Graduate Project
 

Beaver Herbivory Behavior and its Impact on Habitat Restoration at South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_projects/3j3339522

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  • North American beavers (Castor canadensis) are ecological engineers that improve biodiversity and can improve the health of riparian ecosystems. Beavers are generalist herbivores with some evidence of species preference, utilizing woody material for both food source and dam construction. In the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Charleston, Oregon, a restoration project is underway to restore the Wasson creek tributary. The creek has become inundated with invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) severely reducing riparian biodiversity. To better understand how the beaver population at South Slough are utilizing the estuary, trail cameras were installed to record beaver activity and tree surveys up to 40m perpendicular to the stream bank were conducted to determine herbivory preference by recording species, size, distance from the streams edge and form of beaver herbivory present at Wasson creek (restoration site), Anderson creek (20-year post-restoration site), and Tom’s creek (reference site). The surveys showed preference for sitka willow (Salix sitchensis), red alder (Alnus rubra) and cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) trees. Beaver herbivory focused individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH) equal to or under 30cm. The distance measurements showed herbivory of prefered species at all intervals along the 40m transects perpendicular to stream ban. However, beavers did go long distances away from the stream to seek out non-preferred species. These findings suggest that this beaver population will seek out specific preferred tree species, making it likely the beavers will utilize the Sitka willows planted for habitat restoration. Trail camera footage showed high levels of activity in Anderson and Tom’s creeks with some activity at Wasson creek, suggesting the improved conditions of Wasson creek post-restoration may encourage immigration from the other creeks. Trail cameras also revealed that beavers will climb trees to seek out specific branches high up on the trees.
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