KNOWLEDGE BASE

In this article, scientists write about the finding that Eurasian beavers' food choices in Poland are influenced by their habitat and the availability of different tree species. In lowlands, they preferred willow and poplar species. In the highlands, they favoured hazel and rowan due to limited willow and poplar availability. Beavers in highlands also had to travel further for food and ended up cutting larger trees.

This study assessed a river basin in coastal Oregon, USA, for sites which may be suitable beaver habitats. The aim was to inform river restoration efforts and increase habitat for local salmon. The study tested a computer model, finding some helpful results, but the authors also noted that the model didn't fully capture all aspects that influence whether a beaver will likely settle down in a specific area.

Researchers studied the habitat preferences of Eurasian beavers in northern Poland. Beavers favoured areas with plenty of woody plants and avoided human-modified habitats such as agricultural land. They also seemed to plonk their homes right in the middle of areas with especially high concentrations of woody plants. Lots of different factors are shown to come into play when beavers choose where to build their lodges.

The rise in beaver populations globally has led to the creation of new wetland habitats. This paper summarises how this impacts on the carbon cycle and, potentially, climate change. Beaver ponds can increase carbon storage and increase greenhouse gas emissions and, at the moment, it's impossible to say what the net effect is. Wetland ecosystems change constantly so a lot more research is needed to understand the full impact. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

In the USA, there is less large wood in rivers than there used to be. This is due to beaver trapping and logging, amongst other things. Reduced large wood has led to a loss of habitat complexity, including pool habitats that support larger trout populations. Recovery from such habitat loss may takes decades or centuries.