A Dam Good Job: Three Years of Beaver Dam Analog Restoration & Research on the Swaner Preserve
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2022
- Join us to learn about beaver dams, beaver dam analogs (BDAs), and their effects on the Swaner Preserve ecosystem over the last few years with Marshall Wolf - watershed scientist at Utah State University! Get an inside look into his research on understanding beaver-mediated changes to stream habitat and ecosystem services on the Swaner Preserve with a dive into his final findings.
Marshall Wolf is a PhD candidate in USUs Watershed Sciences Department who studies beaver-mediated changes to ecosystems and how well beaver-mimicry projects like BDAs are emulating the real deal. His research interests are aquatic and riparian ecology with a focus on stream restoration.
Another observation with regards to the discussion about the impact of beavers and trees. You are correct many trees have evolved survival techniques to deal with beavers. I would also point out that standing snags are also one of the side benefits of beaver due to some trees being flooded and drowned without ever being cut down. These trees become a haven for numerous birds for food and nesting. Woodpeckers and bats also utilize them.
We will be starting this at my work soon this year in CA. Can't wait!
I would imagine the reason you have differences in the growth rate of brown trout in BDAs and actual beaver complexes is due to higher fertility due to the organic load being higher in a beaver complex which in turn would lead to a higher invert load of the type that brown trout would feed on. As an old professional beaver trapper I would always be amazed at the higher invert populations from both terrestrial and aquatic populations. BTW I no long trap beaver and have become a rather large supporter of restoring beaver to the landscape. Over a lifetime that now is more than 60 years I have seen the difference they make when they are abundant on the landscape vs when they have been removed from the landscape.
We would like to contact Marshal Wolf for a project in Iowa. Could we please have his contact email, ty
Another observation with regards to the discussion about the impact of beavers and trees. You are correct many trees have evolved survival techniques to deal with beavers. I would also point out that standing snags are also one of the side benefits of beaver due to some trees being flooded and drowned without ever being cut down. These trees become a haven for numerous birds for food and nesting. Woodpeckers and bats also utilize them.