Food:
* Bark and twigs: Their primary food source. They prefer softwood trees like aspen, willow, and birch, but will also eat hardwoods like maple and oak in winter.
* Leaves and buds: Especially in the spring and summer, they supplement their diet with leaves and buds for added nutrition.
* Aquatic plants: They may eat water lilies, cattails, and other aquatic plants, especially in areas with limited access to trees.
Shelter and Building Materials:
* Trees: For building their dams and lodges, beavers need trees, especially larger ones. They use their powerful teeth to gnaw down trees and then drag them to their dam construction site.
* Branches and twigs: Beavers use these for the structural framework of their lodges and dams.
* Mud and rocks: They use these materials to seal and stabilize their structures.
Habitat:
* Wetlands and forests: Beavers thrive in areas with abundant trees and water sources, creating wetland habitats that benefit a variety of other animals and plants. Their dams create ponds that provide habitat for fish, amphibians, waterfowl, and other wildlife.
* Plant diversity: By felling trees, beavers create openings that allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, promoting the growth of other plant species and increasing plant diversity.
Other benefits:
* Control of erosion: Beaver dams help slow down water flow, reducing erosion and improving soil quality.
* Water storage: Dams create ponds that hold water, benefiting wildlife and providing a source of water for agriculture.
* Nutrient cycling: Beaver ponds act as natural filters, removing pollutants and improving water quality.
In essence, beavers are ecosystem engineers, shaping their environment in ways that benefit themselves and other species. Their dependence on plants is crucial for their survival and has a profound impact on the ecosystems they inhabit.