Ecosystem of a Porcupine

Habitat

• The ecosystem of a porcupine tends to be deciduous, coniferous or mixed forests. In the western area of the United States they may be found in shrub areas. Their range extends over most of Canada, the United States and Northern Mexico, although they are not found in the extreme southeastern states of the U.S. They make dens under large rocks or in hollow trees. They can also be found in caves or rocky ledges.

The Ecosystem Engineer

• The porcupine provides positive benefits to its ecosystem. Porcupines dig into the ground in search of food, leaving behind small pits in the earth. These pits trap seeds, water and organic material that create ideal conditions for various types of plants to grow. This increases the species' richness and diversity of an ecosystem.

Protect Bulb Species

• The porcupine is credited for protecting many bulb species of plants that may be endangered otherwise. Although porcupines eat bulbs as a central part of their diet, the effects of the soil disturbance they cause can prevent dominate plants from becoming established and forcing out more vulnerable species. The digging sites favor the establishment of new species and produce better conditions for plants that reproduce vegetatively, as the soil is looser and not crowded with later-stage species.

Water Conservation

• The porcupine also positively affects the water conservation of an ecosystem. The pits left behind from their foraging behavior collect runoff water and moisture. This prevents rainwater from returning to streams and increases the moisture content in soil. This allows plant species to grow in areas in which the soil would generally be too dry to sustain them. The loose organic material these pits gather are also more absorbent, collecting more water than undisturbed soil.