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.

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.

Answer 1

One potential benefit that beavers contribute to the ecosystem as keystone engineers is the creation of wetland habitats. Their dams slow down water flow, which allows for the accumulation of sediment and the creation of wetlands. Wetlands are important habitats for a variety of plant and animal species, including migratory birds and amphibians. If beavers were removed from the ecosystem, there could be a loss of wetland habitats and a decrease in biodiversity. Additionally, the absence of beavers could lead to increased erosion along riverbanks, as their dam-building activities help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.