7.6: Data Dive- Beaver Impacts on Wetlands

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Page ID: 46705

Melissa Ha and Rachel Schleiger
Yuba College & Butte College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

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Overview

An ecosystem engineer is any animal that creates, significantly modifies, maintains or destroys a habitat. These organisms impact both the abiotic and biotic components of a habitat and can thus completely change landscapes. One 2017 study sought to understand if beavers (classic ecosystem engineer) could even be used as a tool for habitat restoration of wetlands. Specifically, this study focused on quantifying if wetland biodiversity improved as a result of reintroducing beavers on a landscape degraded by agriculture. Figure 2.4.6a below displays some of the results in this study:

Line graph showing the number of species present (in an accumulation curve) 1-2 years and 10-12 years after beavers were introduced. — Figure \(\PageIndex{a}\): Average number of species observed in sample plots 1-2 years and 10-12 years after beavers were introduced. Graph by Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC) modified from data in Law A, Graywood MJ, Jones KC, Ramsay P, and Willby NJ 2017.

Questions

What is the independent (explanatory) variable and the dependent (response) variable?
What question(s) are the authors trying to answer with this graph?
What trend(s) can be observed in this graph between the 1-2 and 10-12 timetables? Support your answer by referring to appropriate patterns in the graph.
Do you think like the authors are satisfied with the results in the graph? Why?
How can the results of this graph to inform future reintroduction of beavers where wetland restoration is needed?
What information/patterns is not clear from this graph?

Raw Data From Above Graph(s)

Table \(\PageIndex{a}\): Raw data for average number of species observed in sample plots 1-2 years and 10-12 years after beavers were introduced. Graph by Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC) modified from data in Law A, Graywood MJ, Jones KC, Ramsay P, and Willby NJ 2017.

Number Of Plots	Average Number Of Species After 1-2 Years	Average Number Of Species After 10-12 Years
0	3	3
20	10	28
40	11	35
60	12	38
80	13	39
100	13.5	40
130	14	41

Attribution

Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC)