How beavers affect riverine aquatic macroinvertebrates: a review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As ecosystem engineers, the construction of dams by beavers alters stream habitat physically and biologically, making them a species of interest for habitat restoration. Beaver-created habitat changes affect a wide range of aquatic invertebrate species. However, despite numerous individual studies of how beavers affect aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, there has been no evaluation of the consensus of these effects across studies.

Methodology

We collated and examined studies comparing beaver-created ponds to nearby lotic reaches to determine general trends in aquatic macroinvertebrate richness, density, biomass, and functional composition between habitats. From this evidence, we highight knowledge gaps in how beaver activity affects aquatic macroinvertebrates.

SUBMITTER: Washko S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9059751 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature