Influence of the Activity of the Eurasian Beaver Castor fiber (Castoridae, Mammalia) on the Ecosystem Biodiversity of Small Rivers in the Forest–Steppe Zone
- Authors: Osipov V.V.1, Bashinskiy I.V.2, Podshivalina V.N.3
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Affiliations:
- Privolzhskaya Lesostep’ State Nature Reserve
- Severtsov Institute of the Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences
- Prisurskii State Nature Reserve
- Issue: Vol 45, No 10 (2018)
- Pages: 1139-1148
- Section: Article
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1062-3590/article/view/182929
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359018100205
- ID: 182929
Cite item
Abstract
Abstract—Preliminary data on the impact of the activity of the Eurasian beaver on the ecosystem biodiversity of small rivers in three steppe areas within the Privolzhskaya Lesostep’ State Nature Reserve in the Khoper River basin were obtained. With zooplankton, amphibians, and fish as examples, it was shown that after beaver-made ponds had appeared, the abundance of all these groups increased. In old ponds, the fish abundance decreased while that of amphibians continued to increase. In drained ponds, the zooplankton and amphibian abundance decreased while fish became more numerous, due to the appearance of better flowage.
About the authors
V. V. Osipov
Privolzhskaya Lesostep’ State Nature Reserve
Author for correspondence.
Email: osipovv@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Penza, 440031
I. V. Bashinskiy
Severtsov Institute of the Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences
Email: osipovv@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 117071
V. N. Podshivalina
Prisurskii State Nature Reserve
Email: osipovv@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Cheboksary, 428034