Tag Archives: Amphibians

Beavers make things better for amphibians

Here’s some interesting research on the relationship between beaver activity and amphibian populations . . .

Beavers in Glacier National Park modify wetlands in a way that makes them better suited for the health of the park’s amphibian population, according to a study published this month.

The paper, published in the journal Biological Conservation, suggests that even though most amphibian populations are shrinking, the influence of beavers on their habitats can decrease the severity of the decline. While the influence isn’t enough to reverse the trend – many amphibians are falling prey to a fungus unrelated to the absence of beavers – they can mitigate it.

In 2002, Blake R. Hossack and six other researchers began studying the distribution of amphibians in Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain national parks. The project was a joint monitoring program with the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service.

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