Study sheds new light on Scotland’s beavers - University of Stirling
A study by the University of Stirling has shed new light on how beavers reintroduced to Scotland indirectly interact with deer – and the implications for the woodlands they share.
Researchers found that almost two thirds of trees felled by beavers produced new shoots, which were more abundant and concentrated closer to the ground than on other trees.
This could diversify woodland structure into a mix of short and tall tree stems, which ought to boost biodiversity, according to researchers in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
The research, which also involved researchers at NatureScot and the James Hutton Institute, was carried out in eastern Scotland in established beaver territories by studying almost 800 trees.
Scientists compared the number of shoots on beaver-felled trees to standing trees and collected 156 shoots with four different combinations of beaver and deer browsing to compare their nutrient levels and physical characteristics.
Posted On: 30/04/2024
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