KNOWLEDGE BASE

This article describes the first known case of a Eurasian Beaver dying due to a collapsing burrow. The collapse was attributed to heavy rainfall and sandy soil. It was an adult male who had been radio tagged and had no external injuries.

This study analyses the genetic structure of 50 European beavers in a Russian river basin. Genetic diversity was higher when comparing colonies and lower when comparing groups across tributaries. The factors contributing to this pattern are discussed, along with the implications. By calculating an indicator called the effective reproductive size, the author is able to explain why beavers are resistant to inbreeding and have been able to recover so well from near-extinction conditions. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

Researchers studied beavers' eating preferences in Canada to test a theory called 'central place foraging theory'. Researchers assessed food availability near 25 beaver groups and found that in places where there was more food available, beavers were more selective: they cut fewer, larger trees. This confirmed the predictions of central place foraging theory.

In the USA, a complex of several small beaver ponds was destroyed for construction and some new wetlands were built to replace it. Despite meeting regulations, this study shows that the replacement wetlands didn't fully restore the original ecosystem. Fish populations decreased, with fewer native species and a disproportionate negative impact on species which prefer flowing water as a habitat. Researchers used the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) as a tool to understand this change. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This study explored whether, and how, Scandinavian beavers distinguish between subspecies. Beavers were found to react more to castoreum scents than anal gland secretions. They found that beavers responded more to scents from their own subspecies, suggesting they can distinguish between them. This ability likely developed due to geographic isolation.