KNOWLEDGE BASE

This paper explored the potential location of Mabila, a Native American town which existed until the 1500s. An area of modern-day Alabama called the Black Prairie had largely been discounted from consideration: its modern-day aridity made it difficult to conceive how the town could have grown enough corn to sustain its population. However, this paper proposed that the North American beaver may have played an overlooked role: beavers' dam-building may have created the soil conditions necessary for sustaining a major indigenous settlement. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This research builds on a previous meta-analysis to reveal three contrasting perspectives amongst anglers, beaver-accepting, beaver-apprehensive and managed-beaver. These each have different values of high important, from potential biodiversity and ecosystem benefits, to the tradition and health benefits of fishing while beaver reintroduction could affect the ability of fishing to continue and finally a hybrid of these values provided that there is the ability to manage potential negative impacts respectively.

This paper presented a cost-effective, replicable, and standardised method for mapping beavers' distribution and environmental impacts. The method - which uses field signs - was tested in the Wye and the Tayside catchments. These tests illustrated how the method works. The results of the method can be used to guide beaver management and to address potential conflicts.

In the Czech Republic, beavers now live in agricultural landscapes as well as forested landscapes. This study sought to understand beavers' impact on farming production. Beavers liked eating oilseed rape mostly but also grazed on wheat and barley. The authors calculate that the damage is worth around €20–30 per beaver per year: a "relatively insignificant" impact on agriculture but important to beavers' survival in such a different landscape.

For this article, scientists explored how beavers use invasive woody species in 20 floodplain forest sites in Hungary. The beavers did use invasive species but tended to slightly prefer native species. Nevertheless, the findings suggested that beavers may promote the spread of invasive species, highlighting potential conflicts in conservation efforts. The authors noted that this is an issue rarely mentioned in the beaver literature, and recommended a complex management approach for floodplain ecosystems as a way forward.