An ecosystem engineer is an animal that creates, significantly changes, maintains or destroys a habitat. Water voles are known as ecosystem engineers because the soil they create their homes with dries out as they burrow, which allows a more diverse range of plants to grow within the vicinity.
Every organism influences the environment they live in, even if it’s only on a small scale, but the impact of ecosystem engineers is so great that they become responsible for maintaining the health and stability of the environment they are living in.
Alongside water voles, beavers are another well-known example of ecosystem engineers, the dams they build create beaver ponds which provide a habitat for a range of different species. Although the changes the beaver make to the ecosystem are for its own survival, their impact is beneficial to the wider wetland ecosystem too.
Where Do Water Voles Live?
Water voles typically live close to wetlands, they prefer steep or stepped bank profiles with soft soil that they can burrow into and create nest chambers above the water table. They can also be found in lowland areas like overgrown field drains, canals, ditch systems, small backwaters and small slow-flowing burns.
Why is the Water Vole Important to the Ecosystem?
Water voles are crucial to diverse, thriving wetland ecosystems as many of their actions create the conditions other animals and plants need to thrive.
By burrowing and changing the soil condition, the area becomes hospitable to a wider range of wildflowers and grasses, which attract bumblebees, moths and butterflies. These insects then become a source of food for insect-eating birds and bats.
As herbivores, water voles help to control vegetation growth as well, which makes room for more diverse plant life to grow around the water banks they live beside.
As well as this, the complex underground structures water voles create can also provide refuge to various other small mammals, such as reptiles, amphibians and insects.
East Anglia Water Vole Surveys
The team at Greenlight Environmental Consultancy have extensive experience carrying out water vole surveys and assisting with mitigation and enhancement measures across the East of England.
Our comprehensive understanding of the species, surveys and strategies means you can rest assured that your development won’t negatively impact the local biodiversity.
If you’re interested in learning more about water vole surveys, or any of our other services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation chat.
