Activity of beavers as an ecological factor that affects the benthos of small rivers - a case study in the Żylica River (Poland)

Strzelec, Małgorzata; Białek, Katarzyna; Spyra, Aneta

doi:10.2478/s11756-018-0073-y

Cited by 13 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Past studies on the effects of beavers on the density of macroinvertebrates have also found mixed results, with some studies reporting an increase in ponds and others a decrease (Anderson & Rosemond, 2010;Arndt & Domdei, 2011;Gard, 1961;Huey & Wolfrum, 1956;Law et al, 2016;McDowell & Naiman, 1986;Pliūraitė & Kesminas, 2012;Rolauffs et al, 2001;Rupp, 1955;Strzelec et al, 2018). However, the overall trend for all three streams was a higher average density in lotic reaches compared to beaver ponds.…”

Section: Biomass and Densitymentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have indicated a decrease in macroinvertebrate species richness within beaver ponds compared to lotic segments (Anderson & Rosemond, 2007;Arndt & Domdei, 2011;Gard, 1961;McDowell & Naiman, 1986;Pliūraitė & Kesminas, 2012;Strzelec, Białek & Spyra, 2018). Density results seem to be site-dependent for whether density is higher within beaver ponds (McDowell & Naiman, 1986), not statistically different between lotic habitats and beaver ponds (Anderson & Rosemond, 2007;Law et al, 2016;Rolauffs et al, 2001), or higher within the lotic segments (Arndt & Domdei, 2011;Pliūraitė & Kesminas, 2012;Strzelec et al, 2018). Density results seem to be site-dependent for whether density is higher within beaver ponds (McDowell & Naiman, 1986), not statistically different between lotic habitats and beaver ponds (Anderson & Rosemond, 2007;Law et al, 2016;Rolauffs et al, 2001), or higher within the lotic segments (Arndt & Domdei, 2011;Pliūraitė & Kesminas, 2012;Strzelec et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is also a trend for differences in macroinvertebrate taxa community composition between beaver ponds and lotic reaches (Arndt & Domdei, 2011;Law et al, 2016;Malison et al, 2014;McDowell & Naiman, 1986;Pliūraitė & Kesminas, 2012;Strzelec et al, 2018). Density results seem to be site-dependent for whether density is higher within beaver ponds (McDowell & Naiman, 1986), not statistically different between lotic habitats and beaver ponds (Anderson & Rosemond, 2007;Law et al, 2016;Rolauffs et al, 2001), or higher within the lotic segments (Arndt & Domdei, 2011;Pliūraitė & Kesminas, 2012;Strzelec et al, 2018). Even studies comparing macroinvertebrate densities between natural pools and lotic reaches have shown site-dependent effects (Herbst et al 2018;Logan and Booker, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As water pools behind a beaver dam, the stream's shape forms a wide pond, characterised by slower, deeper water that might benefit swimming taxa that are excluded from fast-moving lotic reaches (Mackay, 1992;Stout, Majerova & Neilson, 2017). Additionally, the substrate size shifts from gravel or cobble in undammed sections to fine sediments within the beaver ponds (Levine & Meyer, 2014;Strzelec et al, 2018). Sediment grain size is known to be a strong habitat filter influencing macroinvertebrate communities in streams (Bo et al, 2007;Mackay, 1992;Rabení, Doisy & Zweig, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beavers alter stream macroinvertebrate communities in north‐eastern Utah

