Science database
KNOWLEDGE BASE
We have gathered decades of scientific research from Great Britain, continental Europe and North America to share with people interested in diving deeper into the world of beavers.
This list of resources is being constantly amended and updated.
Showing 774 articles
Quantification of the Response of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) to Habitat Modification by Reintroduced Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber): Implications for River Management in Great Britain
Published by: University of Southampton
1st January 2024
This thesis described the first ever investigation of how Eurasian beavers' dams affect brown trout in a British context. Results showed that, in this area of Scotland, a beaver-modified stream supported larger trout with more diverse ages compared to a control stream without beavers. Beaver dams did not hinder fish passage when there was lots of water but may cause delays in times of low flow. The study also highlighted how beaver dams can change the distribution of predators - in this case, the heron.
First detection of polyomavirus from samples of reintroduced Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Hungary
Published by: Magyar Állatorvosok Lapja
1st January 2024
Scientists in Hungary identified a new polyomavirus (PyV) in two Eurasian beavers, marking the first global discovery of PyV in these animals. This virus was likely a new species, although further research was needed to understand its impact on beaver health. Please note, this resource is not open-access.
The Effect of the Dam-building Activity of the Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) on Changes in the Soil Moisture Conditions and Vegetation Associations of the Beaver Meadows in the Valley of Ablánc-stream
Published by: Chemical Engineering Transactions
30th December 2023
Researchers characterised the soil moisture and plant communities present in the beaver meadows of the Ablánc stream, Hungary. The results showed that the beavers' dams created conditions of permanent flooding and, so, very high soil moisture levels, supporting the presence of various water-dependent plant species. This demonstrated beavers' ecosystem engineering capabilities.
A bibliometric literature review in beaver management: when does the beaver become a resource?
Published by: Mammal Review
9th December 2023
In this paper, researchers used bibliometric analysis to examine the existing body of research relating to beavers. The researchers identified a skew towards research in the USA, UK, and Canada, and a growing interest in research relating to beaver population dynamics. However, only a small portion of studies explicitly focused on beaver-related ecosystem restoration. The review made recommendations of what research was needed to guide conservation and restoration efforts going forward, suggesting that holistic "socio-ecological management models" were needed, including early public engagement.
Ecosystem engineers enter the city: Habitat characteristics influencing the distribution of Eurasian beavers Castor fiber in a human-transformed landscape
Published by: Landscape and Urban Planning
1st December 2023
In Poland, researchers sought to work out how Eurasian beavers feel about urban environments. They found that, at a landscape scale, Eurasian beavers generally prefer to avoid such areas. However, 13% of the beaver sites they studied were in the most densely-populated regions, so beavers can clearly adapt to the relatively small patches of habitat present in urban environments. As beavers continue to expand across Europe, the authors suggested that studies like this will be important to understand and manage potential human-beaver conflicts in urban areas. Please note, this resource is not open-access.