The effects of beaver in riverbank forest succession
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Authors: W. J. Barnes, and E. Dibble
Date: 1988
Journal: Canadian Journal of Botany
Volume: 66
Number: 1
Pages: 40-44
Summary of Methods: A study was conducted along the lower Chippewa River in west central Wisconsin (45� 50� N, 92� 00� W) examined the effects of beaver cutting on forest sucession. Six active feeding sites were located and sampled in the fall of 1983 and spring of 1984. Two or three transects parallel to the bank were established and measured. The diameters at 10 cm above ground level of all cut and uncut stems greater than 2.5 cm diameter and their positions along the transects were recorded by species. The occurrence of both cut and uncut sapling stems (>2.5 and <10.0 cm in diameter) that occurred under the canopy trees were also recorded.
Article Summary / Main Points: Ash and yellow hickory were preferred over all other woody species present. Tree densities were reduced in areas along the river that were inhabited by beavers. A major reduction in future populations of ash, hickory, and hackberry with a increase in silver maple, bass wood, prickly ash and elm are predicted for this community with the current level of beaver activity. At most colony sites very few trees were present within the first 10 to 15 m of the shoreline Most beaver activity and cutting occurred from the bank inland about 45 m, and up to 60 m. Beavers appeared to select smaller stems, especially those in the 4 to 6 cm diameter class. Thirty-one percent of these larger stems were silver maple; also within the large age class were ash, river birch, yellowbud hickory, and swamp white oak. The effect of beaver predation on the density of trees along the banks in the study site was found to be substantial.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 105 Northern Mississippi Valley Loess Hills
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Beaver
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: beaver, castor canadensis, forest succession, tree density, american elm, ulmus americana, ash, fraxinus pennsylvanica, silver maple, acer saccharinum, hackberry, celtis occidentalis, hickory, carya spp.
Annotation: This study illustrates the effect that beaver have along forested river communities and how the community composition can be effected.
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