Building for the future: Abandoned beaver ponds promote bird diversity

Aznar, Jean-Christophe; Desrochers, André

doi:10.2980/15-2-3107

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Studies documenting how beavers create or enhance habitat for a multitude of species include effects on the occurrence, number and diversity of aquatic plants (Ray et al 2001;Parker et al 2007), invertebrates (Collen and Gibson 2001), fish (Collen and Gibson 2001;Pollock et al 2004;Rosell et al 2005), birds (McKinstry et al 2001;Aznar and Desrochers 2008;Nummi and Hahtola 2008), amphibians (Cunningham et al 2006;Stevens et al 2007), and mammals (Anthony et al 2003;LeBlanc et al 2007). As such, the beaver can be considered an umbrella species for conservation purposes (Beazley and Cardinal 2004;Roberge and Angelstam 2004) throughout much of North America, as its geographic range extends from coast to coast and from the arctic tundra to northern Mexico (Müller-Schwarze and Sun 2003;Butler 2006).…”

Section: The Beaver -A Riparian Ecosystem Engineermentioning

confidence: 99%

Including wildlife habitat in the definition of riparian areas: The beaver (Castor canadensis) as an umbrella species for riparian obligate animals

Stoffyn-EgliPatricia

Martin

2011

Environ. Rev.

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Riparian wildlife is as important as vegetation in maintaining watercourse ecological integrity, yet present riparian buffer guidelines often fail to maintain sufficient terrestrial habitat for a variety of riparian species in North America. This is of particular concern for the conservation of riparian obligate animals, defined as freshwater-dependent species for which the terrestrial habitat immediately adjacent to watercourses is indispensable to complete their life history. Terrestrial habitat requirements of riparian obligate species are reviewed in this paper using the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) as a focal species. As an ecosystem engineer, the beaver has a profound influence on the shape and function of riparian ecosystems and creates diverse habitat patches. Published data show that 95% of woody plants cut by beavers on land are obtained within 50 m of the water's edge. A review of riparian invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds indicates that a 50 m-wide riparian buffer (measured from the high water mark) in its natural state (intact native vegetation) is the minimum area for supporting the majority of riparian obligate species. Exceptions are moose and some amphibian species that also need habitat well beyond 50 m from the water's edge to complete their life history. To conserve these wide-ranging species it is recommended that riparian buffers be continuous and integrated in a connectivity plan including upland reserves. Such a watershed-wide plan will also ensure that riparian buffers can serve as travel and dispersal corridors for both riparian and upland wildlife.Résumé : La faune riveraine peut être aussi importante que la végétation pour maintenir l'intégrité écologique d'un cours d'eau, et pourtant les directives présentes de réglementations riveraines n'arrivent souvent pas à maintenir suffisamment d'habitat terrestre pour diverses espèces riveraines d'Amérique du Nord. Ceci concerne en particulier la conservation des animaux riverains obligatoires, définis comme des espèces dépendant de l'eau douce pour lesquelles l'habitat terrestre immédiatement adjacent aux cours d'eau est indispensable pour compléter leurs cycles vitaux. Les auteurs passent en revue les besoins en habitats terrestres des espèces riveraines obligatoires, en prenant le castor nord-américain (Castor canadensis) comme espèce focale. En tant qu'ingénieur de l'écosystème, le castor exerce une profonde influence sur la forme et la fonction des écosystèmes riverains et crée des parcelles d'habitat variées. Les données publiées montrent que 95% des plantes ligneuses terrestres coupées par les castors proviennent de 50 m au plus du bord de l'eau. Une revue des espèces riveraines incluant les invertébrés, les amphibiens, les reptiles, les mammifères et les oiseaux indique qu'une zone tampon large de 50 m (mesurée à partir de la ligne des hautes eaux) dans son état naturel (végétation indigène intacte) constitue une surface minimale pour satisfaire la majorité des espèces riveraines obligatoires. L'orign...

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Section: The Beaver -A Riparian Ecosystem Engineermentioning

confidence: 99%

Including wildlife habitat in the definition of riparian areas: The beaver (Castor canadensis) as an umbrella species for riparian obligate animals

Stoffyn-EgliPatricia

Martin

2011

Environ. Rev.

