Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reproductive rates of invasive Castor canadensis respond to management in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Mammalian Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of population management on reproductive traits of invasive mammals are poorly known (specifically concerning trapping aimed to reduce population density). The beaver (Castor canadensis) is an invasive species on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (“Isla Grande”), Argentina, with significant ecological impacts. At seven pilot areas of Isla Grande subject to an experimental eradication program between 2016 and 2018, we assessed the effect of several population management histories (removal intensities of individuals) on age-specific fecundity and fertility rates and reproductive values of beaver females. We also proposed a reproductive schedule for Isla Grande. Reproductive rates were found to increase with population management intensity, by contrasting: (1) areas with historic management (historical trapping) showed high production of kits at earlier ages; (2) areas with focused management diminished the reproductive value; (3) an area reinvaded after an eradication presented higher reproductive values, delays in breeding onset, and late senescence; and (4) areas without or with very low management (without trapping) produced less kits, with later breeding onset and senescence at the middle of the life cycle. Gestation and parturition periods in the pilot areas were longer than previously reported in Tierra del Fuego. When beavers reinvade an area, they express their maximum reproductive potential. Also, the removal of animals at areas without previous management would relax density-dependence of reproductive rates. The value of beaver control by landowners needs to be reevaluated. Focusing trapping effort on the estrus period would reduce beaver fertility while also reducing the impact of capturing lactating females on offspring welfare. Continuity in the active surveillance to remove re-invaders represents the main challenge to restore the Fuegian environment affected by beavers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price includes VAT (Finland)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  • Alakoski R (2021) Factors affecting the distribution of the eurasian beaver and the north american beaver in Finland. Dissertation, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Turku

  • Anderson CB, Martínez-Pastur G, Lencinas MV et al (2009) Do introduced North American beavers Castor canadensis engineer differently in southern South America?. An overview with implications for restoration. Mammal Rev 39:33–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker BW, Hill EP (2003) Beaver (Castor canadensis). In: Feldhamer GA, Thompson BC, Chapman JA (eds) Wild mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, pp 288–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey V (1927) Beaver habits and experiments in beaver culture. Technical Bull. U.S.D.A. 21:1–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergerud AT, Miller DR (1977) Population dynamics of Newfoundland beaver. Can J Zool 55:1480–1492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bloomquist CK, Nielsen CK (2010) Demography of unexploited beavers in Southern Illinois. J Wildl Manage 74:228–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binational Agreement (2008) Acuerdo entre la Republica Argentina y la Republica de Chile sobre la restauración de los ecosistemas australes afectados por el castor americano (Castor canadensis). Chile, https://argentinambiental.com/legislacion/nacional/resolucion-15710-acuerdo-argentina-chile-restauracion-ecosistemas-australes/. Accessed 26 Sep 2008

  • Bodey TW, Kennerley RJ, Bearhop S et al (2011) Population level impacts of localised ferret control: storing up problems for the future? In: Veitch CR, Clout MN, Towns DR (eds) Island invasives: Eradication and management, vol 62. Occasional Paper SSC, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, p 523

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyce MS (1981) Beaver life history response to exploitation. J Appl Ecol 18:749–753

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle S, Owens S (2007) North American beaver (Castor canadensis): a technical conservation assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project, Montrose, CO. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5181919.pdf. Accessed 22 Feb 2021

  • Bradshaw CJA, McMahon CR (2008) Population ecology: fecundity. In: Jørgensen SE, Fath BD (eds) Population dynamics. Encyclopedia of Ecology, Oxford, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1535–1543

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradt GW (1938) A study of beaver colonies in Michigan. J Mammal 19:139–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brenner FJ (1964) Reproduction of the beaver in Crawford County. Pennsylvania J Wildl Manage 28:743–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busher PE (1996) Food caching behavior of beavers (Castor canadensis): selection and use of woody species. Amer Midl Naturalist 135:343–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caughley G (1977) Analysis of Vertebrate Populations. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Collado L (2001) Los bosques de Tierra del Fuego. Análisis de su estratificación mediante imágenes satelitales para el inventario forestal de la provincia. Multequina 10:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Conaway CH (1955) Embryo resorption and placental scar formation in the rat. J Mammal 36:516–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook AH, Maunton ER, Glass BP et al (1949) Sex determination of beaver fetuses. J Mammal 30:72–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-Balocchi L, Cao SJ, Bedoya-Agudelo EL (2021) An introduction to the geology of Tierra del Fuego. In: Acevedo RD (ed) Geological Resources of Tierra del Fuego. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericsson G, Wallin K, Ball JP et al (2001) Age-related reproductive effort and senescence in free-ranging moose, Alces alces. Ecology 82:613–1620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francomano D, Valenzuela AEJ, Gottesman BL et al (2021) Acoustic monitoring shows invasive beavers Castor canadensis increase patch-level avian diversity in Tierra del Fuego. J Appl Ecol 58:2987–2998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallant D, Léger L, Tremblay É et al (2016) Linking time budgets to habitat quality suggests that beavers (Castor canadensis) are energy maximizers. Can J Zool 94:671–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gamelon M, Besnard A, Gaillard J-M et al (2011) High hunting pressure selects for earlier birth date: wild boar as a case study. Evolution 65:3100–3112

