The Role of Beaver Ponds in Aquatic Ecosystems Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage
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Date
2020-12
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is caused when water runs over sulfur-rich rocks that have been exposed during mining activity, causing low pH and high metal contamination in nearby waterways. AMD is an issue affecting aquatic ecosystems worldwide, and current remediation methods are costly and have varying degrees of effectiveness. Beaver ponds have been shown to have mitigating effects on landscapes impacted by acid rain, but little is known about their impacts on aquatic ecosystems affected by AMD. This study found that as a stream in Zanesville, Ohio flowed through a series of beaver ponds, several components of water quality improved. Throughout the stream, pH increased, metal concentrations decreased, conductivity decreased, and leaf decomposition increased. If beaver ponds are capable of mitigating effects of AMD, they could be practical tools for ecosystem restoration across the world. The reintroduction of beavers into landscapes affected by AMD could be less costly than current methods. This project found a preliminary correlation between beaver ponds and improving water quality in AMD streams, while further investigation is needed to see if beaver ponds can restore aquatic ecosystem functioning.
Description
Best Student Presentation - Water Management Association of Ohio 2020 Conference
Keywords
acid mine drainage, beaver, water chemistry, remediation