Science database
KNOWLEDGE BASE
We have gathered decades of scientific research from Great Britain, continental Europe and North America to share with people interested in diving deeper into the world of beavers.
This list of resources is being constantly amended and updated.
Showing 774 articles
Contemporary adaptation of anthropogenically-transformed river valleys by European beavers Castor fiber (examples from Poland’s Opole Plain and Woźniki-Wieluń Upland)
Published by: Polish Geographical Review
1st January 2017
In this unique study, scientists monitored the activity of Eurasian beavers which had been reintroduced to Polish post-industrial landscapes containing abandoned millraces, ponds, and culverts. Results showed that the beavers, whilst more active in the tributaries than the main rivers, had transformed around a third of the study area's overall river length. Adaptations included 'restoring' abandoned anthropogenic ponds and making use of anthropogenic millrace channels. Please note, the full article is mostly written in Polish, although the abstract and some diagram annotations are available in English.
Leptin plasma concentrations, leptin gene expression, and protein localisation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-adrenal axes of the European beaver (Castor fiber)
Published by: Theriogenology
1st January 2017
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.
Orexin receptor expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes of free-living European beavers (Castor fiber L.) in different periods of the reproductive cycle
Published by: General and Comparative Endocrinology
1st January 2017
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.
Habitat selection of scent mounts made by Castor fiber birulai in spring and autumn
Published by: Chinese Journal of Ecology
1st January 2017
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.
Alteration of hydrogeomorphic processes by invasive beavers in southern South America
Published by: Science of the Total Environment
1st January 2017
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.