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
Management by Assertion: Beavers and Songbirds at Lake Skinner (Riverside County, California)
Published by: Environmental Management
1st February 2007
This text discusses the management of an ecological reserve in California, USA. In this case, beavers were suspected of harming endangered songbirds and facilitating an invasive plant. This suspicion was not based in scientific evidence and, indeed, the scientific evidence suggested that the opposite was true. Nevertheless, a programme was started which permitted beavers' 'removal,' leading to unnecessary beaver deaths. The text highlights the importance of using scientific evidence for decision-making in reserve management.
Cladocerans under conditions of small river damming by man and beavers
Published by: Russian Journal of Ecology
1st February 2007
Cladocerans are small, freshwater crustaceans which fish feed on. This study shows that beaver ponds support a greater diversity and abundance of these animals than free-flowing riverwater or water behind man-made dams. Females of a specific cladoceran species produced more offspring in beaver pond water than in river water. The authors note that this is not only due to how fast the water is flowing but also nutrients in the water.
Wolf reintroduction to Scotland: public attitudes and consequences for red deer management
Published by: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
30th January 2007
In Scotland, there is a debate about reintroducing wolves to control red deer populations which impact forests and farming. Simulations suggest wolf reintroduction could benefit conservation by reducing deer numbers and cutting the costs of deer control. Public opinion generally supports wolf reintroduction, although farmers have concerns. A small proportion of respondents to the survey said they preferred the idea of re-introducing other species such as beavers rather than wolves.
The Contribution of Headwater Streams to Biodiversity in River Networks
Published by: Journal of the American Water Resources Association
26th January 2007
This article sets out the importance of headwater streams (those near the source) for river biodiversity. The article mentions that beavers may frequent headwater streams but takes a much more general angle overall. They look at three headwater streams in the USA and highlight that over 290 species exist there.
Skulls of Neolithic Eurasian Beavers (Castor fiber L.) in Comparison with Skulls of Contemporary Beavers from Natural Biotopes of Wielkopolska Region (Poland)
Published by: Polish Journal of Environmental Studies
1st January 2007
This paper compared skulls of 2 ancient beavers with those of modern beavers in Poland. It found that ancient beavers had notably larger skulls than modern beavers of the same age. This is precisely set out by measuring different parts of the skull, including a part called the sagittal crest. Tables 3 and 4 set out these results in comparison to modern beavers.