The document discusses the role of the American beaver in restoring lost ecosystem functions, highlighting their importance as wetland engineers. It includes slides prepared for an oral presentation related to conservation and restoration ecology. The content is intended for a general audience and references various studies and analyses on the impact of beavers on ecosystems.

1. Iraleigh Anderson
Lakeland College
Conservation and Restoration Ecology Major
Working with the
American beaver.
Restoring lost ecosystem function with the help of the original wetland-engineer
These slides were designed to accompany an oral presentation and were submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Restoration Ecology (SC329). This material was prepared for a general audience.

2. Bill Peet
Wump World/Waterworld
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60-400 million original American population (Currently ~10-15 million)
Tree-line to sea-level, sub-arctic to sub-tropical distribution
10 to 100 times more cover of water in beaver wetlands
A keystone effect that is hard to imagine…

3. flickr.com/gord99

4. Buckley et al. 2011

5. Buckley et al. 2011

6. Buckley et al. 2011

7. rockies.ca

8. rockies.ca

9. Boyles, S. L., and B. A. Savitzky. 2009. An analysis of the efficacy and
comparative costs of using flow devices to resolve conflicts with North
American Beavers along roadways in the coastal plain of Virginia.

10. The Very First Beaver-Deceiver in the
County of Vermilion River.
I. Anderson, 2013

11. A Beaver Revolution?
Wikimedia Commons
amazon.com