A study of the beaver (Castor canadensis mexicanus) in Big Bend National Park, Texas
Connor J and Feeley B. 1976. A study of the beaver (Castor canadensis mexicanus) in Big Bend National Park, Texas
The beaver of the Rio Grande River, Castor canadensis mexicanus, in Big Bend National Park show limited sign of competition with the introduced halophytic species, Tamarix pentandra, salt cedar, or tamarisk. This species did compete with riparian vegetation, Salix species, Baccarhis species, Phragmites communis, but in limited context where fire or flood left open areas where this hardy species could take seed. It was found that in some areas the beaver were using the seedlings as a food source, but not enough to affect tamarisk population. The park's population of cottonwood, Populus fremonti is limited. The genus populus is a preferred food species of the beaver, in general, and there was only one area where the beaver did recent damage. Two other cottonwood stands were noted, one with seedlings. Population of the beaver seemed to be small for that large of an area, ca. ninety-four individuals in a 172 km area of the river. Activity was limited, yet steady in that no one area was obviously inhabited by a large colony of beaver. Activity consisted of digging, tracks, and cuttings. It is not yet known whether trapping is a variable in Big Bend beaver populations.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Connor, Jeff; Feeley, Brooke
- Date of Issue
- 1976-01
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, beaver (Castor canadensis) - Rodentia - Castoridae, Competition (Species), cottonwood (Populus) - Salicaceae, salt cedar (Tamarix) - Tamariaceae