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Rosell, Frank; Sundsdal, Lars Jøran

doi:10.1023/a:1013627515232

Cited by 27 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Both beaver species are highly territorial, semi-aquatic rodents that live in family units (commonly referred to as colonies) 16,17 . They defend their territories by scent marking with castoreum from the castor sacs 18,19 . Via behavioural bioassays Peterson, et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scent-sniffing dogs can discriminate between native Eurasian and invasive North American beavers

Rosell

Cross

Johnsen

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The invasion of a species can cause population reduction or extinction of a similar native species due to replacement competition. There is a potential risk that the native Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) may eventually be competitively excluded by the invasive North American beaver (C. canadensis) from areas where they overlap in Eurasia. Yet currently available methods of census and population estimates are costly and time-consuming. In a laboratory environment, we investigated the potential of using dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) as a conservation tool to determine whether the Eurasian or the North American beaver is present in a specific beaver colony. We hypothesized that dogs can discriminate between the two beaver species, via the odorant signal of castoreum from males and females, in two floor platform experiments. We show that dogs detect scent differences between the two species, both from dead beaver samples and from scent marks collected in the field. Our results suggest that dogs can be used as an “animal biosensor” to discriminate olfactory signals of beaver species, however more tests are needed. Next step should be to test if dogs discern between beaver species in the field under a range of weather conditions and habitat types and use beaver samples collected from areas where the two species share the same habitat. So far, our results show that dogs can be used as a promising tool in the future to promote conservation of the native beaver species and eradication of the invasive one. We therefore conclude that dogs may be an efficient non-invasive tool to help conservationist to manage invasive species in Europe, and advocate for European wildlife agencies to invest in this new tool.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scent-sniffing dogs can discriminate between native Eurasian and invasive North American beavers

Rosell

Cross

Johnsen

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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“…Dominant territory holders build scent mounds: small piles of mud and debris that are mainly positioned at territory borders, but also within the territory (Rosell et al, 1998). They deposit castoreum (dietary derivatives mixed with urine), whose components do not differ between sexes (Sun & Müller-Schwarze, 1999), and sometimes sex-specific anal gland secretion on the scent mounds (Rosell & Sundsdal, 2001). Scentmarking peaks in spring when subordinates disperse and new territories are likely to be established (Rosell et al, 1998;Svendsen, 1989).…”

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confidence: 99%

Scent‐marking behavior by subordinate Eurasian beavers

2018

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Chemical communication by scent‐marking is widespread among mammals and can serve different purposes, such as territory demarcation, mate attraction and self‐advertisement. In this study, we examined scent‐marking behavior by subordinate Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) in a population in southeast Norway. We conducted scent experiments in 18 family groups, simulating a territory intruder using experimental scent mounds (ESM). In total, we recorded 196 territorial reactions (destroying and/or overmarking of scent mounds). Subordinates contributed 14% of all territorial reactions and first overmarked 12% of the ESM, and the number of subordinates in the family group did not increase the total number of territorial reactions. This suggests that the contribution by subordinates plays a minor role in territorial defense. The number of territorial reactions by subordinates was positively related to the age of their parents, suggesting that subordinates might take over territorial duties with increasing parental senescence, likely because they have increased chances of inheriting the territory. Increased experience in territorial activities possibly helps subordinates to successfully gain and defend a territory of their own.

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