The impact of beaver ponds on tree stand in a river valley

Boczoń, Andrzej; Wróbel, Michał; Syniaiev, Valentyn

doi:10.2478/v10025-010-0037-2

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…A consideration for the monetary impact of the beavers' role in shaping channel retention, or wetland water retention as the important ecosystem service, could be used to change the stakeholder's perception of beaver and to ensure that the riparian forest is comprehensively balanced from an economic perspective while enhancing the implementation of a Water Framework Directive in forests. In this regard, we stress that Central European studies on beaver's role in forest ecosystems-so far dealing with multiple important aspects of biocenoses influenced by this rodent [1,10,21,40] combined with analyses of river hydromorphology and related aspects [25,41]-should continue, anticipating the longevity of beaver-induced changes in riparian biotopes favoring river restoration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…in shaping landscapes, ecological feedbacks and hydrological conditions of riparian forests challenges the management of these ecosystems [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Among the ecosystem alterations induced by construction activity of beaver, increased water storage capacity and related changes in flow regime and sedimentation-erosion balance remain of the highest importance for both catchment-scale water management and local-scale maintenance of forest environment [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and Temporal Variability of Channel Retention in a Lowland Temperate Forest Stream Settled by European Beaver (Castor fiber)

Grygoruk

Nowak

2014

Forests

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Beaver ponds remain a challenge for forest management in those countries where expansion of beaver (Castor fiber) is observed. Despite undoubted economic losses generated in forests by beaver, their influence on hydrology of forest streams especially in terms of increasing channel retention (amount of water stored in the river channel), is considered a positive aspect of their activity. In our study, we compared water storage capacities of a lowland forest stream settled by beaver in order to unravel the possible temporal variability of beaver's influence on channel retention. We compared distribution, total damming height, volumes and areas of beaver ponds in the valley of Krzemianka (Northeast Poland) in the years 2006 (when a high construction activity of beaver was observed) and in 2013 (when the activity of beaver decreased significantly). The study revealed a significant decrease of channel retention of beaver ponds from over 15,000 m 3 in 2006 to 7000 m 3 in 2013. The total damming height of the cascade of beaver ponds decreased from 6.6 to 5.6 m. Abandoned beaver ponds that transferred into wetlands, where lost channel retention was replaced by soil and groundwater retention, were more constant over time and less vulnerable to the external disturbance means of water storage than channel retention. We concluded that abandoned beaver ponds played an active role in increasing channel retention of the river analyzed for approximately 5 years. We also concluded that if the construction activity of beaver was used as a tool (ecosystem service) in increasing channel retention of the river valley, the permanent presence of beaver in the riparian zone of forest streams should have been assured. OPEN ACCESSForests 2014, 5 2277

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Channel Retention in a Lowland Temperate Forest Stream Settled by European Beaver (Castor fiber)

Grygoruk

Nowak

2014

Forests

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“…Przytoczone przyk³ady wskazuj¹, ¿e bobry w korzystnych warunkach rozbudowuj¹ posadowione wczeoeniej przez cz³owieka urz¹dzenia piêtrz¹ce, dziêki czemu uzyskuj¹ znacznie wiêksze i g³êbsze stawy, gromadz¹ce znacznie wiêksze ilooeci wody. Pro-wadzi to jednak do zamarcia drzewostanu (Boczoñ et al 2009), co nie mia³oby miejsca, gdyby wysokooeae piêtrze-nia by³a na poziomie przetamowania wykonanego przez cz³owieka.…”

Section: Objêtooeae Retencjonowanej Wody Przy Ró¿nym Poziomie Wody W unclassified

The impact of beaver ponds on water resources in the catchment area in the Browsk Forest District - a case study

Boczoń¹,

Wróbel²,

Syniaiev³

2009

Forest Research Papers

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Abstract. The aim of the research was to estimate changes in the water resources in a river valley after the construction of reservoirs in the framework of the small-scale water retention program and dams on watercourses by beavers. A comparison of beaver ponds and reservoirs was made to show their effectiveness in increasing water resources. The research was conducted on watercourses running through the territory of the Browsk Forest District in the Bia³owie¿a Primeval Forest. Measurements of the depth of groundwater levels were carried out on study plots established in 2004 being under the impact of artificial dams and those made by beavers. The measurement results enabled determination of the volume of stored water and raising the groundwater level on the land adjoining the flooded areas. The research confirmed that beaver ponds created as a result of expanding the existing man-made hydrotechnical structures have markedly larger area and store more water. On the other hand, the advantage of man-made reservoirs is that they are being constructed for a specific purpose so that their impact on the environment can be planned. In areas where the population of beavers is high, water retention caused by them should be sufficient in those sections of watercourses where water flows all year long. The human activity aimed to increase water retention should take place in those fragments of watercourses where water flows seasonally, especially in headwater areas.

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“…Most tree cutting occurs within 50-100 m of water's edge (Stoffyn-Egli and Willison 2011). Urban trees are natural capital thus beaver tree cutting can be a concern in urban areas not only because it represents a considerable loss of living woody biomass (Boczoń et al 2009;Burchsted et al 2010), but also because of the high socioeconomic value cities place on urban trees (Duinker et al 2015). Conflicts generally increase as beaver density in urban centres increases (Siemer et al 2013) as the cultural carrying capacity for beavers in cities is lower than in natural environments (Drake 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative Effectiveness of Four Different Guards In Preventing Beaver Cutting of Urban Trees

Westbrook

England

2022

Environmental Management

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Beavers are expanding into cities as they recolonize their historic range. While they increase the ecological functioning of urban green areas, human-beaver conflicts occur. Public support to deal with conflicts has shifted from population to forage control. Tree guards are becoming popular with management personnel in North America and Europe to reduce damage to valuable trees. The problem is that this management technique has not been studied. We inventoried the tree guard types in use in natural and manicured river parks in the City of Saskatoon, Canada, determined their adherence to an installation protocol by measuring guard dimensions, and assessed the relative effectiveness of guards in protecting trees from beaver cutting. The inventory revealed that four types of tree guards are in use, ranging from light gauge chicken wire to heavy gauge chain link fencing. Overall, 11% of the trees with guards that we inventoried were cut by beavers, but variation among guard types was observed. Less than 10% of trees with type i and ii guards were beaver cut whereas 17% of trees with types iii and iv guards were beaver cut. Fewer trees were cut when there was adherence to installation protocol, regardless of guard type. Cut trees with guard types i, iii and iv experienced both minor and major damage whereas cut trees with guard type ii experienced only minor damage. The study results have implications for developing effectiveness and implementation monitoring plans for tree guards as part of an overall beaver management plan.

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The impact of beaver ponds on tree stand in a river valley

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Channel Retention in a Lowland Temperate Forest Stream Settled by European Beaver (Castor fiber)

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Channel Retention in a Lowland Temperate Forest Stream Settled by European Beaver (Castor fiber)

The impact of beaver ponds on water resources in the catchment area in the Browsk Forest District - a case study

Relative Effectiveness of Four Different Guards In Preventing Beaver Cutting of Urban Trees

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