Beaver dam and cache composition: Are woody species used differently?

Doucet, Christine; Adams, Ian T.; Fryxell, John M.

doi:10.1080/11956860.1994.11682251

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The percentage of alder was similar to that reported in other studies [ 9 , 10 , 25 , 36 ]. It should be emphasized that the presence of some species among the browsed plants does not necessarily have to be related to the choice of food, as theycan be used for building purposes, such as in the case of alder [ 57 , 58 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Winter Foraging Preferences in Northern Poland—The Role of Woody Vegetation Composition and Anthropopression Level

Jackowiak

Busher²,

Krauze‐Gryz

2020

Animals

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We studied beavers’ dietary preferences and the role of several factors (such as plant species, size and anthropopression level) that affect the beavers’ foraging in northern Poland. Woody plants along the river were measured and classified according to species in six 100 m-long transects that were characterized by a diversified human disturbance level. Ivlev’s electivity index was used to present the beavers’ preferences for various plant species and sizes, and the generalized linear model was used to assess the significance of studied factors in beavers’ browsing choices. Most popular in the beavers’ diets were willows (Salix), maples (Acer) and alder (Alnus), but only willows and maples were preferred. We noted a decrease in the beavers’ foraging preference in parallel to an increase in the shoot diameter; plants with a diameter below 10 cm were preferred. All factors included in the generalized linear model (GLM) were significant in shaping the beavers’ foraging choices. A negative correlation between the shoot diameter and the human disturbance level was found, but the species composition of the browsed woody plants was the same in each transect. Beavers’ foraging preferences, as observed in our study, were similar to those described in the literature and confirmed the role of woody species and their diameters in shaping the beavers’ diet. We also suggested the potential role of anthropopression in the shaping of the beavers’ foraging behaviors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Winter Foraging Preferences in Northern Poland—The Role of Woody Vegetation Composition and Anthropopression Level

Jackowiak

Busher²,

Krauze‐Gryz

2020

Animals

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“…Speckled alder was also excluded because this species is not primarily selected for nutritional purposes, as shown by the majority of alder stems found with intact bark on lodges and dams in our study (D. Gallant, personal observation). Beavers select it mainly as structural material for dams and lodges (Doucet et al 1994b; Barnes and Mallik 1996) or for structural support in food caches (Slaugh 1978) rather than for immediate consumption. Availability of accessible building material for initial construction of dams and lodges affects the beavers' choice of habitat in terms of establishment location, as shown by Barnes and Mallik's (1997) study where beavers relied on shoreline concentrations of woody plants 1.5-4.4 cm in diameter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An extensive study of the foraging ecology of beavers (Castor canadensis) in relation to habitat quality

Gallant¹,

Bérubé²,

Tremblay³

et al. 2004

Can. J. Zool.

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The objective of this study was to examine the foraging behaviour of the beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820) and to explain its selection of terrestrial woody plant species according to central place foraging theory. Limitations in variety of food items in most studies with regard to size and (or) distance from the central place and information on availability of forage choices give a partial view of the subject. In this study, the theory is tested in a natural environment with high variability in food items with regard to these factors. Foraging choices by beavers were inspected by measuring variables on cut and uncut trees of every species encountered within 1 m of trail systems made by 25 beaver colonies in Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick, Canada, thereby quantifying the availability of the different food items. The effect of habitat quality (food availability) on the foraging behaviour of beavers was also tested. The results of this study suggest that with increasing distance from the pond, beavers in high-quality habitats selected fewer, but larger, trees and are more species selective. This selectivity was diminished in habitats of lower quality. The results of this study are consistent with the predictions of the central foraging theory.Résumé : Le comportement alimentaire du castor (Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820) et son choix de plantes ligneuses terrestres en fonction de la théorie de la quête alimentaire à partir d'un point central font l'objet de cette étude. Les études précédentes constituent des bilans partiels du sujet, en raison de carences dans la diversité des plantes ligneuses disponibles, quant à la taille et la distance du point central, et (ou) dans l'évaluation de leurs disponibilités respectives. Notre étude teste les prédictions de la théorie dans un environnement naturel qui incorpore une grande variété de plantes ligneuses d'après la taille, la distance à l'étang et la composition spécifique. Nous avons déterminé les choix alimentaires des castors en mesurant les caractéristiques des plantes ligneuses coupées et non coupées présentes jusqu'à une distance de 1 m de part et d'autre des sentiers formés par les castors de 25 colonies dans le parc national Kouchibouguac au Nouveau-Brunswick, Canada afin de déterminer la disponibilité des plantes alimentaires. L'effet de la qualité de l'habitat (disponibilité des plantes alimentaires) sur le comportement alimentaire est également testé. En s'éloignant de l'étang, les castors deviennent plus sélectifs au niveau des espèces choisies et sélectionnent de plus gros arbres, mais en plus petit nombre. Cette sélectivité diminue dans les habitats de moindre qualité. Les résultats obtenus sont en accord avec les prédictions de la théorie de la quête alimentaire à partir d'un point central. Gallant et al. 933

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“…Müller‐Schwarze & Sun ). For instance, in eastern North America where there is relatively high diversity of deciduous trees and shrubs, beavers selectively forage on a wide range of other deciduous species, typically preferentially to willows (Fryxell & Doucet ; Doucet et al ; Gallant et al ). In those systems, high woody plant diversity may buffer competition between beavers and ungulates for overlapping resources (Hood & Bayley ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock grazing limits beaver restoration in northern New Mexico

Small

Frey

Gard

2016

Restoration Ecology

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The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) builds dams that pond water on streams, which provide crucial ecological services to aquatic and riparian ecosystems and enhance biodiversity. Consequently, there is increasing interest in restoring beavers to locations where they historically occurred, particularly in the arid western United States. However, despite often intensive efforts to reintroduce beavers into areas where they were severely reduced in numbers or eliminated due to overharvesting in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, beavers remain sparse or missing from many stream reaches. Reasons for this failure have not been well studied. Our goal was to evaluate certain biotic factors that may limit the occurrence of dam-building beavers in northern New Mexico, including competitors and availability of summer and winter forage. We compared these factors at primary active dams and at control sites located in stream reaches that were physically suitable for dam-building beavers but where none occurred. Beaver dams mostly occurred at sites that were not grazed or where there was some alternative grazing management, but were mostly absent at sites within Forest Service cattle allotments. Results indicated that cattle grazing influenced the relation between vegetation variables and beaver presence. The availability of willows (Salix spp.) was the most important plant variable for the presence of beaver dams. We conclude that grazing by cattle as currently practiced on Forest Service allotments disrupts the beaver-willow mutualism, rendering stream reaches unsuitable for dam-building beavers. We recommend that beaver restoration will require changes to current livestock management practices.

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Beaver dam and cache composition: Are woody species used differently?

Cited by 15 publications

References 11 publications

Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Winter Foraging Preferences in Northern Poland—The Role of Woody Vegetation Composition and Anthropopression Level

Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Winter Foraging Preferences in Northern Poland—The Role of Woody Vegetation Composition and Anthropopression Level

An extensive study of the foraging ecology of beavers (Castor canadensis) in relation to habitat quality

Livestock grazing limits beaver restoration in northern New Mexico

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