Beavers and Riparian Habitats
The role of beavers in riparian ecosystems of western North America is a two-edged sword. Meadows created by beaver dams and ponds, with all their associated biological diversity, bring the impressions of nature at its best (Fig. 1). Over-utilization of woody vegetation, bank erosion, and catastrophic floods from bursting beaver dams form a contrasting view. […]