Short-term effects of tagging on activity and movement patterns of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber)

Graf, Patricia; Hochreiter, J.; Hackländer, Klaus; Wilson, Rory P.; Rosell, Frank

doi:10.1007/s10344-016-1051-8

Cited by 17 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 111 publications

(131 reference statements)

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“…The niceties of beaver activity patterns explain some of the patterns observed in diving behavior. For example, beavers usually travel along the shoreline (Graf, Mayer, et al., ) so the observed short, shallow dives presumably largely reflect the water depths available along the water's edge. Indeed, in terms of foraging, macrophyte growth is encouraged by light penetration and is thus higher at shallow depths (Middelboe & Markager, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, diving activity peaked late during the beaver's PAP although general activity has been found to be highest in the middle of the beaver's PAP (~1 am, see Graf, Hochreiter, et al., ). After finishing patrolling their territories (Graf, Mayer, et al., ), beavers may have more time to invest in diving activity; similarly, it has been found that building behaviors occur in the latter part of the night (Wilsson, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water temperatures differed considerably between the seasons ( H = 2435.6, df = 1, p < .001), with colder water temperatures during spring (

\overset{x}{true}

± SD = 3.6 ± 0.8°C; April–May) and warmer water temperatures during autumn (9.7 ± 1.4°C; September–November). The earliest evidence for Eurasian beavers in the area is from the 1920s (Olstad, ); today, the population is at carrying capacity (Graf, Mayer, Zedrosser, Hackländer, & Rosell, ; Steyaert, Zedrosser, & Rosell, ). Both hunting pressure and the presence of natural predators in the area were low (Graf, Mayer, Zedrosser, Hackländer, & Rosell ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The earliest evidence for Eurasian beavers in the area is from the 1920s (Olstad, ); today, the population is at carrying capacity (Graf, Mayer, Zedrosser, Hackländer, & Rosell, ; Steyaert, Zedrosser, & Rosell, ). Both hunting pressure and the presence of natural predators in the area were low (Graf, Mayer, Zedrosser, Hackländer, & Rosell ). Since 1997, beavers in the study area have been monitored every year as part of a long‐term capture–mark–recapture study (Campbell, Rosell, Nolet, & Dijkstra, ; Campbell et al., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diving behavior in a free‐living, semi‐aquatic herbivore, the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber

Graf

Wilson

Sanchez

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Semi‐aquatic mammals have secondarily returned to the aquatic environment, although they spend a major part of their life operating in air. Moving both on land, as well as in, and under water is challenging because such species are considered to be imperfectly adapted to both environments. We deployed accelerometers combined with a depth sensor to study the diving behavior of 12 free‐living Eurasian beavers Castor fiber in southeast Norway between 2009 and 2011 to examine the extent to which beavers conformed with mass‐dependent dive capacities, expecting them to be poorer than wholly aquatic species. Dives were generally shallow (<1 m) and of short duration (<30 s), suggesting that the majority of dives were aerobic. Dive parameters such as maximum diving depth, dive duration, and bottom phase duration were related to the effort during different dive phases and the maximum depth reached. During the descent, mean vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA—a proxy for movement power) was highest near the surface, probably due to increased upthrust linked to fur‐ and lung‐associated air. Inconsistently though, mean VeDBA underwater was highest during the ascent when this air would be expected to help drive the animals back to the surface. Higher movement costs during ascents may arise from transporting materials up, the air bubbling out of the fur, and/or the animals’ exhaling during the bottom phase of the dive. In a manner similar to other homeotherms, beavers extended both dive and bottom phase durations with diving depth. Deeper dives tended to have a longer bottom phase, although its duration was shortened with increased VeDBA during the bottom phase. Water temperature did not affect diving behavior. Overall, the beavers’ dive profile (depth, duration) was similar to other semi‐aquatic freshwater divers. However, beavers dived for only 2.8% of their active time, presumably because they do not rely on diving for food acquisition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water temperatures differed considerably between the seasons ( H = 2435.6, df = 1, p < .001), with colder water temperatures during spring (

\overset{x}{true}

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Diving behavior in a free‐living, semi‐aquatic herbivore, the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber

