Impact of beaver dams on surface channel capacity and phytocoenoses diversity of Łąki Soleckie (PLH140055)

The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which created and functioning beaver dams contribute to increasing water retention in the Łąki Soleckie facility (Mała River valley). Changes in the plant cover of meadow habitats within the range of beaver dams were also determined. During the growing periods in 2020–2022, measurements of the periodic levels and water retention of the Mała River and the adjacent ditches (R-27, R-29) were closely related to the activity of beavers and precipitation. The maximum volume of water retained in the Mała riverbed in 2020–2022 was 1,300, 1,700, and 1,200 m3; the maximum retention of the R-29 ditch was 270, 210, and 200 m3, respectively. In 2021–2022, the R-27 ditch collected the most water – 270 m3 and 250 m3. Starting from June 2022, due to beaver dams D2 and D3, the water level in the river and water retention have stabilised at a high level, despite slight rainfall. The activity of beavers contributed to the transformation of communities of wet habitats located on organic soils (Calthion) into communities of periodically wet habitats (Caricetum gracilis). In places where natural habitat 6510 occurs, the coverage of species of the Festuca genus has increased, and the value of the biodiversity index has increased by an average of 9%. High stability in the community of expansive species (Deschampsia caespitosa and Veronica longifolia) and their increasing cover may make it difficult to maintain the proper condition of natural habitat 6510.

Keywords

beaver, biodiversity, organic soils, phytocoenoses, river valley, water retention

Citation

Oleszczuk, R. et al. (2024) “Impact of beaver dams on surface channel capacity and phytocoenoses diversity of Łąki Soleckie (PLH140055),” Journal of Water and Land Development, 61, pp. 96–105

URI

https://bc.iung.pl/handle/123456789/1421

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