Beaver roles in nutrient cycling

Beavers build dams, which slow down or block running water to create ponds and wetland areas. Because water flow is slowed, any nutrient-rich sediment or soil that is carried in it will trapped in the pond (Puttock et al, 2017). These nutrients will be added to the wetland ecosystem because they will be taken up from the soil by plants in and around the pond, which will then be eaten by fish and terrestrial herbivores. In addition to recycling nutrients through the ecosystem via excretion, these organisms may also be eaten by carnivores, which will also add to the cycling of nutrients.