Willow (Salix spp.) and aspen (Populus tremula) regrowth after felling by the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber): implications for riparian woodland conservation in Scotland
Tóm tắt
A proposed trial reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver ( This paper presents data on two years of willow ( Regrowth of willow stems was quantified from cut stumps, felled logs and partially severed (‘incompletely felled’) trees, and compared with growth of stems in the canopies of untouched willows. Maximum annual regrowth was observed in incompletely felled trees, followed by cut stumps and then unfelled control trees. Mean regrowth rates were Although incompletely felled willows represent a relatively small component of felling activity (9% of all felled willow), they contribute disproportionately to the biomass of beaver‐engineered riparian woodlands, creating a more multi‐layered habitat structure. Willow regrowth in inundated areas was avoided by deer, and harvesting of regrowth by beavers was rare. Significant regrowth from 11 stumps of aspen in 2 years post‐felling occurred by suckering, with 85 suckers of mean height 2.1 m being recorded, all of which were subsequently avoided by browsing deer and beavers. These data suggest that rapid regeneration of willow and aspen will occur in riparian woodlands in the event of major felling activity by Eurasian beaver, even in the presence of low to moderate levels of roe deer browsing, and that the conservation status of both these trees or the wider habitats that they form would not be threatened by a well planned and managed reintroduction of beavers to Scotland.
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