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • González-Crespo C, Serrano E, Cahill S et al (2018) Stochastic assessment of management strategies for a Mediterranean peri-urban wild boar population. PLoS ONE 13:e0202289

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hawley-Yan E (2016) Techniques for mitigating human/beaver conflicts in urban and suburban environments. Animal Protection Party of Canada, Animal Alliance of Canada. https://www.animalalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BeaverManual_May-2016.pdf. Accessed 26 July 2016

  • Henry DB, Bookhout TA (1969) Productivity of beavers in Northeastern Ohio. J Wildl Manage 33:927–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgdon KW (1949) Productivity data from placental scars in beavers. J Wildl Manage 13:412–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hone J (2012) Applied populations and community ecology: The case of feral pigs in Australia. John Wiley & Sons, Somerset, NJ

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ibañez Álvarez M, Farràs P, Calleja JA et al (2021) Satellite-based monitoring of primary production in a Mediterranean Islet post black rat eradication. Remote Sens 14:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins SH, Busher PE (1979) Castor Canadensis. Mamm Species 120:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jusim P, Goijman AP, Escobar J et al (2020) First test for eradication of beavers (Castor canadensis) in Tierra del Fuego. Argentina Biol Invasions 22:3609–3619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leopold A (1933) Game Management. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lizarralde MS (1993) Current status of the introduced beaver (Castor canadensis) population in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Ambio 22:351–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Lizarralde MS, Deferrari GA, Alvarez SE et al (1996) Effects of beaver (Castor canadensis) on the nutrient dynamics of the southern beech forest of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). Ecol Austral 6:101–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Lizarralde MS, Escobar J (1999) Avances en el conocimiento y manejo de especies señaladas como conflictivas por el sector agropecuario. Plan de manejo de la especie Castor canadensis. Informe final, Propiedad intelectual. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

  • Lizarralde MS, Escobar J, Deferrari G et al (2008) El castor austral. Investigación y ciencia 379:58–64

  • Mack RN, Simberloff D, Lonsdale WM et al (2000) Biotic invasions: causes, epidemiology, global consequences, and control. Ecol Appl 10:689–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • May S (2006) Invasive aquatic and wetland animals. Chelsea House Publications, New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • McTaggart ST, Nelson TA (2003) Composition and demographics of beaver (Castor canadensis) colonies in Central Illinois. Am Midl Nat 150:139–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills SL (2007) Conservation of wildlife populations: demography, genetics, and management, 2nd edn. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson TA, Nielsen CK (2010) Population ecology of beavers in Illinois. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolet BA, Rosell F (1994) Territoriality and time budgets in beavers during sequential settlement. Can J Zool 72:1227–1237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olave RR, Vargas VR, Avila AC et al (1999) Investigación, aprovechamiento y control del castor en Islas Tierra del Fuego y Navarino. Informe técnico final, Propiedad Intelectual. Servicio de Gobierno Regional XII Region, Magallanes y Antártica Chilena. Punta Arenas, Chile

  • Oliva G, González L, Rial P et al (2001) El ambiente en la patagonia austral. Ganadería ovina sustentable en la Patagonia Austral. In: Borrelli P, Oliva G (eds) Ganadería Sustentable en la Patagonia Austral. INTA Reg. Pat. Su. pp 17–80

  • Osborn DJ (1955) Techniques of sexing beaver Castor Canadensis. J Mammal 36:141–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkes JP (1984) Feral goats on Raoul Island. I. Effect of control methods on their density, distribution, and productivity. N Z J Ecol 7:85–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkes JP, Paulson J, Donlan CJ et al (2008) Estudio de factibilidad de erradicar el castor Americano (Castor canadensis) en la Patagonia. Informe final, Propiedad Intelectual. Fundación InnovaT, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Report: LC0708/084 prepared for: Comité Binacional para la Estrategia de Erradicación de Castores de Patagonia, Austral

