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Research article2004Peer reviewed

Effect of watercourse characteristics on food-caching behaviour by European beaver, Castor fiber

Hartman G, Axelsson A

Abstract

We studied the relations between watercourse depth and width, and the occurrence, time of initiation and finite size of beaver food caches. Water depth was significantly greater by lodges with a food cache than at lodges lacking a food cache. There was no significant difference in watercourse width between the two groups. Date of initiation of the food cache was not related to water depth, but beavers living by wider watercourses started constructing food caches before those living on narrow watercourses. Finite size of food caches was significantly related to watercourse width and time of initiation. Results are discussed in the contexts of behavioural plasticity in overwintering strategies and habitat selection. (C) 2004 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Published in

Animal Behaviour
2004, volume: 67, pages: 643-646
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

  • Hartman, Göran

    • Department of Conservation Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2003.07.008

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/3332