Graf

Wilson

Sanchez

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Capture and handling wildlife is often an important component of studies where detailed demographic, behavioral, physiological, or health data are required. Capturing wildlife, however, is sometimes controversial and lacks public support because of concerns about the effects on individuals (Rachlow et al , Graf et al ). Despite the benefits of data obtained via capture and handling, investigating the potential negative effects of these events is important to understand costs to individuals or populations (Cattet et al , Rode et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Short‐term effect of helicopter‐based capture on movements of a social ungulate

et al. 2019

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Capture and handling of wildlife is often an important component of studies where detailed demographic, behavioral, physiological, or health data are required. Yet, capturing and handling wildlife is sometimes controversial and lacking public support because of concern about effects on individuals. Investigating potential effects of capturing wildlife is also important to inform data-censoring protocols when using information obtained from captured animals. We investigated the short-term effect of helicopter-based capture and handling on movements of free-ranging bison (Bison bison) that were chemically immobilized in Yukon, Canada. We examined daily movement rates, home range size, and displacement of global positioning system-collared individuals immediately after capture and for 20 days thereafter. Our results indicate that there is a minimal short-term effect of helicopter-based capture on bison movements. Significant differences from apparent pre-capture movement behavior were observed only within 24 hours after capture. We observed variation among individuals, however, with some animals taking up to 10 days to return to apparent pre-capture movement rates, whereas others had no measurable response to capture. Despite individual variation, >80% of individuals had returned to apparent pre-capture movement behavior within the first 5 days after capture. Furthermore, sex-based effects were evident: females increased their daily movement rates, home range size, and displacement after capture, whereas males had either no effect or decreased movement rates. Our results suggest that movement rates are altered for only a short period after capture and, therefore, should not have severe negative effects on bison using our protocols. Accordingly, researchers should censor the first 10 days after capture from their analyses to avoid using biased information. Our study should also help inform public discourse regarding capturing and handling wildlife for research or management purposes. Ó

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Monitoring, modelling and managing beaver (Castor fiber) populations in the River Otter catchment, Great Britain

Graham

Puttock

Chant

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) were nearly hunted to extinction but have recovered to occupy much of their former range. Beaver were extirpated from Great Britain c. 400 years ago but have recently been reintroduced. The River Otter catchment, Devon was the site of the first licensed wild release of beavers in England. With further releases being considered, there is a need to better understand population dynamics of this native, keystone species to inform conservation and management. Field signs were surveyed from 2015 to 2021. A semi‐automated territory detection method was adopted to estimate territory counts. A spatially explicit model was developed to estimate the ecological territory capacity of the catchment. Future territory expansion was modelled using logistic growth curves; initial growth rate was estimated from observed territory counts and the estimated territory capacity range was used to define the limiting value of the growth curve. Beaver territory removal was simulated, across a range of management intensities and start times, to determine potential impacts of translocation or lethal control upon population dynamics. Territory numbers increased from four to 18, inclusive of four additionally released individuals, during study period. In the absence of population management, the territory capacity of the catchment was estimated to range between 120 and 183; this may be reached between 2028 and 2057. Simulated territory removal, where territories were removed at a fixed rate from the sum of the estimated total population and the population increase for that year, demonstrated large uncertainties in predicted population responses. Simulations with territory removals >3/year all predicted potential population collapse. This finding emphasizes the need for caution when considering population management strategies; translocation of animals out of the catchment or culling should be considered only when populations are established and all alternatives have been considered. These results provide critical information for the expected rate and magnitude of beaver population change in the River Otter catchment. The methods provide a reproducible and generalizable approach for understanding beaver population change, which can inform policy on the reintroduction of beavers and the potential timing and intensity of future beaver population management.

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Short-term effects of tagging on activity and movement patterns of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber)

Cited by 17 publications

References 111 publications

Diving behavior in a free‐living, semi‐aquatic herbivore, the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber

Diving behavior in a free‐living, semi‐aquatic herbivore, the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber

Short‐term effect of helicopter‐based capture on movements of a social ungulate

Monitoring, modelling and managing beaver (Castor fiber) populations in the River Otter catchment, Great Britain

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