RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BEAVERS, ECOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY IN SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING

摘要

A primary goal of beaver management in southeast Wyoming is alteration of riparian communities to increase fishery production, although beaver presence has other beneficial impacts. Beaver ponds raise the local water table, expand riparian zones, delay spring runoff, dampen flood events, allow a more constant, predictable flow of water from high elevation streams and increase production of forage for ungulates. Allowing beavers to naturally alter riparian areas in a semi-controlled manner has the potential to save management agencies time and money that would otherwise be spent on water and habitat improvement projects. This research aims to determine the role beavers have played in the alteration of water and vegetation dynamics on the Pole Mountain Recreation Area of the Medicine Bow National Forest in southeastern Wyoming. We are exploiting long-term records since extensive habitat and hydrologic research has been conducted in this area from the late 1950s to the present day. We have developed tools to exploit NAIP imagery with a semi-autonomous landcover model to determine and analyze changes over time and correlate effects of beaver occupancy along stream reaches. Our research combines knowledge of vegetation alterations, beaver pond locations and geomorphic characteristics to determine the spatio-temporal relationship between beavers, vegetation and water resources. This research will allow us to provide managers with recommendations for managing beavers in a way which results in predictable and reliable ecological outcomes.