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. 2022 Aug 2;12(15):1961.
doi: 10.3390/ani12151961.

Temporal Activity Patterns of the Eurasian Beaver and Coexisting Species in a Mediterranean Ecosystem

Emiliano Mori  1 , Giuseppe Mazza  2 , Chiara Pucci  3 , Davide Senserini  4 , Roisin Campbell-Palmer  5 , Marco Contaldo  6 , Andrea Viviano  1
Affiliations

Temporal Activity Patterns of the Eurasian Beaver and Coexisting Species in a Mediterranean Ecosystem

Emiliano Mori et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Analyses of temporal partitioning and overlaps in activity rhythms are pivotal to shed light on interspecific coexistence between similar species or prey and predators. In this work, we assessed the overlap of activity rhythms between the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber and its potential competitors and predators through camera trapping in an area in Central Italy. Interspecific overlaps of temporal activity patterns were estimated for the beavers, potential predators (the red fox Vulpes vulpes and the grey wolf Canis lupus), and a potential competitor, the coypu Myocastor coypus. The beavers showed a mostly crepuscular behaviour. Although high temporal overlap was observed between the Eurasian beavers and the red foxes and grey wolves, the activity of the beavers did not overlap with that of the predators. Accordingly, the beavers were more active on the darkest nights, i.e., avoiding bright moonlight.

Keywords: Canis lupus; Castor fiber; Central Italy; Myocastor coypus; activity rhythms; moonlight avoidance; riverine ecosystems.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Position of camera trap stations in Tuscany (Central Italy). Asterisks represent camera-trap sites.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of independent video events per species and per season (cold and warm months; cf. Materials and Methods). Birds included 14 species: Anas platyrhynchos, Spatula clypeata, Gallinula chloropus, Fulica atra, Egretta garzetta, Ardea cinerea, Casmerodius albus, Botaurus stellaris, Phasianus colchicus, Streptopelia turtur, Erithacus rubecula, Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos, Corvus cornix, and Garrulus glandarius. Small mammals included 4 species: Apodemus spp., Chletrionomys glareolus, Arvicola italicus, and Rattus rattus. The least weasel is not included in this diagram, as it was camera-trapped only once.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Interseasonal overlap of activity patterns expressed as kernel density estimates (coefficient Δ4) of the Eurasian beaver in Central Italy; 95% CI = 95% Confidence Intervals.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Interspecific overlap of activity patterns expressed as kernel density estimates (coefficient Δ4) between the Eurasian beaver and its main potential predators (left, red fox; right, grey wolf) in Central Italy; 95% CI = 95% Confidence Intervals.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Interspecific overlap of activity patterns expressed as kernel density estimates (coefficient Δ4) between the Eurasian beaver and the coypu (on the left) in Central Italy. On the right is the overlap of activity rhythms between coypus in areas with and without beavers on the Merse river; 95% CI = 95% Confidence Intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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