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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example

Published on: June 19, 2011

Beaver herbivory on aquatic plants.

John D Parker¹, Christopher C Caudill, Mark E Hay

¹School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. jdp52@cornell.edu

|December 21, 2006

Summary

North American beaver herbivory significantly impacts freshwater plant communities, reducing biomass and altering species composition. Beavers also protect native plants from invasive species and provide refuge for palatable plants.

Area of Science:

Aquatic ecology
Freshwater plant community dynamics
Herbivore-plant interactions

Background:

Herbivore impacts are well-studied in marine and terrestrial systems but less so in benthic freshwater environments.
North American beavers (Castor canadensis) consume various plants, focusing on non-woody species in summer, with impacts often attributed to ecosystem engineering rather than direct herbivory.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the direct and indirect effects of North American beaver herbivory on herbaceous aquatic plant communities.
To quantify the impact of beaver herbivory on plant biomass, species composition, and the abundance of invasive species.

Main Methods:

Conducted a 2-year exclusion experiment in beaver wetlands, removing beavers from designated areas.
Performed field feeding assays to determine beaver plant preferences.

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Assessed plant biomass, species composition, and litter in exclusion and open-grazing areas.

Main Results:

Beaver herbivory reduced total aquatic plant biomass by 60% and plant litter by 75%.
Lizard's tail (Saururus cernuus) shifted from <5% to >50% of biomass in exclusions, indicating preferential grazing.
Beaver herbivory reduced invasive Myriophyllum aquaticum by ~90% and demonstrated that woolgrass tussocks provide an "associational refuge" for lizard's tail.

Conclusions:

Beaver herbivory exerts significant direct and indirect control over herbaceous aquatic plant populations and communities.
Beavers contribute to biotic resistance against invasive aquatic plants.
Woolgrass tussocks offer protection to palatable plants, highlighting indirect effects of herbivory and plant interactions.