Biodiversity Unit Test
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Question
Beavers, large members of the rodent family in North America, are often referred to as “ecosystem/keystone engineers” by wildlife managers. Ecosystem engineers are described as animals that create, alter, or destroy a habitat. Beavers contribute to river ecosystems by bringing down old and dead trees along riverbanks. They use these trees to make their dams. Although these dams are primarily used for protection and food storage, scientists report that these dams change the surrounding environment in different ways.
Given this information, in three to five sentences, describe a potential benefit that beavers contribute to the ecosystem as keystone engineers and describe a plausible impact that the removal of beavers could have on the surrounding ecosystem.
(4 points)
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One potential benefit that beavers contribute to the ecosystem as keystone engineers is the creation of diverse habitats. The dams built by beavers create wetland ecosystems that support a variety of plant and animal species. These wetlands provide breeding grounds for fish, waterfowl, and other aquatic life. Additionally, the slowing down of water flow by dams helps reduce erosion and improves water quality.
On the other hand, the removal of beavers from an ecosystem could have negative impacts on the surrounding environment. Without beavers to control tree growth and create dams, there may be an overabundance of vegetation along riverbanks, leading to increased erosion. Additionally, the absence of beavers could result in loss of biodiversity, as the unique habitats created by beavers would disappear, potentially leading to declines in species that rely on these habitats for survival.