Article

Ivan V. Bashinskiy, Researcher, Laboratory for Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of RAS (119071, Moscow, Russia, Leninskiy 33); e-mail: ivbash@mail.ru
Vitaly V. Osipov, Senior Researcher, State Nature Reserve Privolzhskaya Lesostep' (440031, Russia, Penza region, Okruzhnaya 12A); e-mail: osipovv@mail.ru

Bashinskiy I.V., Osipov V.V. 2018. Distribution and dynamic of Castor fiber (Castoridae, Mammalia) population in forest-steppe rivers: a case of the State Nature Reserve Privolzhskaya Lesostep', Penza region, European Russia. Nature Conservation Research 3(Suppl.2): 110–115. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2018.068

The work presents the first results of annual monitoring of a beaver population on the territory of Ostrovtsovskaya Lesostep' (State Nature Reserve Privolzhskaya Lesostep', Penza region). In 2014–2017 all water-courses and water-bodies, including the River Khoper, River Selimutka, River Yuzhnaya and several oxbows of the Khoper were investigated twice a year for assessing the beaver abundance using the method of settlements capacity. The mean density of dams was 7.7 dams/km of watercourse, the maximum was on the River Yuzhnaya – 10.8 dams/km, and the minimum was on the River Selimutka – 5.5 dams/km. During the study period 10 to 13 beaver settlements were observed, the total abundance of beavers tends to decrease (from 42 to 30 animals). The present density of beavers and a lack of food resources limit a further increase of the species abundance.

ecosystem monitoring, Eurasian beaver, Protected Area, small rivers

Received: 23.04.2018

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