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.
One potential benefit that beavers contribute to the ecosystem is the creation of wetlands. Their dams slow down the flow of water, which allows sediment to settle and creates new habitats for a variety of plants and animals. Wetlands are important for filtering pollutants, reducing flooding, and providing a diverse ecosystem.
If beavers were to be removed from their habitats, the lack of their engineering activities could have negative effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Without beavers to maintain and build dams, river ecosystems could experience increased erosion, loss of wetlands, and altered water flow patterns. This could disrupt the balance of the ecosystem and lead to negative impacts on water quality, plant and animal populations, and overall ecosystem health.