KNOWLEDGE BASE

This technical genetics study examined gene activation in Eurasian beavers. Specifically, it looked at genes related to the placenta during pregancies. 124 genes were identified which were activated in different ways depending on whether beavers were carrying twins or triplets. Understanding these genes can aid in beaver conservation efforts. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This article described the nutritional profile of Eurasian beaver meat, testing meat from beavers in Poland. The findings were that beaver meat was rich in protein, essential amino acids, and healthy fats. It also had high iron, zinc, and copper levels, which the authors suggested may mean that it is a favourable meat for human health. The text also briefly described the state of game hunting - and the extent to which beavers are hunted for food - across Europe, including in Poland.

This text reports on the process undertaken to create the first decoded genome of a North American beaver. The text explains the different technologies it used. The output was deemed to be useful for future beaver and broader genetic research. It also revealed a lot of genes related to tooth development and arrangement, which makes sense for beavers!

In France, archaeologists found beaver bones with fascinating implications. The bones had cut-marks indicating meat removal and skinning. This shows that Homo erectus was eating beavers during the Ice Age - while this seems like it may have been opportunistic, such bones were found on multiple levels of the cave system, suggesting it wasn't that rare. This highlights the varied meat resources used by our human ancestors beyond large mammals. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This study followed beavers across 3 Norwegian rivers for 18 years to understand when they left home. Only 9% of beavers never left their birth family, with most leaving at 3.5 years old and some only at 7 years old. When their same-sex parent was older, young beavers tended to delay their dispersal, possibly to take over the territory. Lower population density surrounding the birth home made beavers more likely to disperse when they're younger.