Topic
European beaver
About: European beaver is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 145 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2248 citations.
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TL;DR: It is suggested that beavers can create important management opportunities in the Holarctic, and this review will help land man- agers determine the likely outcome of beaver activity.
Abstract: The genus Castor comprises two species: the Eurasian beaver Castor fibre , and the North American beaver Castor canadensis . Both species suffered from overexploitation, but have seen a revival since the 1920s due to increased protection and reintroduction programmes. Increases in the populations and distributions of species that are able to modify ecosystems have generated much scientific interest. Here we review the available literature concerning the possible ecological impact of beaver species in the Old and New World. 2. Beavers, being ecosystem engineers, are among the few species besides humans that can significantly change the geomorphology, and consequently the hydrological characteristics and biotic properties of the landscape. In so doing, beavers increase heterogeneity, and habitat and species diversity at the landscape scale. Beaver foraging also has a considerable impact on the course of ecological succession, species composition and structure of plant commu- nities, making them a good example of ecologically dominant species (e.g. keystone species). 3. Nevertheless, the strength of beavers' impact varies from site to site, depending on the geographical location, relief and the impounded habitat type. Consequently, they may not be significant controlling agents of the ecosystem in all parts of their distribution, but have strong interactions only under certain circumstances. We suggest that beavers can create important management opportunities in the Holarctic, and this review will help land man- agers determine the likely outcome of beaver activity.
482 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that the conservation of beavers is best served by preservation and restoration of riparian woods with intact natural water regimes and population and/or damage control may therefore be required.
221 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: After being reduced to about 1,200 animals in eight isolated populations by the beginning of the 20th century, European beavers have powerfully recovered in both range and population, through re laxation of persecution, naturai spread, and widespread reintroductions.
Abstract: After being reduced to about 1,200 animals in eight isolated populations by the beginning of the 20th century, European beavers (Castor fiber) have powerfully recovered in both range and population, through re laxation of persecution, naturai spread, and widespread reintroductions. Populations are now (2003) established in all countries within their former naturai range in Europe except for Britain, Portugal, Italy, and the south Bal kans (Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia; status in Bosnia-Herzegovina is uncertain). In Asia, there are signi ficant populations in central Siberia, Kamchatka, and on the Amur; and small relict populations elsewhere in Si beria, and in Xinjiang (China)/western Mongolia. The current minimum population estimate is 639,000. Both populations and range are in rapid expansion. We present maps summarizing current knowledge of the world dis tribution of European beaver and the Eurasian distribution of the introduced American beaver (Castor canaden sis), and tables of the most recent known population estimates for each country.
157 citations
TL;DR: The European Beaver Castor fiber once occurred throughout Europe, but in many countries was exterminated or greatly reduced by over-hunting as mentioned in this paper, and was last recorded in Scotland in the sixteenth century.
Abstract: The European Beaver Castor fiber once occurred throughout Europe, but in many countries was exterminated or greatly reduced by over-hunting. In the UK, Beavers were last recorded in Scotland in the sixteenth century. Thirteen countries have carried out reintroduction programmes to restore the range of the Beaver in Europe, We provide a basis for discussing the feasibility and desirability of reintroducing the Beaver to Britain. The basic biology of the Beaver is described, followed by summaries of reintroductions in Europe and an evaluation of their successes and failures. We address the fundamental questions of propagule size, habitat requirements, habitat size and provenance of Beavers to be released, before examining in theory whether reintroducing Beavers to Britain is likely to fulfil UKCINC and IUCN criteria relating to environmental impact, socioeconomics and conservation. We then make suggestions as to how a reintroduction to Britain could proceed. Essential work outstanding includes site assessment and public consultation. The restoration of the Beaver to Britain could be a fitting start to the millennium.
95 citations
TL;DR: A spatially explicit model for investigating the proposed reintroduction of the European beaver to Scotland showed that predictions were particularly sensitive to the levels of the demographic parameters and that, providing these were set to at least medium levels, reintroduction sizes of 20 animals led to high persistence and population increase.
76 citations