Beaver —
Ecosystem Engineer

Beavers are large, semi-aquatic rodents found in the Northern Hemisphere. They are known for their unique ability to modify their environment by building dams and are often referred to as ecosystem engineers.

Beavers are the second-largest living rodents, after capybaras.

There are two extant species:

• the North American beaver
• the Eurasian beaver

They are native to North America, Europe, and Asia.

Beavers are recognised as both a 'keystone species' and 'ecosystem engineers' because of the way they improve their landscapes by building dams.

• Keystone species – species that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem
• Ecosystem engineers – organisms that modify their physical environment

Role of Beaver Dams:

IUCN Red List: Least Concern.