The response of ash-alder swamp forest to increasing stream water level caused by damming by the European beaver (Castor fiber L.)

Abstract

The response of an ash-alder swamp forest to water damming was studied in the Łutownia stream running in Bialowieza Forest. The Łutownia stream with artificial dam existing from 2001 for small water retention purposes was the test object. The first observation of vegetation was done in 2004, when small retention construction started to influence surrounding forest, but beavers had not built their dam yet. After one year of experiments (2005) the beaver dam was constructed close to man-made dam and its influence was most significant for further studies. So, the first observation refers to the status of ash-alder swamp forest before beaver damming. Water table level was measured from the beginning of 2004. The main goal of presented studies was to determine changes of terrestrial vegetation and its habitat after increasing of the water level in the stream. One square metre plots in a frame 5 x 5m were localized in a transect close to the stream upstream and downstream artificial dam. Within 104 such plots ground vegetation (growing up to 0.5 m above ground) was described using Braun-Blanquet scale of abundance. The vegetation studies were conducted twice in 2004 and repeated in 2007. The list of species and their abundance were determined twice: in spring and in summer. Changes of species richness and coverage by species characteristic for floodplain and swamp forest site were evaluated. Ecological indices of soil moisture and fertility determined as the means weighed by percent cover by plant species were calculated for two periods of observation. Calculated indicator values showed that water retention increased the number of swamp forest species by 8 times, but the area of swamp habitat increased 16 times compared with 2004. The mean number of species per sample plot was the same before and after water damming by beavers. The plant association (ash-alder riparian forest) changed its floristic composition to swampier variant. Obtained results showed real impact of beavers’ activity on ground vegetation and its habitat in ashalder swamp forest. Observed increased number of swamp species close to the beaver dam is positive from ecological point of view. Presented results indicate also, that species richness is strongly controlled by beaver damming. The population dynamics of beavers could also potentially affect species richness by altering the age distribution of beaver dams and abandoned ponds across the river valley landscape. Generally, this point of view could have adverse social effects because beavers’ activity brings losses to forestry and agriculture. Therefore, we should try to find a balance between economy and wildlife management. Monitoring of the beaver sites should be continued to evaluate ecological consequences and to find best solution of these problems. DOI: 10.2478/v10025-010-0032-7 Unauthenticated Download Date | 6/13/16 9:14 AM 250 J. CZEREPKO et al.