The influence of beaver activity on local fluvial processes in selected rivers on the Łowicz-Błonie Plain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/1427-9711.12.02Keywords:
beaver activity, lowland rivers, fluvial processes, Łowicz-Błonie PlainAbstract
In this article the influence of beavers activity on the fluvial processes in lowland rivers has been discussed. Beavers were introduced to the middle Rawka in 1983 and sites of their activity were found in the Bzura river in 1996. General zoological papers emphasise the fact that beavers live in burrows. Nowadays, beavers in Central Poland live mostly in lodges dug in high river banks. Detailed research has been conducted in selected sectors of lowland rivers on the Łowicz-Błonie Plain: in the regulated channel of big river (Bzura), meandering channel of a medium-size river (Rawka) and in the regulated channel of a small river (Igla). Beavers mostly influence fluvial processes and alter valley floors because they construct dams and thus create ponds in small valleys. In small rivers and valleys beaver activity results in retention of large volumes of water and produces a local rise of water level. In the case of large rivers the environment is transformed only locally in the immediate vicinity of the bank with lodges. Beaver activity in a meandering river is limited to slowing down the water-flow and weakening of lateral erosion – often only in a single river bend. At a different location beavers’ activity accelerated the cutting of a meander neck, cutting off of the bend and the creation of an oxbow lake. At a straight river, in favourable conditions, they may initiate the process of lateral erosion.
Downloads
References
Aszyk M., Kistowski M., 2002, Monitoring bobra w województwie pomorskim. Ekologiczne, sozologiczne i społeczne uwarunkowania rozmieszczenia gatunku w regionie. Monitoring of the beaver in the Pomorskie Province, Poland, Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Gdańsk‒Poznań, ss. 79.
Butler D.R., 1991, Beavers as Agents of Biogeomorphic Change, “Journal of Geography”, September/October, pp. 210‒217. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221349108979304
Czech A., 2000, Bóbr, Monografie Przyrodnicze, Wydawnictwo Lubelskiego Klubu Przyrodników, Świebodzin, ss. 99.
Czech A., Starzecka A., Bednarz T., 2000, Influence of beaver dams on metabolic activity of water microorganisms [in:] The European beaver in a New Millennium, Proceedings of the 2nd European Beaver Symposium, 27‒30 September 2000, Białowieża, Poland, pp. 144‒146.
Derwich A., Mróz I., 2008, Bóbr europejski Castor fiber L. 1785 jako czynnik wspomagania renaturyzacji siedlisk nad górnym Sanem, Studia i Materiały Centrum Edukacji Przyrodniczo-Leśnej, 10, 2 (18), s. 173‒183.
Gurnell A.M., 1998, The hydrogeomorphological effects of beaver dam-building activity, “Progress in Physical Geography”, 22, pp. 167‒189. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/030913339802200202
Kobojek E., 2000, Morfogeneza doliny Rawki. Morphological development of the Rawka River Valley, “Acta Geogr. Lodz.”, 77, ss. 157.
Kobojek E., 2004, Środowiskowe skutki melioracji i regulacji rzek w dolinie Bzury w okolicach Łowicza, „Acta Universitatis Lodziensis, Folia Geographica Physica”, 6, s. 31–46 http://hdl.handle.net/11089/2902
Kobojek E., 2005, Środowiskowe skutki reintrodukcji bobra (Castor fiber) w dolinie Rawki, „Przegląd Geograficzny”, 77, 3, s. 383‒396.
Kobojek E., 2009, Naturalne uwarunkowania różnych reakcji rzek nizinnych na antropopresję na przykładzie środkowej Bzury i jej dopływów, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, Łódź, ss. 203.
Kożuchowski K., 1985, Zmienność opadów atmosferycznych w Polsce w stuleciu 1881‒1980, “Acta Geogr. Lodz.”, 48, ss. 158.
Lamsodis R., 2000, Beavers castor fiber and the consequences of their activities in drainage channels [in:] The European beaver in a New Millenium, Proceedings of the 2nd European Beaver Symposium, Białowieża, Poland, pp.128‒141.
Markowski J., Wojciechowski Z., 2002, Fauna. Kręgowce [w:] Jakubowska-Gabara J. i Markowski J., (red.), Bolimowski Park Krajobrazowy, Monografia przyrodnicza, Regionalne Centrum Edukacji Ekologicznej, Łódź, s. 74‒88.
Naiman R.J., Johnston C.A., Kelly J.C., 1988, Alteration of North American Streams by Beaver, “BioScience” 38 (11), pp. 755‒762. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1310784
Naiman R.J., Melillo J.M., Hobbie J.E., 1986, Ecosystem alteation of boreal forest streams by beaver (Castor canadensis), “Ecology”, 67, 5, pp. 1254‒1269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1938681
Nolet B.A., Baveco J.M., 1996, Development and viability of a translocated beaver Castor fiber: Population in the Netherlands, “Biological Conservation”, 75, pp. 125‒137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(95)00063-1
Nolet B.A., Rosell F., 1998, Comeback of the beaver Castor fiber: An overview of old and new conservation problems, “Biological Conservation”, 83, 2, pp. 165‒173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00066-9
Rosell F., Parker H., 1996, The beaver's (Castor spp.) role in forest ecology: a key species returns, “Fauna”, 49, pp. 192‒211.
Rosell F., Bozser O., Collen P., Parker H., 2005, Ecological impact of beavers Castor fiber and Castor canadensis and their ability to modify ecosystems, “Mammal Review”, 35, pp. 248‒276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2005.00067.x
Stopka R., 2011, Geomorfologiczne skutki działalności bobra europejskiego Castor fiber w dolinie górnego Sanu, „Roczniki Bieszczadzkie”, 19, s. 319‒334.
Szpikowska G., Szpikowski J., 2012, Właściwości fizykochemiczne wód rozlewisk bobrowych w dolinie Kłudy (górna Parsęta), Monitoring Środowiska Przyrodni-czego, 13, s. 95‒102.
Twardowski T., Kasperczak B., 1992, Reintrodukcja bobra Castor fiber w województwie skierniewickim, „Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą”, 2, s. 105‒109.
Witt A., 2000, Wpływ stawów bobrowych na rozwinięcie małych koryt rzecznych w Wielkopolsce północnej [w:] Dorobek i pozycja polskiej geomorfologii u progu XXI wieku, V Zjazd Geomorfologów Polskich, Wydawnictwo UMK, Toruń, s. 142‒143.
Żurowski W., 1979, Preliminary Results of European Beaver Reintroduction in the Tributary Streams of the Vistula River, “Acta Theriologica”, 24, 7, pp. 85‒91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4098/AT.arch.79-9
Żurowski W., 1988, Situation of the European Beaver in the Vistula River watershed in North-East Poland. Investigations on Beavers, Bern, 7, pp. 7‒14.
Żurowski W., 1992, Building activity of beavers, “Acta Teriologica”, 37, 4, pp. 403‒411. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4098/AT.arch.92-41
Żurowski W., Kasperczyk B., 1986, Characteristics of the European beaver population in the Suwalski lakeland, “Acta Theriologica”, 31, 3, pp. 311‒325. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4098/AT.arch.86-29
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