2019

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1. Understanding changes in macroinvertebrate communities is important because they play a large role in stream ecosystem functioning, and they are an important food resource for fish. Beaver-induced changes to stream morphology could alter macroinvertebrate communities, which in turn could affect food webs and ecosystem function. However, studies investigating the effects of North American beaver activities on macroinvertebrates are rare in the inter-mountain west, an area with high potential for beaver-assisted restoration.2. The aim of this study was to quantify differences in the macroinvertebrate community between unaltered segments of streams and within beaver ponds in northeastern Utah, U.S.A. We assessed macroinvertebrate species richness, biomass, density, functional feeding group composition, mobility group composition, and macroinvertebrate habitat characteristics to test the hypothesis that macroinvertebrate communities will differ among habitat types (undammed stream segments and beaver ponds) in beaver-occupied streams.3. Beaver pond communities significantly differed from lotic reach communities in many ways. Beaver ponds were less diverse with 25% fewer species. Although there was variability among streams, in general, beaver ponds had 75% fewer individuals and 90% lower total macroinvertebrate biomass compared to lotic reaches.4. Regarding functional feeding groups, beaver ponds contained more engulfers, while lotic reaches contained more scrapers, filterers, and gatherers. For mobility groups, beaver ponds had more sprawlers, while lotic reaches had more clingers.Swimmers were also more prevalent in lotic reaches, although this is probably due to the abundance of Baetis within lotic reaches. More beaver pond taxa were classified as lentic-dwelling insects, while more lotic reach taxa were categorised as preferring lotic habitats.5. The creation of ponds by beavers fundamentally altered the macroinvertebrate community in north-eastern Utah streams. Such changes to stream macroinvertebrate communities suggest that recolonisation of beavers across North America may be altering stream functioning and food webs. Our study highlights the need to further investigate the effects of beaver recolonisation on stream communities.

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Section: Biomass and Densitymentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beavers alter stream macroinvertebrate communities in north‐eastern Utah

2019

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Transformation of benthic communities in forest lowland streams colonised by Eurasian beaver Castor fiber (L.)

Wojton

Kukuła

2020

Int Rev Hydrobiol

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Beavers are an exception among animals in terms of the scale of environmental transformations they achieve. This study investigated primary environmental factors influencing the occurrence of aquatic invertebrates in lowland streams inhabited by the Eurasian beaver. The study was conducted in two forest streams inhabited by beavers, and in an uninhabited stream. In streams inhabited by beavers, the study covered seven ponds. Sections with flowing water were also analysed downstream and upstream of the ponds. Benthos and water samples were collected at each site. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and saturation were the only physicochemical parameters that indicated decreases in water quality in beaver ponds. The benthic communities of different beaver ponds were similar. The taxa that exerted the greatest influence on the similarity of the invertebrate fauna in the ponds were Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Ostracods were also abundant in the ponds, whereas they were few in the flowing sections. Mayflies (Cloeon) and caddisflies belonging to the family Phryganeidae were also closely associated with the ponds. Caddisflies (Plectrocnemia and Sericostoma), mayflies (Baetis) and stoneflies (Nemourella and Leuctra) exhibited the highest correlation with DO concentrations, which is typical of flowing sections, and avoided stream fragments dammed by beavers. Bivalvia (Pisidium) were also abundant in each of the streams along the flowing sections. The highest number of taxa and greatest taxonomic diversity was observed in sections flowing below the beaver ponds. The engineering activity of beavers transformed the studied lowland streams, resulting in the development of rheophilic and stagnophilic communities of aquatic invertebrates, in free‐flowing and dammed sections, respectively.

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Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers

et al. 2020

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Beavers have the ability to modify ecosystems profoundly to meet their ecological needs, with significant associated hydrological, geomorphological, ecological, and societal impacts. To bring together understanding of the role that beavers may play in the management of water resources, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, this article reviews the state-of-the-art scientific understanding of the beaver as the quintessential ecosystem engineer. This review has a European focus but examines key research considering both Castor fiber-the Eurasian beaver and Castor canadensis-its North American counterpart. In recent decades species reintroductions across Europe, concurrent with natural expansion of refugia populations has led to the return of C. fiber to much of its European range with recent reviews estimating that the C. fiber population in Europe numbers over 1.5 million individuals. As such, there is an increasing need for understanding of the impacts of beaver in intensively populated and managed, contemporary European landscapes. This review summarizes how beaver impact: (a) ecosystem structure and geomorphology, (b) hydrology and water resources, (c) water quality, (d) freshwater ecology, and (e) humans and society. It concludes by examining future considerations that may need to be resolved as beavers further expand in the northern hemisphere with an emphasis upon the ecosystem services that they can provide and the associated management that will be necessary to maximize the benefits and minimize conflicts.

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Activity of beavers as an ecological factor that affects the benthos of small rivers - a case study in the Żylica River (Poland)

Cited by 13 publications

References 63 publications

Beavers alter stream macroinvertebrate communities in north‐eastern Utah

Beavers alter stream macroinvertebrate communities in north‐eastern Utah

Transformation of benthic communities in forest lowland streams colonised by Eurasian beaver Castor fiber (L.)

Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers

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