The animal engineer who creates lakes and dams in America

Time of India

5 days ago

Would you believe that an animal as small as a rat is behind creating marvels throughout North America? These small creatures single-handedly construct dams and lakes, which help the whole ecosystem around them flourish.
It might sound too good to be true, but this is the story of beavers, or as they are otherwise known, "animal engineers."
What are beavers
Beavers are rodents that are found across Europe and North America. Beavers have a distinctive look with chisel-like sharp teeth and front legs which resemble hands. Beavers live on land and in water bodies like rivers, lakes and ponds.
Why are beavers animal engineers
Beavers are called animal engineers because they construct complex structures like dams, which eventually form ponds or wetlands.
This capacity to reconstruct the environment gives beavers their unique name. They build these bodies of water in a bid to protect themselves from predator animals such as wolves, alligators, bears and eagles.
However, beavers don't actually live in these "beaver dams." Beavers create separate homes called lodges in the centre of the pond, which are island-like places with dry ground. These allow beavers to store food and escape through underground tunnels in case they see a predator.
How do beavers construct dams and lakes
"Beaver dams" are 10-20 meters, but have reached 500 meters in a few instances. The record beaver dam stretched as long as 850 meters. Beavers gnaw trees down with their sharp incisors and employ branches, twigs, and logs as building materials. Mud, rocks, and vegetation are used by them to support this with strong dams on streams and rivers.
The primary purpose of these dams is to restrict water flow, creating ponds that protect them from predators and also offer readily available food during winter.
Within the relative safety of such ponds, beavers construct their lodges, domed structures made of sticks and mud, as their dwelling and nurseries. Beavers will even dig canals between their ponds, which assist in carrying material as well as offer an exit route for predators.
How are beaver dams helpful for the environment
Beaver dams play an important role in maintaining the ecosystems in their habitat. They reduce the speed of water flowing in the river and create ponds or lakes where many animals like fish, amphibians, birds, and insects thrive.
This creates a larger wetland ecosystem that becomes a natural reservoir for water storage and reduces the impacts of floods. Beaver dams also purify water by trapping sediments and filtering out nitrates and phosphates.
Perhaps the most wonderful fact about beavers is that their engineered works help combat climate change. This is because beaver dams have abundant water and become resistant to fire, which helps reduce forest fires and creates refuges for wildlife.
Are there beavers in India
No, India does not have beavers. However, this was not always the case. The last known record of a population of a beaver species known as the Manipur beaver was recorded in India in 1905. These beavers were larger than the North American beavers found today, but were wiped out because of habitat loss and hunting.