Can beaver impact promote river renaturalization? The example of the Raba River, southern Poland

Gorczyca, Elżbieta; Krzemień, Kazimierz; Sobucki, Mateusz; Jarzyna, Krzysztof

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.245

Cited by 37 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…(b) Channel planform typically increases in complexity with many studies reporting; greater sinuosity, channel width, and the development of a multi-thread planform (Ives, 1942;John & Klein, 2004;Pollock et al, 2014;Wegener, Covino & Wohl, 2017). These increases in cross-profile complexity are driven by an increase in the heterogeneity of flow direction, which drives lateral flow, increasing bank erosion, channel widening, and subsequent localized deposition (Gorczyca et al, 2018).…”

Section: Impacts Of Dams On River Profilementioning

confidence: 99%

Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers

et al. 2020

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Beavers have the ability to modify ecosystems profoundly to meet their ecological needs, with significant associated hydrological, geomorphological, ecological, and societal impacts. To bring together understanding of the role that beavers may play in the management of water resources, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, this article reviews the state-of-the-art scientific understanding of the beaver as the quintessential ecosystem engineer. This review has a European focus but examines key research considering both Castor fiber-the Eurasian beaver and Castor canadensis-its North American counterpart. In recent decades species reintroductions across Europe, concurrent with natural expansion of refugia populations has led to the return of C. fiber to much of its European range with recent reviews estimating that the C. fiber population in Europe numbers over 1.5 million individuals. As such, there is an increasing need for understanding of the impacts of beaver in intensively populated and managed, contemporary European landscapes. This review summarizes how beaver impact: (a) ecosystem structure and geomorphology, (b) hydrology and water resources, (c) water quality, (d) freshwater ecology, and (e) humans and society. It concludes by examining future considerations that may need to be resolved as beavers further expand in the northern hemisphere with an emphasis upon the ecosystem services that they can provide and the associated management that will be necessary to maximize the benefits and minimize conflicts.

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Section: Impacts Of Dams On River Profilementioning

confidence: 99%

Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers

et al. 2020

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“…However, surveillance study on Trichinella species in red foxes indicates T. britovi as predominant species for this host and region, the same as in Slovakia (Hurnikova and Dubinsky, 2009). The origin of Trichinella infection in beavers is unknown since these animals are typical herbivores (Florek et al, 2017; Gorczyca et al, 2018). In spite of this, in hard conditions animals for supplementation of protein or mineral deficits may feed on things they don't usually include in their diet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First case of Trichinella spiralis infection in beavers (Castor fiber) in Poland and Europe

Różycki

Zając

Kochanowski

et al. 2020

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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BackgroundThis is the first report of the finding of Trichinella spiralis in beaver meat (Castor fiber) in Poland and Europe. In Poland, the beaver is a strictly protected animal species, except the few regions where high population density leads to economic losses. In these areas, the reduction culling of the animals was introduced. This uncommon hunting game animal is consumed and treated as a delicacy by hunters. However, currently, there is a lack of knowledge on possible risk factors for humans associated with the consumption of beaver meat. This paper presents the result of the study on the occurrence of nematodes of the genus Trichinella in beavers.MethodsIn total, 69 beavers were examined for the presence of Trichinella spp. The 50g samples were taken from each animal and digested separately, according to a procedure based on the EU reference method. The larva DNA was examined by PCR and sequencing.ResultsOne of the 69 examined beavers was infected. Only one Trichinella larva was detected by the digestion method. The result of PCR confirms the presence of T. spiralis in beaver meat.ConclusionsThis case further confirms the ability of these typical herbivores to be infected with Trichinella spp. This is the second confirmed case of Trichinella spp. infection in beavers in Europe and the first of T. spiralis.

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“…A hódok, mint ökoszisztéma-mérnökök gátépítésükkel képesek táji léptékben megváltoztatni egyes vízfolyások jellegét (Naiman et al 1986, Gorczyca et al 2018. Nagyobb területek elárasztása esetén állóvízi élőhelyeket, "hódtavakat" és nedves gyepeket, "hódréteket" hozhatnak létre, ezzel pedig jelentős hatásokat gyakorolnak a területek flórájára, valamint gerinces és gerinctelen faunájára (Rosell et al 2005, Law et al 2017, Westbrook et al 2011.…”

Section: éPítésunclassified

Természetvédők és kutatók ismeretei az eurázsiai hód kapcsán a Kárpát-medencében II.: táplálkozás, építés, élőhelyválasztás, ismeretterjesztés

Juhász¹,

Biró²,

Babai³

et al. 2020

Természetvédelmi Közlemények

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We examined the knowledge of local nature conservationists and researchers associated with the Eurasian beaver through interviews. In the first part of our study (Juhász et al. 2019), we reported the spread of the beaver, recognisable beaver signs, possibilities of human-beaver coexistence and causes of mortality. In the second part (present paper), we show the answers to the questions related to the beaver's behaviour, communication about beavers, and perceptions about local inhabitants' knowledge. The informants observed the utilization of woody species belonging to 26 genera, the consumption of 19 herbaceous taxa, and the building of 15 herbaceous taxa into beaver dams and lodges. Furthermore, we gathered detailed information about the relation between habitat conditions and beaver activity (dam building, lodge construction and habitat selection). Data from the interviews about the beaver's behaviour can be a good complement to the results of field surveys, as well as help to better understand certain phenomena and to lay the foundations for new field research. The gaps in the knowledge of local people reported by the informants highlight that beavers' habits and effects should definitely be included in the general education about wetlands.

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Can beaver impact promote river renaturalization? The example of the Raba River, southern Poland

Cited by 37 publications

References 25 publications

Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers

Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers

First case of Trichinella spiralis infection in beavers (Castor fiber) in Poland and Europe

Természetvédők és kutatók ismeretei az eurázsiai hód kapcsán a Kárpát-medencében II.: táplálkozás, építés, élőhelyválasztás, ismeretterjesztés

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