The response of a brown trout (<i>Salmo trutta</i>) population to reintroduced Eurasian beaver (<i>Castor fiber</i>) habitat modification

Needham, Robert; Gaywood, Martin J.; Tree, Angus; Sotherton, N. W.; Roberts, D. E.; Bean, Colin W.; Kemp, Paul S.

doi:10.1139/cjfas-2021-0023

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…These effects were observed on the scale of individual habitats within streams (Hägglund & Sjöberg, 1999; Malison & Halley, 2020). Conversely, when the abundance of S. trutta was examined at the stream scale by Needham et al (2021), abundance in a beaver‐altered stream was equal to or higher than abundance in an unaltered stream. Bylak, Kukula & Mitka (2014) observed that mature S. trutta frequently inhabited beaver ponds in Poland and used upstream habitats for spawning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of beaver impoundments on montane stream fish communities

Fritz

Gangloff

2022

Aquatic Conservation

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1. North American beavers (Castor canadensis) are ecosystem engineers that create novel habitats in stream ecosystems. Although driven to the edge of extinction by historical over-exploitation, beavers are recolonizing much of their former range.In the Southern Appalachian Mountains beavers alter habitats occupied by diverse fish communities across a mosaic of changing forest cover and management priorities.2. Fishes were sampled from nine streams with active beaver ponds and from seven streams with inactive ponds in the Southern Appalachians during summer 2019.The status of beaver ponds was among the most important factors affecting fish communities; however, both active and inactive beaver ponds affected fish community structure, α-diversity, and local contributions to β-diversity (LCBD).3. Fish α-diversity was lower in reaches from streams with active ponds and the magnitude of this reduction was dependent on the position relative to a pond. However, both active and abandoned beaver ponds and pond tail races had higher LCBD values compared with free-flowing reaches. Arcsin-transformed forest cover did not improve the model fit for any dependent variables. Indicator species analysis found that two species had an association with active beaver ponds, whereas eight species were associated with inactive beaver ponds or freeflowing reaches.4. The effects of beaver impoundments on fish communities in Appalachian streams are dependent on the pond activity level and spatial context. Although diversity and species richness may be reduced in individual habitats, beaver ponds contribute to higher biodiversity at a regional spatial scale. An increased understanding of beaver effects on Southern Appalachian fish communities will enable stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding the management of sensitive or economically important fishes. Mitigating conflicts between sensitive resources and these ecosystem engineers will become an increasingly important management concern as beaver populations recover in the Southern Appalachians.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of beaver impoundments on montane stream fish communities

Fritz

Gangloff

2022

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Additionally, there are diverse opinions regarding beaver impacts upon fish (Auster, Barr, & Brazier, 2020a). Research here continues, although existing literature suggests varied but net beneficial effects (Bouwes et al, 2016;Brazier, Puttock, et al, 2020;Bylak & Kukuła, 2018;Kemp, Worthington, Langford, Tree, & Gaywood, 2012;Malison & Halley, 2020;Needham et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities

Auster,

Barr,

Brazier

2024

Preprint

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The activities of an animal – beavers - are increasingly recognised as a nature-based solution to hydrological extremes; dams and wetlands that beavers create attenuate flows downstream whilst delivering multiple benefits for the environment and for people. There can however also be challenges for people living alongside beavers. Q-Methodology is a technique for eliciting an understanding of human perspectives that exist within a context, enabling a rich understanding of human subjectivity within a context. We used Q-Methodology to elicit an understanding of perspectives that exist about beavers and their role in natural flood management among communities living downstream of three beaver sites in England, where Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are currently being reintroduced. Diverse perspectives that exhibited a range of value judgements were identified, including favourable viewpoints which valued multiple benefits beaver activities can provide, as well as less favourable viewpoints with some perceiving a reliance on beaver-led natural flood management to be less predictable and of higher risk than relying upon human-led interventions. In response to our findings, we support a catchment-based approach to beaver management so as to incorporate contextual perspectives in decision-making, and to enable dissemination of knowledge about beaver behaviours within communities. Further, we encourage future research into whether Beaver-Dam Analogues (in-stream structures that mimic beaver dams or their function) could be used as ‘starter dams’ to encourage beaver activities in optimal locations, as this may inspire confidence in beaver-led flood defence by working with the animal to develop a 'right dam in the right place' strategy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities

Auster

Barr

Brazier

2022

J Flood Risk Management

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Natural flood management (NFM) methods work with natural processes to reduce flood risk, while often providing additional benefits such as water quality improvement or habitat provision. Increasingly, the activity of an animalbeavers-is recognised to potentially provide flow attenuation, along with multiple benefits for the environment and society, but there can also be associated challenges. We use Q-Methodology to elicit and understand human perspectives of beavers and their potential role in flood management among communities living downstream of beavers at three sites in England (Cornwall, Yorkshire and the Forest of Dean). This is the first time a study has focused on downstream communities as the primary stakeholders. We identify diverse perspectives that exhibit a range of value judgements. We suggest a catchment-based approach to beaver management and public engagement may facilitate deeper recognition of contextual perspectives in decision-making and enable knowledge dissemination with communities. Further, we examine the relationship between beavers and other NFM methods through these perspectives. In doing so we identify features that relate to the unique element of relying on the natural behaviour of beavers for flood management, rather than human flood managers being the primary decision-makers.

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The response of a brown trout (Salmo trutta) population to reintroduced Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) habitat modification

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

The effects of beaver impoundments on montane stream fish communities

The effects of beaver impoundments on montane stream fish communities

Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities

Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities

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