Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective

Understanding the demography of an invasive species is crucial to better guide managers seeking to slow the spread of the invader. Habitat differences can affect demographic rates, which may in turn impact the speed of the invasion, but this has been rarely addressed. We studied the demography of in...

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Publicado: 2017
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Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek
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spelling paper:paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek2023-06-08T14:47:39Z Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective Biological invasions Castor canadensis Density dependence Habitat heterogeneity Patagonia Predator release biological invasion biotelemetry demography density dependence forest-steppe habitat type heterogeneity invasive species rodent subpopulation survival Argentina North America Patagonia Tierra del Fuego [(PRV) Argentina] Castor canadensis Castoridae Understanding the demography of an invasive species is crucial to better guide managers seeking to slow the spread of the invader. Habitat differences can affect demographic rates, which may in turn impact the speed of the invasion, but this has been rarely addressed. We studied the demography of invasive North American beavers (Castor canadensis) in 2 contrasting habitat types of the island, forest and steppe, on Tierra del Fuego in southern Patagonia. We used repeated observations, mark-resight methods, telemetry, and camera traps to estimate colony size and demographic rates of beavers in the 2 habitats. Colony size and the number of offspring (“kits”) produced per colony per year were higher in the steppe, contrary to the belief that forest is better habitat. This may be the result of the longer time since invasion in the forests of Tierra del Fuego and that the forest subpopulation is showing density-dependent regulation. Survival of beavers was high in all age classes and was higher than survival rates recorded in North America. Our work shows that plasticity of habitat use and predator release have likely facilitated beaver invasion in Patagonia. The higher productivity and detectability of beavers in the steppe call for active management in a habitat previously assumed to be subprime. © 2016 American Society of Mammalogists, www.mammalogy.org 2017 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Biological invasions
Castor canadensis
Density dependence
Habitat heterogeneity
Patagonia
Predator release
biological invasion
biotelemetry
demography
density dependence
forest-steppe
habitat type
heterogeneity
invasive species
rodent
subpopulation
survival
Argentina
North America
Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego [(PRV) Argentina]
Castor canadensis
Castoridae
spellingShingle Biological invasions
Castor canadensis
Density dependence
Habitat heterogeneity
Patagonia
Predator release
biological invasion
biotelemetry
demography
density dependence
forest-steppe
habitat type
heterogeneity
invasive species
rodent
subpopulation
survival
Argentina
North America
Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego [(PRV) Argentina]
Castor canadensis
Castoridae
Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective
topic_facet Biological invasions
Castor canadensis
Density dependence
Habitat heterogeneity
Patagonia
Predator release
biological invasion
biotelemetry
demography
density dependence
forest-steppe
habitat type
heterogeneity
invasive species
rodent
subpopulation
survival
Argentina
North America
Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego [(PRV) Argentina]
Castor canadensis
Castoridae
description Understanding the demography of an invasive species is crucial to better guide managers seeking to slow the spread of the invader. Habitat differences can affect demographic rates, which may in turn impact the speed of the invasion, but this has been rarely addressed. We studied the demography of invasive North American beavers (Castor canadensis) in 2 contrasting habitat types of the island, forest and steppe, on Tierra del Fuego in southern Patagonia. We used repeated observations, mark-resight methods, telemetry, and camera traps to estimate colony size and demographic rates of beavers in the 2 habitats. Colony size and the number of offspring (“kits”) produced per colony per year were higher in the steppe, contrary to the belief that forest is better habitat. This may be the result of the longer time since invasion in the forests of Tierra del Fuego and that the forest subpopulation is showing density-dependent regulation. Survival of beavers was high in all age classes and was higher than survival rates recorded in North America. Our work shows that plasticity of habitat use and predator release have likely facilitated beaver invasion in Patagonia. The higher productivity and detectability of beavers in the steppe call for active management in a habitat previously assumed to be subprime. © 2016 American Society of Mammalogists, www.mammalogy.org
title Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective
title_short Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective
title_full Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective
title_fullStr Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective
title_full_unstemmed Why invasive Patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: A demographic perspective
title_sort why invasive patagonian beavers thrive in unlikely habitats: a demographic perspective
publishDate 2017
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00222372_v98_n1_p1_Pietrek
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