KNOWLEDGE BASE

The North American beaver was introduced to southern Patagonia in 1946. This study looks at their impact in Argentina. Beavers here had built dams with local trees and sediment, damaged local peatland ecosystems, and enabled invasive species. The impact on peatlands, in particular, was new to research at this time - restoration plans should be aware of all of these impacts. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This study examined how the production of the hormone leptin in Eurasian beavers varied by sex and by time of year. The results showed that leptin was found in each of the beaver tissues tested, with patterns of leptin production across the reproductive cycle varying by sex. This indicated that leptin has a role in controlling breeding hormones at different stages of the reproductive cycle for beavers. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

In this paper, scientists tested how much a tiny messenger molecule called orexin was produced in Eurasian beavers at different reproductive stages and for different sexes. Receptors for this messenger molecule were found in lots of different beaver organs and varied across the seasons, especially in two organs: the hypothalamus and gonads. These findings suggest that orexins may play a role in regulating reproductive activity in beavers. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This study examined habitat selection by the rare Eurasian beaver subspecies, Castor fiber birulai, in a beaver reserve in Xinjiang, China. The text assessed the size and location of beavers' scent mounds in spring and autumn, reporting that beavers preferred to place the mounds near large trees, river edges, and away from human disturbance, offering guidance for conservation efforts. Please note, this text is mostly written in (Simplified) Chinese.

Researchers compared the meat composition of young and mature beavers in Poland, where beaver hunting is authorised across the winter months. This article described the differences in protein and fat content, and how these and other properties were influenced by the beaver's age and meat storage. Storage affected the meat's properties more than age, improving tenderness and water retention. Please note, this resource is not open-access.