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)
One potential benefit that beavers contribute to the ecosystem as keystone engineers is the creation of wetlands. Their dams create shallow water habitats which provide water storage during dry periods and offer a variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants a place to thrive. Wetlands are an important habitat for many species, supporting a high level of biodiversity and serving as a breeding ground for various animals.
The removal of beavers from the ecosystem could have a plausible impact on the surrounding environment by reducing the availability of wetlands. This can lead to a decrease in biodiversity as wetland-dependent species lose their habitat and may even result in the decline or disappearance of certain species. In addition, the absence of beavers would lead to a lack of tree felling, causing a decrease in dead wood availability, which is used by many species for nesting, food, and shelter. The removal of beavers could disrupt the overall balance of the ecosystem and affect a wide range of plants and animals that depend on beaver-engineered habitats.