Beavers were recently reintroduced in my country to help the ecological system develop. All I know is that they build dams, which I would assume isn’t very good for river fish. I also just learned they tend to eat/use young trees, which can’t be good for the forest growth. How do they actually benifit the ecological system?
In: Earth Science
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-you-should-know-26940277/episode/beavers-tail-slapping-fun-72854414/?cmp=android_share&sc=android_social_share&pr=false
If the link works stuff you should know goes into good detail. If not just look them up it came out October 22nd and is titled “tail slapping fun”.
They store water above sea level. Among other things, this makes them one of the most valuable creatures nature has ever created. They are classified as a keystone species like salmon. This means without them, other parts of the ecosystem will collapse.
You could rid all the humans off the planet and leave the beavers. In a century they can reforest what we deforested in Canada, which is a lot. They can turn deserts into rainforests if you give them enough time.
iirc, they’re what is called an “architect” keystone species. By changing their environment – building dams, cutting down trees, etc – they create important changes to their ecosystems that allow other species to thrive!
It’s good for lake fish :-).
Dams create wetlands that provide habitats for many other animals and plants. Swamps are good, just ask Shrek 🙂 Dams also regulate the rivers. The river fish can use the lake, too. And still have plenty of river left, and there are plenty more trees, too.
Lots of good videos on YouTube with awesome images and information.
http://www.ecology.info/beaver-ecology.htm
Basically, their dams end up regulating the water, keeping nutrient-rich soil in the river system, and creating small ponds that massively help most native river fish.
> which I would assume isn’t very good for river fish
“River fish” can live in freshwater lakes, and so can all the lake fish.
Beavers make lakes and wetlands, so that little bit of “destruction” you mention is accompanied by creation of entire new habitats for hundreds of species of birds, insects, marine life, land and marine plants, rodents and larger mammals…
The wetlands and lakes are great for the local watershed too. By slowing down drainage they protect against flooding and increase groundwater to last through droughts better. The wetland ground and plants also filter and purify the slow-moving water (both chemically and physically) much more than would have been happening in the faster pre-beaver river.
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