Alteration of carbon cycling by beaver: Methane evasion rates from boreal forest streams and rivers
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Authors: T. E. Ford, and R. J. Naiman
Date: 1988
Journal: Canadian Journal of Zoology
Volume: 66
Number: 2
Pages: 529-533
Summary of Methods: To calculate the contribution beavers make to the methane budget in streams, submerged carboys of collected gases were taken at ten sites on four streams in the Matamek River watershed, Quebec, Canada. The ten sites were a mixture of pools in large and small streams, beaver ponds, and riffles. Gases collected underwater were sampled via an air sampling tube which reached into the middle of the collection container. Gas was collected weekly from May through October and analyzed for methane concentration. Winter methane evasion rates were estimated using the first and last measurements during the ice-free period of sampling.
Article Summary / Main Points: Beaver ponds produced more methane than the pools or riffles from any of the various sized streams that were sampled. Beavers create ponds by backing up water behind dams. Organic matter increases in these ponds due to dam construction and fecal matter additions. The extra organic matter created conditions for increased methane production and evasion.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Documented Case History
Keywords: beaver, castor canadensis, carbon cycling, methane, boreal forests, evasion rate
Annotation: Although herbivory is not specifically included in this one year study, beaver dams are constructed from woody species beaver cut down. The findings from this study could be applicable to other beaver ponds; however, the results were not very conclusive due the small number of beaver ponds sampled (2 of the 10 sites were beaver ponds) and small variation of methane evasion rates among the different sites.
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