KNOWLEDGE BASE

This article reports on a study of mayflies in beaver ponds. The researcher found that some ponds are better for mayflies than others. The influence of trout on this dynamic is reported on, and it's quite complex but essentially: when there are more trout, fewer mayflies grow.

Here, researchers report on an alternative design for live beaver traps. The old design could be risky for handlers, shutting unexpectedly. To improve safety, the trap's safety mechanism was moved outside the trap and separated from the trigger. This change was tested for 6 years with no accidents, making trapping safer for everyone involved. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This letter challenges the traditional patriarchal view of beavers in Canada as industrious, disciplined, and masculine. The letter notes that most North American and Eurasian beavers are intersex and that both genders participate equally in familial tasks, with very few exceptions. Since beavers cannot be distinguished externally, the traditional industrious beaver of the Canadian imaginary is as likely to be female as male! Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This article describes a new method for trying to assign an economic value to environmental benefits called the CV Market Stall. This method was test-run in a study exploring the views of people living around Aberdeen, Scotland. One of the topics discussed by participants was the proposed reintroduction of beavers to Scotland. The issue received majority support from participants and the paper also details the themes which emerged during the discussion, for and against the proposal.

Researchers discovered a new type of bacteria found in the carcass of a Eurasian beaver. They used genetic testing to confirm it was a new species within the Streptococcus genus. This discovery highlights the diversity of bacteria found in wildlife like beavers.