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“…). Aznar and Desrochers () discovered that beaver meadows had the highest levels of songbird biodiversity when compared to all other adjacent riparian habitats.…”

Section: Review Of the Impacts Of Beavers On Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beaver meadows can support diverse vegetation which promotes bird biodiversity (Chandler et al 2009), and may be an essential source of habitat for grassland birds on a landscape scale (Askins et al 2007). Aznar and Desrochers (2008) discovered that beaver meadows had the highest levels of songbird biodiversity when compared to all other adjacent riparian habitats.…”

Section: Birds Mechanisms Of Beaver Influencementioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of beaversCastorspp. on biodiversity and the ecological basis for their reintroduction to Scotland,UK

Stringer

Gaywood

2016

Mammal Review

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1.In Scotland, UK, beavers became extinct about 400 years ago. Currently, two wild populations are present in Scotland on a trial basis, and the case for their full reintroduction is currently being considered by Scottish ministers. Beavers are widely considered 'ecosystem engineers' . Indeed, beavers have large impacts on the environment, fundamentally change ecosystems, and create unusual habitats, often considered unique. In this review, we investigate the mechanisms by which beavers act as ecosystem engineers, and then discuss the possible impacts of beavers on the biodiversity of Scotland. 2.A meta-analysis of published studies on beavers' interactions with biodiversity was conducted, and the balance of positive and negative interactions with plants, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals recorded. 3. The meta-analysis showed that, overall, beavers have an overwhelmingly positive influence on biodiversity. Beavers' ability to modify the environment means that they fundamentally increase habitat heterogeneity. As beavers are central-place foragers that feed only in close proximity to watercourses, their herbivory is unevenly spread in the landscape. In addition, beaver ponds and their associated unique successional stages increase habitat heterogeneity both spatially and temporally. Beavers also influence the ecosystems through the creation of a variety of features such as dams and lodges, important habitat features such as standing dead wood (after inundation), an increase in woody debris, and a graded edge between terrestrial and aquatic habitats that is rich in structural complexity. 4. In Scotland, a widespread positive influence on biodiversity is expected, if beavers are widely reintroduced. For instance, beaver activity should provide important habitat for the otter Lutra lutra, great crested newt Triturus cristatus and water vole Arvicola amphibious, all species of conservation importance. 5. Beavers are most likely to have detrimental impacts on certain woodland habitats and species of conservation importance, such as the Atlantic hazelwood climax community and aspen Populus tremula woodland. A lack of woodland regeneration caused by high deer abundance could lead to habitat degradation or loss. These are also of particular importance due to the variety of associated dependent species of conservation interest, such as lichen communities in Atlantic hazelwoods.

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“…Invertebrate abundance index 40 is an average of non-beaver ponds and value 280 is an average of beaver ponds in the Evo study area (Nummi and Hahtola, 2008), and as a reference, index 1250 is from eutrophic lakes in eastern Finland (Nummi and Väänänen, 2001). (Metts et al, 2001) to birds and mammals (Aznar and Desrochers, 2008;Nummi et al, 2011). Some general descriptions have been made of bird communities in beaver ponds (Grover and Baldassarre, 1995;Brown et al, 1996;Edwards and Otis, 1999), and some investigations have compared bird diversity in active and abandoned beaver ponds with non-flooded wetlands (Longcore et al, 2006;Aznar and Desrochers, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole‐community facilitation by beaver: ecosystem engineer increases waterbird diversity

Nummi

Holopainen

2014

Aquatic Conservation

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Wetlands are rich in biodiversity, but globally threatened. After a long period of regional extirpation, beavers have recently returned to many European areas and are now restoring wetlands. The beaver is remarkable regarding the large impacts it has not only on individual species but on entire communities and ecosystems. In fact, beavers are referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’.The facilitative effect of the beaver Castor canadensis on a waterbird community of seven species of waders and ducks in boreal ponds was studied by using the before–after control–impact method (BACI) and analysing the effect of the duration of flooding. The before–after setting could be used since beavers had caused disturbance by flooding several forest ponds during the course of this long‐term study (1988–2009). The study took place in southern Finland, where waterbirds were surveyed four times during the breeding season.The number of waterbird species per pond per year was significantly higher during beaver inundation than before beaver activity, as was the waterbird abundance per survey. Changes were negligible in the controls. The numbers of all seven species increased during flooding, although the increase was significant in only three species. Common teal Anas crecca and green sandpiper Tringa ochropus showed the most positive numerical response to flooding. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and wigeon Anas penelope were new species entering the duck guild in the flooded wetlands. The beneficial effect of the flood lasted the whole period of inundation, although the most substantial increase in species number appeared during the first two years of flooding.The beaver acted as a whole‐community facilitator for waterbirds. It was inferred from previous studies that this was done by modifying the habitat to make it more productive and structurally favourable. It is concluded that favouring beavers is a worthwhile tool in restoring wetlands to promote waterbird communities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Building for the future: Abandoned beaver ponds promote bird diversity

Cited by 28 publications

References 51 publications

Including wildlife habitat in the definition of riparian areas: The beaver (Castor canadensis) as an umbrella species for riparian obligate animals

Including wildlife habitat in the definition of riparian areas: The beaver (Castor canadensis) as an umbrella species for riparian obligate animals

The impacts of beaversCastorspp. on biodiversity and the ecological basis for their reintroduction to Scotland,UK

Whole‐community facilitation by beaver: ecosystem engineer increases waterbird diversity

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