Beaver and Reptiles
Note: This online review is updated and revised continuously, as soon as
results of new scientific research become available. It therefore
presents state-of-the-art information on the topic it covers.
When beaver (Castor
canadensis and Castor fiber) thin forests by cutting down trees,
and when they build dams that create impoundments (ponds), certain
groups of reptiles are benefited. For example, in the Piedmont of
South Carolina, lizards were twice as abundant
along streams with beaver impoundments than along streams without
beaver impoundments (Metts et al. 2001). Turtles were six times more
abundant along streams with beaver impoundments than along streams
without beaver impoundments (Metts et al. 2001).
However, if one
excluded terrestrial turtles (i.e. Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene
carolina) from the analysis, the data would show that aquatic turtles
were 84 times more abundant along streams with beaver impoundments than
along streams without beaver impoundments (the terrestrial Box Turtle,
which enters water only occasionally, was captured with equal frequency
along both impounded and unimpounded streams. See Russell et al. 1999;
Metts et al. 2001).
Although, generally speaking,
lizards and turtles are benefited by beaver, some species of snakes are
harmed by beaver. Let us look now at which specific lizards, turtles
and snakes are benefited and harmed by beaver engineering.
Reptile Species Benefited
by Beaver Engineering
The following species of
reptiles in the Piedmont of South Carolina were more abundant along
streams with beaver impoundments than along streams without such
impoundments (Metts et al. 2001):
Five-lined
Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)
Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)
Northern Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)
Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
The 3 lizards and one snake
listed above may be more common along impounded streams because they
prefer early-successional vegetation (Russell et al. 1999; Metts et al.
2001). Forests surrounding old beaver ponds usually have alot of
this kind of vegetation because tree felling by beavers causes the forest
to regenerate. The 3 turtle species prefer slow-moving or standing
water with abundant vegetation (Russell et al. 1999). These 3
turtles also hibernate "under logs, stumps and lodges of beavers and
muskrats," and the Painted Turtle uses floating logs for basking (Russell
et al. 1994).
Reptile Species Hurt by
Beaver Engineering
The following 2 species of
reptiles in the Piedmont of South Carolina, both snakes, were more
abundant along streams without beaver impoundments than along
streams with such impoundments (Metts et al. 2001):
Southern
Ringneck (Diadophis punctatus)
Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)
Both species are "small woodland
snakes associated with moist and/or cool microclimates" (Metts et al.
2001).
References
Metts BS,
Lanham JD, Russell KR (2001) Evaluation of herpetofaunal
communities on upland streams and beaver-impounded streams in the upper
piedmont of South Carolina. American Midland Naturalist 145:
54-65
Platt SG,
Russell KR, Snyder WE, Fontenot LW, Miller S (1999)
Distribution and conservation status of selected amphibians and reptiles
in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell
Scientific Society 115: 8-19
Russell
KR, Moorman CE, Edwards JK, Metts BS, Guynn DC (1999)
Amphibian and Reptile Communities associated with beaver (Castor
canadensis) ponds and unimpounded streams in the piedmont of South
Carolina. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 14: 149-158
Skelly DK,
Freidenburg LK (2000) Effects of beaver on the thermal biology
of an amphibian. Ecology Letters 3: 483-486
Snyder WE,
Platt SG (1997) Anuran records from the Piedmont of South
Carolina, USA. Herpetological Review 28: 53
Information about this Review
The author is: Dr. Paul D. Haemig (PhD in Animal Ecology)
The photograph at the top of the page was
taken by Karen Luvssun (USA).
It shows a group of turtles, one of the reptile taxa that benefits
from beaver engineering.
The proper citation is:
Haemig PD
2012
Beaver and Reptiles. ECOLOGY.INFO 15.
If you are aware of any important scientific publications that were
omitted from this review, or have other suggestions for improving it,
please contact the author at his e-mail address:
director {at} ecology.info
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