  • Patric F, Webb WL (1960) An evaluation of three age determination criteria in live beavers. J Wildl Manage 24:37–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne NF (1982) Colony size, age, and sex structure of Newfoundland beaver. J Wildl Manage 46:655–661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne NF (1984) Reproductive rates of beaver in Newfoundland. J Wildl Manage 48:912–917

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne NF (1989) Population dynamics and harvest response of beaver. 4–Fourth East Wildl Damage Control Conf 33:123–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RP (1979) Nuisance beaver biology and control in North-Central Wisconsin. Thesis MSc, University of Wisconsin, EU

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RP, Payne NF (1986) Productivity, size, age, and sex structure of nuisance beaver colonies in Wisconsin. J Wildl Manage 50:265–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pianka ER (2011) Evolutionary ecology. 7th edn. eBook. http://www.zo.utexas.edu/courses/bio373/erp-evolecol.html. Accessed 01 Feb 2021

  • Provost EE (1962) Morphological characteristics of the beaver ovary. J Wildl Manage 26:272–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiavini A (2016) Plan Operativo de las Unidades Demostrativas en Tierra del Fuego. Componente 4. Desarrollo de un Programa piloto de erradicación del Castor, en la Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Estrategia Nacional de Especies Exóticas Invasoras, 3rd edn. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/plan-operativo-de-unidades-demostrativas-.pdf. Accessed 19 Oct 2017

  • Schiavini A, Carranza ML, Deferrari G et al (2016) Erradicación de especies invasoras: ciencia, actitud y entendimiento. El castor en Tierra del Fuego. In Mamíferos Exóticos Invasores (special section). Mastozool Neotrop 23:279–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Slough B, Sadleir R (1977) A land capability classification system for beaver (Castor candensis Kuhl). Can J Zool 55:1324–1335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair ARE (1997) Fertility control of mammal pests and the conservation of endangered marsupials. Reprod Fertil Dev 9:1–16

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skewes O, Gonzalez F, Olave R et al (2006) Abundance and distribution of American beaver, Castor canadensis (Kuhl 1820), in Tierra del Fuego and Navarino islands. Chile Eur J Wildl Res 52:292–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snow NP, Jarzyna MA, VerCauteren KC (2017) Interpreting and predicting the spread of invasive wild pigs. J Appl Ecol 54:2022–2032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svendsen GE (1989) Pair formation, duration of pair-bonds, and mate replacement in a population of beavers (Castor canadensis). Can J Zool 67:336–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tadich TA, Novaro AJ, Kunzle P et al (2018) Agonistic behavior between introduced beaver (Castor canadensis) and endemic culpeo fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus lycoides) in Tierra del Fuego Island and implications. Acta Ethol 21:29–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Nostrand FC, Stephenson AB (1964) Age determination for beavers by tooth development. J Wildl Manage 28:430–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voigt DR, Kolenosky GB, Pimlott DH (1976) Changes in summer foods of wolves in central Ontario. J Wildl Manage 40:663–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallem PK, Jones CG, Marquet PA et al (2007) Identificación de los mecanismos subyacentes a la invasión de Castor canadensis (Rodentia) en el archipiélago de Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Rev Chil De Hist Nat 80:309–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch DK, Robel RJ, Fox LB (1993) Age structure and reproductive activity in a Kansas beaver population. Trans Kans Acad Sci 96:186–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigley TB, Roberts TH, Arner DH (1983) Reproductive characteristics of beaver in Mississippi. J Wildl Manage 47:1172–2117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zipkin EF, Kraft CE, Cooch EG et al (2009) When can efforts to control nuisance and invasive species backfire? Ecol Appl 19:1585–1595

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the hunters, to Dante Francomano for English language revision, to Sabrina Ferraris for helpful advice, and to Peter Busher for support in interpreting the reproductive physiology of beavers.

Funding

This study was funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Global Environment Facility as part of “Strengthening of Governance for the Protection of Biodiversity through the Formulation and Implementation of the National Strategy on Invasive Alien Species” (GCP/ARG/023/GEF). AG-C is funded by a CONICET fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Houssay 200, 9410, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Alvaro González-Calderón & Adrián Schiavini

  2. Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Adrián Schiavini

  3. Wildlife Conservation Society, Argentinian Representation, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Adrián Schiavini

Authors
  1. Alvaro González-Calderón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adrián Schiavini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AG-C and AS: contributed critically in the manuscript, and both approved its content for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alvaro González-Calderón.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of both authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The trapping complied with humanitarian standards as indicated in the “Materials and methods” section.

Additional information

Handling editor: Emmanuel Serrano.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

González-Calderón, A., Schiavini, A. Reproductive rates of invasive Castor canadensis respond to management in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Mamm Biol 102, 1867–1878 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00296-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00296-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation