Dan Zhu , Shanshan Yu

Cuixi Biotechnology Research Institute of the Agricultural Research Center, Zhuji, 311800, China
Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0019
Received: 24 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 03 Aug., 2024    Published: 16 Aug., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Zhu D., and Yu S.S., 2024, Building ecosystems: the transformative role of beavers, Bioscience Evidence, 14(4): 172-183 (doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0019)

Beavers (Castor fiber and Castor canadensis) are renowned ecosystem engineers whose activities significantly transform river corridors and wetlands. This study synthesizes current knowledge on the transformative role of beavers in ecosystem engineering, focusing on their impacts on hydrology, geomorphology, biogeochemistry, and biodiversity. Beaver dam construction alters water flow, increases surface and subsurface water storage, and modifies nutrient cycling, leading to enhanced habitat complexity and biodiversity. This study highlights the dual nature of beaver impacts, including both positive effects such as increased habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity, and negative consequences like localized flooding and vegetation death. The findings underscore the importance of considering beaver activities in river management and restoration practices to harness their ecosystem services while mitigating potential conflicts. This study aims to inform future research and management strategies as beaver populations continue to expand globally.

Beavers (Castor fiber and Castor canadensis); Ecosystem engineering; Hydrology; Biodiversity; River management