Bulletin of Forestry Science / Volume 5 / Issue 1 / Pages 129-144
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Woody nutrient preferences and habitat use of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) at the Moson Danube

József Varju & Ferenc Jánoska

Correspondence

Correspondence: Varju József

Postal address: H-9400 Sopron, Ady Endre u. 5.

e-mail: varju.jozsef[at]emk.nyme.hu

Abstract

Beavers (Castor fiber) inhabiting the Moson Danube region presently cause considerable damage to the forestry sector. In our study we discuss forest areas affected by the activities of the beavers. We marked out plots in economically significant forest cultures in riverside sectors inhabited by beavers along the Moson-Danube where we studied the beavers’ nutrient preferences and habitat use based on the number and location of chewed trunks. We have identified positive preferences in the case of several tree and shrub species (Corylus avellana: 0.24 Prunus padus: 0.22 Salix sp.: 0.82) and we have determined the areas of these cultures that have been particularly affected. We found that 75% of the chewed trunks are within 10 metres of the riverbanks. As a result of our research, forests particularly sensitive to damage can be determined more precisely.

Keywords: Moson Danube, Castor fiber, food preference, Ivlev-index, Jacobs-index, habitat use

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    Cite this article as:

    Varju, J. & Jánoska, F. (2015): Woody nutrient preferences and habitat use of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) at the Moson Danube. Bulletin of Forestry Science, 5(1): 129-144. (in Hungarian) DOI: 10.17164/EK.2015.009

    Volume 5, Issue 1
    Pages: 129-144

    DOI: 10.17164/EK.2015.009

    First published:
    10 October 2015

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