained by a 230 % increase in mean reach residence time. At the smallest, beaver dam scale (including upstream ponded area, beaver dam structure, and immediate downstream section), there were notable increases in the thermal heterogeneity where warmer and cooler niches were created. Through the quantification of hydrologic and thermal changes at different spatial and temporal scales, we document increased variability during post-beaver colonization and highlight the need to understand the impacts of beaver dams on stream ecosystems and their potential role in stream restoration.

scholarly journals Do beaver dams reduce habitat connectivity and salmon productivity in expansive river floodplains?

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Malison ◽  
Kirill V. Kuzishchin ◽  
Jack A. Stanford
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
Main Channel ◽  
Habitat Connectivity ◽  
Juvenile Salmon ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Alluvial Rivers ◽  
Beaver Ponds ◽  
Beaver Dams

Beaver have expanded in their native habitats throughout the northern hemisphere in recent decades following reductions in trapping and reintroduction efforts. Beaver have the potential to strongly influence salmon populations in the side channels of large alluvial rivers by building dams that create pond complexes. Pond habitat may improve salmon productivity or the presence of dams may reduce productivity if dams limit habitat connectivity and inhibit fish passage. Our intent in this paper is to contrast the habitat use and production of juvenile salmon on expansive floodplains of two geomorphically similar salmon rivers: the Kol River in Kamchatka, Russia (no beavers) and the Kwethluk River in Alaska (abundant beavers), and thereby provide a case study on how beavers may influence salmonids in large floodplain rivers. We examined important rearing habitats in each floodplain, including springbrooks, beaver ponds, beaver-influenced springbrooks, and shallow shorelines of the river channel. Juvenile coho salmon dominated fish assemblages in all habitats in both rivers but other species were present. Salmon density was similar in all habitat types in the Kol, but in the Kwethluk coho and Chinook densities were 3–12× lower in mid- and late-successional beaver ponds than in springbrook and main channel habitats. In the Kol, coho condition (length: weight ratios) was similar among habitats, but Chinook condition was highest in orthofluvial springbrooks. In the Kwethluk, Chinook condition was similar among habitats, but coho condition was lowest in main channel versus other habitats (0.89 vs. 0.99–1.10). Densities of juvenile salmon were extremely low in beaver ponds located behind numerous dams in the orthofluvial zone of the Kwethluk River floodplain, whereas juvenile salmon were abundant in habitats throughout the entire floodplain in the Kol River. If beavers were not present on the Kwethluk, floodplain habitats would be fully interconnected and theoretically could produce 2× the biomass (between June–August, 1,174 vs. 667 kg) and rear 3× the number of salmon (370,000 vs. 140,000) compared to the existing condition with dams present. The highly productive Kol river produces an order of magnitude more salmon biomass and rears 40× the individuals compared to the Kwethluk. If beavers were introduced to the Kol River, we estimate that off-channel habitats would produce half as much biomass (2,705 vs. 5,404 kg) and 3× fewer individuals (1,482,346 vs. 4,856,956) owing to conversion of inter-connected, productive springbrooks into inaccessible pond complexes. We concluded that beaver dams may limit the total amount of floodplain habitat available for salmon rearing in the Kwethluk river and that the introduction of beavers to the Kol river could be detrimental to salmon populations. The introduction of beavers to other large alluvial rivers like those found in Kamchatka could have negative consequences for salmon production.

The Ecology and Management of Wood in World Rivers

2003 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Wood Structures ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
World Rivers ◽  
Beaver Dams ◽  
Stream Systems

<em>Abstract.</em>—Beaver dams alter the hydrology and geomorphology of stream systems and affect habitat for fishes. Beaver dams measurably affect the rates of groundwater recharge and stream discharge, retain enough sediment to cause measurable changes in valley floor morphology, and generally enhance stream habitat quality for many fishes. Historically, beaver dams were numerous in small streams throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere. The cumulative loss of millions of beaver dams has dramatically affected the hydrology and sediment dynamics of stream systems. Assessing the cumulative hydrologic and geomorphic effects of depleting these millions of wood structures from small and medium-sized streams is urgently needed. This is particularly important in semiarid climates, where the widespread removal of beaver dams may have exacerbated effects of other land use changes, such as livestock grazing, to accelerate incision and the subsequent lowering of groundwater levels and drying of streams.

Transient storage and downstream solute transport in nested stream reaches affected by beaver dams

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (17) ◽  
pp. 2438-2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Jin ◽  
Donald I. Siegel ◽  
Laura K. Lautz ◽  
Martin H. Otz
Keyword(s):  
Solute Transport ◽  
Transient Storage ◽  
Beaver Dams

Beaver canals and their environmental effects

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz P Grudzinski ◽  
Hays Cummins ◽  
Teng Keng Vang
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Watershed Hydrology ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Ecosystem Effects ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Restoration Practices ◽  
Beaver Dams

Beaver canals and their environmental effects are much less studied than beaver dams, despite being widespread in some beaver-inhabited areas. In this study, we completed a systematic review of previous research on the structure and ecosystem effects of beaver canals to provide an increasingly holistic understanding of these landscape features. Specifically, we: 1) summarized why, where, when, and how beaver develop canals; 2) chronicled all published descriptions on beaver canal morphology; and 3) summarized the literature on the environmental effects of beaver canals. Thirty-one relevant studies were identified and incorporated into this review. Beaver canals have been identified in numerous environments ranging from largely undeveloped mountainous regions to heavily developed agricultural landscapes. Beaver primarily develop canals to increase accessibility to riparian resources, facilitate transport of harvested resources, and to decrease predation risk. As with beaver dams, beaver canals exhibit large structural variability, particularly in lengths, which can be over 0.5 km. Widths of about 1 m and depths of about 0.5 m are common. Beaver canals alter watershed hydrology by creating new aquatic habitats, connecting isolated aquatic features, and diverting water into colonized areas. Beaver canals have been identified as favored habitats for several biotic species and are sometimes used during critical life stages (e.g. dispersal). In addition to increasing overall floral and faunal species richness and diversity, beaver canals may benefit biota by mitigating habitat fragmentation and climate change impacts. Based on the results of this review, incorporating beaver canals into stream restoration practices may be environmentally beneficial.

scholarly journals Beaver dam capacity of Canada’s boreal plain in response to environmental change

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichole-Lynn Stoll ◽  
Cherie J. Westbrook
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Stream Networks ◽  
Stream Network ◽  
Beaver Dam ◽  
Riding Mountain National Park ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Response To Environmental Change ◽  
Beaver Dams

Abstract Environmental changes are altering the water cycle of Canada’s boreal plain. Beaver dams are well known for increasing water storage and slowing flow through stream networks. For these reasons beavers are increasingly being included in climate change adaptation strategies. But, little work focuses on how environmental changes will affect dam building capacity along stream networks. Here we estimate the capacity of the stream network in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada to support beaver dams under changing environmental conditions using a modelling approach. We show that at capacity, the park’s stream network can support 24,690 beaver dams and hold between 8.2 and 12.8 million m3 of water in beaver ponds. Between 1991 and 2016 the park’s vegetation composition shifted to less preferred beaver forage, which led to a 13% decrease in maximum dam capacity. We also found that dam capacity is sensitive to the size of regularly-occurring floods—doubling the 2-year flood reduces the park’s dam capacity by 21%. The results show that the potential for beaver to offset some expected climatic-induced changes to the boreal water cycle is more complex than previously thought, as there is a feedback wherein dam capacity can be reduced by changing environmental conditions.

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