Beaver Wetland Buffers as Ecosystem-Based Tools for Sustainable Water Management and Lead (Pb) Risk Control

Olgirda Belova, Kateryna Fastovetska (), Egidijus Vigricas, Gintautas Urbaitis and Alvyra Slepetiene
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Olgirda Belova: Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, LT-58344 Akademija, Lithuania
Kateryna Fastovetska: Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, LT-58344 Akademija, Lithuania
Egidijus Vigricas: Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, LT-58344 Akademija, Lithuania
Gintautas Urbaitis: Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, LT-58344 Akademija, Lithuania
Alvyra Slepetiene: Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, LT-58344 Akademija, Lithuania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: Beaver dam–pond systems reshape the hydrology of lowland landscapes by slowing water flow and trapping sediments, thereby reducing the movement of pollutants. This study examined how such beaver-engineered wetlands can naturally filter and signal contamination risks associated with lead (Pb). We combined data from three matrices—bottom sediments, riparian vegetation, and non-invasively collected beaver fur—across three Lithuanian sites (2022–2024). Previously published datasets on plants and sediments were complemented with new information from beaver fur to explore seasonal and age-related effects as well as differences inside and outside dam zones. Lead levels were consistently higher in sediments than in plants, while beaver fur reflected variable, site-specific exposures. These results show that beaver activity contributes to the capture and redistribution of sediment-bound Pb in wetland buffers. The approach demonstrates how beaver habitats can serve as low-cost, nature-based sentinels for pollutant monitoring. Using beaver fur as a non-invasive bioindicator and managing dam stability can improve the ecological and policy relevance of buffer zones. Overall, the findings support the integration of beaver-engineered wetlands into environmental management and EU water policy, contributing to SDG 6 goals for clean water and sustainable wetland use.

Keywords: wetlands; lead (Pb); sediments; vegetation; beaver fur; sustainable water management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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