KNOWLEDGE BASE

Sometimes, the same species can be both a scavenger and predator. This study tested how small mammals responded to the risk of predation near carcasses, including the carcass of a beaver. Perhaps, sensing that a scavenger may be nearby, they avoid the area to avoid getting eaten? In the end, the study found mixed results - some mammals showed increased caution, others foraged more.

This study explored how beavers in Canada influence a type of beetle which lives in dead wood. The results showed that beaver-modified areas had more beetle activity and reproduction. These beetles build holes in woods, and larger holes were more common in beaver areas. This complementary relationship shows that conservation plans can and should encapsulate all of these organisms.

In Finland, local people contribute to research by taking part in long-term surveys of beaver populations. This text reports on a citizen-science programme, which successfully monitored the dynamics of both Eurasian and North American beaver populations over almost 20 years. In this period, the Eurasian beaver populations increased while invasive North American beavers declined.

Scientists compared the genetic profile of beaver populations in the Czech Republic and Latvia, taking into account context such as current hunting regulations and historic population bottlenecks. The authors identified sub-populations of Eurasian beavers from different places in the Czech Republic and described the impact of hunting on beavers' genetic diversity in Latvia.

In this book chapter, the author describes how beavers create habitats for a variety of different species. In North America, birds such as herons, swans, and osprey benefit from the open water and dead wood. Wolves use abandoned lodges for dens. Moose and deer come to beaver ponds to cool off and get relief from biting insects. The text sets out connections to many other species including some amphibians and reptiles. Please note, this resource is not open-access.