KNOWLEDGE BASE

In the USA, researchers explored how beavers generate ecological 'disturbances' outside of the dam itself. Willow cuttings from beavers' chewing often ended up downstream, where they sprouted, trapped sediment, and stabilised riverbanks. The cycle of dam building and abandonment was shown to have been shaping the landscape for thousands of years, affecting habitat diversity and floodplain carbon storage.

Within their ecosystems, mammals play a range of vital roles such as nutrient cycling, pollination, and habitat creation. Their decline threatens the wellbeing of humans and non-humans. In this text, North American beavers are cited as one example of an ecosystem engineer, alongside apex predators and burrowing mammals. The text goes on to discuss how the understanding of mammals has evolved and should be used to support their protection and conservation.

Kettle lakes, formed by melting glacial ice, are common across northern USA, serving as natural wells with no significant streams. This book explores their cultural and ecological significance, and the threats they face as fragile ecosystems. During the colonial era, kettle lakes were prized for the beaver pelts that could be sourced from them. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

Researchers examined how North American beavers choose their habitats: both within a specific area, and how they choose that area within a broader landscape. They found that, at all scales, food availability was a big influence in where they settle. There were some subtle differences at the different scales.

For this conference, scientists explored how human activities, such as tourism and transport, affect the settlement of beavers in the Litovelské Pomoraví area of Czech Republic. The results showed that beavers avoided human settlements, busy roads, and railways, but were largely undisturbed by hiking trails, cycle routes, or rarely-used forest roads. The beavers' nocturnal behaviour was also mentioned as a possible factor, given that beavers will most often move around when tourism activity is lower.