Activity 2.3.1 - Ranchers, Anglers, and Beavers

Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet

My blog posting is available online at:

1. Exploratory                                   

Riparian areas are where land and water coexist next to each other. The biodiversity around these areas can be altered "by stressors such as drought, wildfire, and historical grazing practices from a non-functioning designation" (Fesenmyer, 2016, para. 2). The Bureau of Land Management studies these riparian areas to see how the conditions or damages in the streams or vegetation are. They have made the conclusion that changes grazing techniques helped with the recovery of riparian biodiversity and brought in beavers that also help out the ecosystem for riparian areas. 

2. Diagnostic                                     

The reason for the PFC (Proper Functioning Condition) is to evaluate how the riparian area is affected by imperfect grazing practices. Before, the grazing of cattle used to leave the area inhabited. It did not let the land recover for the cattle would return every year. "Conservation-oriented grazing approaches are increasingly valued for their ability to allow vegetation to establish and recover from grazing, especially in riparian zones" (Fesenmyer, 2016, para. 5). If the land was to never recover the riparian ecosystem could drastically change. The river or water source could shrink and vegetation could slowly stop growing which leads to a barren area in which was home to biodiversity. Thanks to the studies of correcting the grazing techniques many riparian plants have been recovered and an expansion of water. 

3. Cause and Effect                         

"The study shows to get comparable gains in vegetation at sites with hot season grazing and without beaver, you would have to move a site 800 feet up in elevation or increase annual precipitation by almost 10 inches, nearly doubling the average annual precipitation at some sites" (Fesenmyer, 2016, para. 12). Although, the new grazing techniques have brought back an abundance of developed biodiversity at these riparian areas the beavers are also making such significant improvements to the areas. Without the beavers making dams there would be less enhancement to vegetation and restoration. 

4. Priority                                           

We are able to read out that the important issue here is the preservation of these areas. Riparian biodiversity has been good to the people around the area, especially for water use and food resources. Without the studies on how to make sure the area stays in good condition by grazing techniques there would be a weak ecosystem that causes droughts and wildfires. The streams would diminish which means no fish. These studies are a part of a great system to keep our ecosystems going in the right direction. 

5. Application                                    

To learn about exactly why certain environments are not doing so well and what are the causes of that. In environmental science, we get to study the ecology of an area. What are the stressors and what can we do to reverse those effects. This affects us because if we were to rely on a stream around a riparian area for water and food sources we would want to know what exactly can cause it to become weakened. What could we do to help out certain biodiversity areas to become stronger? 

6. Critical                                           

This changed my thinking by making me realized how much hard work it takes to figure out a problem for an environment. To figure out different theories and causes and effects could take years to do. Although it is such a rewarding feeling to see you can help change an ecosystem for the better. I never realized how cattle grazing could actually have a negative effect on certain areas. I learned that to control the main component of a certain piece of study as in the cattle grazing technique it can reinforce other aspects like the beaver to strengthen the outcome even more. 

Work Cited

Fesenmyer, K. (2016). Restoring streamside vegetation using grazing and beavers. Trout Unlimited. Retrieved from https://www.tu.org/blog-posts/restoring-streamside-vegetation-using-grazing-and-beavers?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=informz