Wandering for beavers in Scotland

Weather on the day of field survey: Morning was freezing with temperature 0°C, day was quite warm with 15 °C to 20 °C and it was showering in the evening.

Introduction

Hurray!!! it's time to visit Scotland. We went to the Beaver's reintroduction site near the City of Dundee in order to understand the interaction of Beavers with ecosystem and hydrology. Initially, I had very limited knowledge about Beavers and their importance. As a result of this visit, now I got chance to know Beavers and their role in the ecosystem of reintroduction site.

Flooded area in study site 1

Firstly, let us talk about Beavers. Beavers are small rodents native to the UK. They play significant role in and around their habitat ecosystem. They modify their surroundings through coppicing, feeding and in some cases they create dams.  Eventually, Beavers help improve water quality and create ponds and wetlands. These modified areas attract other species of fauna and hence help to maintain food chain. Above-mentioned roles of the Beavers make them 'keystone' species.

Beavers traces 

Despite abundant until the end of 16^th century, hunting led Beavers to the verge of extinction during later periods. Its only in recent years when many organizations in the UK started reintroduction programs of the Beavers considering their significant role in ecology. The pioneer step is already initiated in Scotland near Dundee. Like many other researchers, our visit to that site was to study various effects of Beaver reintroduction. Our primary aim was to collect samples and record PH, conductivity, carbon, redox, and biodiversity. This reintroduction project of Beavers is becoming productive and gaining popularity in Europe.

Though this whole trip was for three days, only second day was assigned for the study purpose and remaining days were for return journey.

The field survey

The morning of the filed survey day was interesting, as we had to calibrate pH and conductivity meter and rest of the kit very early in the morning. After reaching to the site, we formed groups to collect samples from the area. We formed 3 groups including both graduate and undergraduate students. Then the whole study area was divided into 4 sites and within each site 3 sample area–upland area, middle land area and low land area.  To enhance accuracy of our work we decided to take 5 replicate from each areas.

Juncus effusus

Site 1: This site was near Beaver’s lodge, where traces of Beaver activities including chopped big trees, creation of wetland and formation of dams were visible.  In this site, my group was engaged in the collection of samples from lowland area (wetland).  Despite waterlogged, floral diversity was rich in the area such as Juncus, Duckweed, Hypnum moss (Hypnum cupressiforme), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Creeping soft grass (Holcus mollis), Dryopteris filix-mas (Fern), Broom moss (Dicranum scoparium), Campylopus introflexus (Moss), Silky forklet-moss (Dicranella heteromalla), Common pincushion (Dicranoweisiacirrata), Toothed Streak-moss (Rhabdoweisia crispata), Woodland ragwort (Senecio sylvaticus) and Creeping bentgrass (Agrostisstolonifera). But few toads and frogs were representing faunal diversity in the area.

Unfortunately, I was not enjoying the sample collection due to two reasons. Firstly, as a result of low temperature, soil in the site was frozen making very tough to dig into the soil. Secondly, webs of dense Juncus roots were also increasing the problem. In 2 hours, however, we managed to collect samples and measured pH, conductivity, redox, GPS, carbon dioxide, temperature of soil and biomass estimation.

Adjacent to site 2

Site 2: This site was at 5 minutes walking distance from the first site. This site was also showing influence of Beavers activities, but less severe than the Site 1. Probably, no presence of large trees was the reason behind less Beaver activities. However, we have to wait for the Lab analysis of the samples to extract conclusion of the reasons of less influence of Beavers.  Collection of the sample and data for pH, conductivity, GPS, carbon dioxide, temperature of soil and biomass estimation was quite easy as compared to the Site 1 since weather was quite pleasant at that time.

Stream flow in site 3

Site 3: After walking 5 minutes, we reached to the Site 3 nearby the human constructed dam on the stream. We collected our samples from the farm quickly and very easily. We also had an opportunity to meet a farmer, who told short story about that area and suggested us to collect samples from another site 4.

 Students busy while sampling
 at Site 4

Site 4: This site was quite far from other sites and lying along a stream.  We decided to collect samples from both sides of the stream i.e. field and grassland.  Before sampling, distance was measured equally of 15 m on both sides. The aim was to collect samples from this site, as a model site where beavers didn’t seems to be active.

Being my first overnight field visit, this trip provided opportunity to know my colleagues closely outside of the classroom. Stay in the Scotland was very enjoyable despite many hours of bus ride.