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 wetlands. Their dams slow the flow of water, allowing sediment to settle and creating wetland habitats that support a diverse range of plant and animal species. The removal of beavers could result in the loss of these vital wetland habitats, leading to a decrease in biodiversity and potentially impacting the water quality of the surrounding ecosystem. Additionally, without beavers to help regulate water flow, there could be an increased risk of flooding downstream and erosion of riverbanks. Overall, the presence of beavers plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and stability of river ecosystems.