The Ontario Science Curriculum: Grades 1 to 8
October 23 Youtube video "Leave it to the Beavers"
Notes from the documentary "Leave it to the Beavers"
NOTES FROM THE VIDEO
1. beavers - are builders/engineers - called "hydro engineers" - HYDRO = WATER
2. beavers are vegetarian - eat leaves and the inner layer of wood - called cambium - under the bark (like Aspen, Poplar, Willow and Birch trees)
3. Teeth - grow constantly, don't wear down, orange colour because of their diet
4. Dams
- stones support the bottom of the dam
- pond mud seals the dam,
- branches and logs are interlocked, to create a lasting structure
5. Dams:
- filter the water of the river/stream system
- increase the wetland area
- increase pond size and available fresh water for other animals,
- create a pond ecosystem,
- enrich the soil
6,. Beaver vs People problems:
- beavers block culverts in roads which can cause flooding
- beavers build dams where we want to build houses
- beavers don't quit - they keep rebuilding
7. Beavers don't like the sound of running water - they will fix leaks and rebuild dams
8. In the Rocky Mountains, BC
- beaver ponds have created acres of wetlands
- pond offers protection for bird species
- habitat and breeding grounds for a variety of small animals and birds
- pond allows animals to feed and drink
- pond protects animals from wolves and bears
9. Nevada Desert, US
- 20 years ago the Suzy Creek area was a desert ecosystem
- cattle had over grazed and there had been drought for many years
- surface and ground water had dried up
- summer temperatures reached to 100 degrees and further dried out the soil
- beavers were introduced to the area
- beavers built a dam (damming the small creek) and lodge
- the dam allowed the creek to expand
- created a large pond ecosystem
- overall water level rose as water was stored in the pond
- surface and ground water recovered
- created a grassland that hadn't been there for 20 years
- native plant species started to return
- by bringing beavers into a desert habitat, the beavers changed the ecosystem to a grassland/wetland habitat
BEAVERS ARE CALLED A KEYSTONE SPECIES FOR AN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM
1. beavers - are builders/engineers - called "hydro engineers" - HYDRO = WATER
2. beavers are vegetarian - eat leaves and the inner layer of wood - called cambium - under the bark (like Aspen, Poplar, Willow and Birch trees)
3. Teeth - grow constantly, don't wear down, orange colour because of their diet
4. Dams
- stones support the bottom of the dam
- pond mud seals the dam,
- branches and logs are interlocked, to create a lasting structure
5. Dams:
- filter the water of the river/stream system
- increase the wetland area
- increase pond size and available fresh water for other animals,
- create a pond ecosystem,
- enrich the soil
6,. Beaver vs People problems:
- beavers block culverts in roads which can cause flooding
- beavers build dams where we want to build houses
- beavers don't quit - they keep rebuilding
7. Beavers don't like the sound of running water - they will fix leaks and rebuild dams
8. In the Rocky Mountains, BC
- beaver ponds have created acres of wetlands
- pond offers protection for bird species
- habitat and breeding grounds for a variety of small animals and birds
- pond allows animals to feed and drink
- pond protects animals from wolves and bears
9. Nevada Desert, US
- 20 years ago the Suzy Creek area was a desert ecosystem
- cattle had over grazed and there had been drought for many years
- surface and ground water had dried up
- summer temperatures reached to 100 degrees and further dried out the soil
- beavers were introduced to the area
- beavers built a dam (damming the small creek) and lodge
- the dam allowed the creek to expand
- created a large pond ecosystem
- overall water level rose as water was stored in the pond
- surface and ground water recovered
- created a grassland that hadn't been there for 20 years
- native plant species started to return
- by bringing beavers into a desert habitat, the beavers changed the ecosystem to a grassland/wetland habitat
BEAVERS ARE CALLED A KEYSTONE SPECIES FOR AN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM