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dc.contributor.authorPuttock, A
dc.contributor.authorGraham, HA
dc.contributor.authorCunliffe, AM
dc.contributor.authorElliott, M
dc.contributor.authorBrazier, RE
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-14T15:11:23Z
dc.date.issued2016-10-26
dc.description.abstractBeavers are the archetypal keystone species, which can profoundly alter ecosystem structure and function through their ecosystem engineering activity, most notably the building of dams. This can have a major impact upon water resource management, flow regimes and water quality. Previous research has predominantly focused on the activities of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) located in very different environments, to the intensive lowland agricultural landscapes of the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe. Two Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) were introduced to a wooded site, situated on a first order tributary, draining from intensively managed grassland. The site was monitored to understand impacts upon water storage, flow regimes and water quality. Results indicated that beaver activity, primarily via the creation of 13 dams, has increased water storage within the site (holding ca. 1000m(3) in beaver ponds) and beavers were likely to have had a significant flow attenuation impact, as determined from peak discharges (mean 30±19% reduction), total discharges (mean 34±9% reduction) and peak rainfall to peak discharge lag times (mean 29±21% increase) during storm events. Event monitoring of water entering and leaving the site showed lower concentrations of suspended sediment, nitrogen and phosphate leaving the site (e.g. for suspended sediment; average entering site: 112±72mgl(-1), average leaving site: 39±37mgl(-1)). Combined with attenuated flows, this resulted in lower diffuse pollutant loads in water downstream. Conversely, dissolved organic carbon concentrations and loads downstream were higher. These observed changes are argued to be directly attributable to beaver activity at the site which has created a diverse wetland environment, reducing downstream hydrological connectivity. Results have important implications for beaver reintroduction programs which may provide nature based solutions to the catchment-scale water resource management issues that are faced in agricultural landscapes.en_GB
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Devon Beaver Project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust, monitored by the University of Exeter, and funded by Devon Wildlife Trust and Westland Countryside Stewards.en_GB
dc.identifier.citationVol. 576, pp. 430 - 443en_GB
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.122
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10871/28018
dc.language.isoenen_GB
dc.publisherElsevieren_GB
dc.relation.urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27792958en_GB
dc.rights© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council. Under a Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en_GB
dc.subjectEcosystem engineeringen_GB
dc.subjectEurasian beaveren_GB
dc.subjectFlow attenuationen_GB
dc.subjectWater qualityen_GB
dc.subjectWater storageen_GB
dc.titleEurasian beaver activity increases water storage, attenuates flow and mitigates diffuse pollution from intensively-managed grasslandsen_GB
dc.typeArticleen_GB
dc.date.available2017-06-14T15:11:23Z
exeter.place-of-publicationNetherlandsen_GB
dc.descriptionThis is the final version of the article. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.en_GB
dc.identifier.journalScience of the Total Environmenten_GB
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/


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© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council. Under a Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Except where otherwise noted, this item's licence is described as © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council. Under a Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/