Title | Spatial associations of beaver ponds and culverts in boreal headwater streams |
Publication Type | Thesis |
Year of Publication | 2006 |
Authors | Flynn, N. J. |
Volume | Renewable Resources |
Issue | M. Sc. |
Pagination | 108 |
Place Published | University of Alberta |
Publication Language | en |
Abstract | Beavers and culverts can cause impoundments in streams and thus, influence wetland distribution. I examined change in beaver dams and beaver ponds in response to culvert presence and environmental covariates at scales of < 50m, 300m, and 1,000m using forest inventory and time-series aerial photography. Covariates were regressed using GLMs and GLMMs and the top models predicting dam occurrence were selected using AIC. Forest inventory analysis indicated beaver pond occurrence at the 300m scale was positively related to culvert presence on second-order streams. Beaver occurrence was not significantly related to culvert presence at the 1,000m scale. Proportion of inundated stream was positively related to forested area and third-order streams at 300m scale. From aerial photograph analysis, intact beaver dams at the 300m scale were positively related to culverts when beaver dams were present prior to culvert installation regardless of stream order. My results show that culverts may affect beaver activity and subsequently wetland distribution in boreal northcentral, Alberta. |
URL | http://search.proquest.com/docview/304960016 |
Topics | Biology |
Locational Keywords | Mid-Boreal Uplands, AlPac FMA |
Active Link | |
Group | Science |
Citation Key | 47416 |