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Manipulating Beaver (Castor canadensis) Feeding Responses to Invasive Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.)

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Abstract

To evaluate methods for promoting consumption of tamarisk plants by beavers (Castor canadensis), we determined the feeding responses by captive beavers to diets that contained tannins and sodium chloride (hereafter referred to as tamarisk diet). In two-choice tests, beavers consumed equivalent quantities of tamarisk diet and control diet. Treatment with polyethylene glycol and fructose did not increase beaver preferences for the tamarisk diet. When offered the choice of control diet and casein hydrolysate-treated control diet, beavers strongly avoided the latter, showing feeding deterring activity of casein hydrolysate. However, when tamarisk diet was the alternative to the deterrent treatment, beavers consumed similar quantities of the two diets. Finally, beaver foraging preferences for actual plant cuttings were assessed. Casein hydrolysate application to cuttings of black poplar (Populus nigra) and Scouler’s willow (Salix scouleriana) reduced browsing of these highly preferred species and promoted a marked increase in browsing of tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima). These results suggest that casein hydrolysate treatment of desirable riparian plant species such as Salix and Populus may promote beaver foraging of invasive tamarisk.

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Acknowledgements

Mention of specific products does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture. This research was made possible by funding from the City of Phoenix (AZ) Tres Rios Demonstration Wetlands project. Drs. Alexander Bachmanov and Glen Golden provided useful reviews of early drafts of this manuscript. The assistance of Sean Lamb with the bioassays was greatly appreciated. Access to tamarisk plants at the Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge was made possible by the cooperation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. We are specifically grateful for the assistance of Heidi Newsome (USFWS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-APHIS-WS-National Wildlife Research Center, Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Bruce A. Kimball

  2. USDA-APHIS-WS-National Wildlife Research Center, 9730-B Lathrop Industrial Drive SW, Olympia, WA, USA

    Kelly R. Perry

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  1. Bruce A. Kimball
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  2. Kelly R. Perry
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Correspondence to Bruce A. Kimball.

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Kimball, B.A., Perry, K.R. Manipulating Beaver (Castor canadensis) Feeding Responses to Invasive Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). J Chem Ecol 34, 1050–1056 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9496-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9496-1

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