|
|
|
Department of Biological Sciences |
|
Beaver Dam Independent Research Project |
|
Josh Manning |
|
|
|
Department of Biological Sciences |
|
Beaver Dam Independent Research Project |
|
Josh Manning |
|
|
For the last semester I have been studying beaver dams and their possible effects on thermal stratification. It is widely known that beavers build dams with mud, limbs and twigs across streams to slow the movement of the water, and that they build more than one dam in a series up and down the streams. The question I am trying to answer is whether or not beaver dams have a direct effect on the overall stream temperature. |
|
I expect that the water in between the dams will be warmer because it has been slowed down. Over the past three months I have been using equipment from the biology department to measure the dissolved oxygen levels and the water temperature above and below numerous beaver dams. |
 |
 |
I am interested in this because I spent a lot of time in my childhood fishing for trout, and I have always wondered if beaver dams do have an affect on freshwater ecosystems. Dr. Scott Walters help me design a study to look at part of the effects of beaver dams. It has been a great learning experience and I hope it will help me in the future. Dr. Walters has been a great help, and any student who works with him will come away from the experience a better student and person. |
|
Beaver dams are extremely strong. Josh walks out over them to take readings, and on this particular outing, so had a deer. This dam may be used as a crossing point for various animals. |
 |
 |
 |
