Not all ponds are created equal: long-term beaver (Castor canadensis) lodge occupancy in a heterogeneous landscape

This study identified habitat features selected by a relatively long-lived, colonial species, and how selection influenced site occupancy over varying spatial scales. Remote sensing and field data provided spatial and temporal coverage of four measures of occupancy. Models of occupancy over an 11-year period, combined with environmental variables, identified features influencing occupancy, abandonment, and recolonization at 30, 50, and 100 m scales. Unlike many studies, % deciduous was a poor predictor of occupancy. Instead, pond area, % grassland, distance to a pond that was active at least once, and standard deviation (SD) of slope were important variables. SD of slope was the only variable not influenced by beavers. Examining species –habitat relationships over broader spatial and temporal scales, particularly for ecosystem engineers, enhances understanding of non-linear effects and how they influence perceptions of habitat selection.
Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - Category: Zoology Authors: Source Type: research