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 (easy) 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.
Write the correct answer in kids words

Answer 1

Beavers help create ponds with their dams, which provide homes for lots of other animals like fish, birds, and insects. If the beavers were removed, the ponds could dry up and the animals living there would not have a place to live. The plants around the area might also suffer because they won't have as much water. So, beavers are very important for keeping the ecosystem healthy and balanced.

Answer 2

Use a little more detail

Answer 3

Beavers create ponds with their dams, which provide homes for many different animals like fish, frogs, ducks, and insects. These ponds also help filter out pollutants and provide water for plants and other animals nearby. If beavers were removed, the ponds could dry up, causing animals to lose their homes and making it harder for plants to get enough water. This could disrupt the balance of the ecosystem and harm the animals and plants that depend on the ponds created by beavers.