KNOWLEDGE BASE

This paper found that beaver reintroduction can effectively rehabilitate freshwater habitats, benefiting fish populations through increased habitat heterogeneity, rearing spaces, and invertebrate production. Negative impacts include impeded fish movement, siltation of spawning areas, and low oxygen levels. Most experts view beavers as having an overall positive impact on fish populations, while some concerns relate to the movement of aquatic organisms in tributary streams and suitable spawning habitat availability.

After 150 years of local extinction, beavers have returned to Belgium. This study explores the impact of beaver dams on water flow rates. They find that beavers reduce flooding and help retain water in dry periods (which are expected to become more common as the climate changes). Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This book starts by exploring the Eurasian beaver's history with humans as well as other plant and animal species in its environment. It then proceeds through a number of case studies, including lots of research from Russia. Here, the benefit of long-term, state-sponsored ecological studies is acknowledged. The book also explores the complexity of beavers in Finland given the presence of the North American beaver. The editors hope the book will be helpful to wildlife managers and policymakers worldwide. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

A survey in eastern Poland found that conflicts often arose between wildlife and fish farms. Otters, cormorants, herons, and beavers were reported as the main culprits - beavers were implicated in one-fifth of cases. Farmers commonly used lethal methods to manage beavers, despite their protected status and the availability of compensation payments. The study highlights the need for better cooperation between conservation authorities and farmers to manage wildlife conflicts effectively.

This study looks at the skull shape of three different species, including Eurasian beavers, in Russia. Each of these species has been deliberately relocated, giving a unique opportunity to understand the drivers behind the variation and inheritance of features such as skull shapes. It explores, for example, the impact of geographic isolation on the diversity of skull shapes and the extent to which they are inherited by subsequent generations.