Consequences of the activities of Eurasian beaver on local plants and vegetation cover - an overview

• Autorzy: Rita Rakowska , Alina Stachurska-Swakoń
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The Eurasian beaver has a significant impact on biotic and abiotic resources, thus it is known as an "ecosystem engineer".Currently, the beaver population in Eurasia is estimated at more than 1.4 million individuals due to successful reintroductions inmany countries. The recognition of its impact on ecosystems is increasing every year, therefore this article summarizes the currentknowledge of how the Eurasian beaver affects the local flora and vegetation in the area where it settles. Beavers initiate atransformation of their closest surroundings with the dams and ponds they create by forming wetlands, and the newly developedvegetation is richer in plant species than previously. Beaver activities lead to a decrease in local woody plant resources and anincrease in the species diversity of herbaceous plants. Beavers also cause damage to agricultural crops when they feed oncultivated plants. Observed changes can vary over time and landscape scales due to local conditions and persistence of beaveroccurrence. Understanding how beavers affect plants and vegetation may be helpful not only in the protection of the species itself,but also in better management of the areas where they occur(original abstract)

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Free-living animals; Biodiversity; Ecosystem

PL

Zwierzęta wolno żyjące; Różnorodność biologiczna; Ekosystem

• Czasopismo: Environmental & Socio-economic Studies
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: 11
• Numer: nr 3
• Strony: 33--42

Twórcy

autor

Rita Rakowska

• Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

autor

Alina Stachurska-Swakoń

• Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

Bibliografia

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.2478/environ-2023-0015