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Population Dynamics of Eurasian Beaver After Reintroduction

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Population Dynamics of Eurasian Beaver After Reintroduction ISSN 2075-1117, Russian Journal of Biological Invasions, 2016, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 355–373. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2016. Original Russian Text © V.G. Petrosyan, V.V. Golubkov, N.A. Zavyalov, Z.I. Goryainova, N.N. Dergunova, A.V. Omelchenko, S.A. Bessonov, S.A. Albov, N.F. Marchenko, L.A. Khlyap, 2016, published in Rossiiskii Zhurnal Biologicheskikh Invazii, 2016, No. 3, pp. 66–89. Patterns of Population Dynamics of Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber L.) after Reintroduction into Nature Reserves of the European Part of Russia V. G. Petrosyana, *, V. V. Golubkovb, N. A. Zavyalovc, **, Z. I. Goryainovaa, N. N. Dergunovaa, A. V. Omelchenkoa, S. A. Bessonova, S. A. Albovd, N. F. Marchenkoe, and L. A. Khlyapa, *** aSevertsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Leninskii 33, Moscow, 119071 Russia bFederal Research Centre “Information and Management”, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 44, Moscow, 119333 Russia cRdeysky Nature Reserve, ul. Chelpanova 27, Kholm, Novgorod oblast, 175271 Russia dPrioksko-Terrasnyi Nature Biosphere Reserve, Serphukov District, Danki, Moscow oblast, 142200 Russia eKhopersky Nature Reserve, Varvarino, NovoKhopersky District, Voronezh oblast, 397418 Russia *e-mail: [email protected] **e-mail: [email protected] ***e-mail: [email protected] Received May 12, 2016 Abstract⎯This paper presents the results of analysis of the population dynamics of Eurasian beaver after its reintroduction into the Lapland, Darvinsky, Central-Forest, Prioksko-Terrasnyi, Oksky, and Khopersky nat- ural reserves that are located in European Russia in the northern, southern and central parts of the beaver range. The paper analyzes the effectiveness of a discrete time model that includes a feedback between animals and their food resources for the quantitative description of the population dynamics in the optimal, suboptimal, and pessimal habitats. It is shown that the beaver population dynamics demonstrates four grows types (patterns): the eruptive type (Lapland Reserve); single-stage type with a quasi-periodic oscillation (Prioksko-Terrasnyi Reserve), multi-stage type with quasi-periodic oscillations (Darvinsky, Central-Forest, and Khopersky reserves) and the logistic curve of population growth with periodic oscillations around it (Oksky Reserve). The biotic and abiotic fac- tors that determine these types of animal population dynamics are discussed. Keywords: reintroduction, population dispersal, Eurasian beaver, ecosystem engineering activity, population dynamics, mathematical model, prediction DOI: 10.1134/S20751117160 400 68 INTRODUCTION in the southern regions (48°–55.5° N), 0.1–3.3 bea- By the early 20th century, Eurasian beaver (Castor vers to the square km in the middle latitudes (56°– fiber L.) almost disappeared in most parts of Eurasia. 59.5° N), and 0.04–1.1 beavers to the square km in the The recovery of the Eurasian beaver population in the northern latitudes (60°–63.5° N). While in 1972 there Soviet Union was mainly due to the large-scale works was no statistically significant difference in the beaver in the 1950–1970s on intentional introduction of the population density in regions of different latitudes, the beaver into its historical range (reintroduction) in a population densities of the northern and middle lati- number of regions (Zharkov and Sokolov, 1967; Zhar- tudes as well as northern and southern latitudes sig- kov, 1969; Dezhkin et al., 1986). It is estimated that nificantly differed as early as 1991 and 2003, but there the intensity of reproduction of beaver populations in the was no significant difference in the indicators of bea- restored range varied from 4.5% of the average annual growth in the northern taiga regions to 32% in mixed for- ver population density at the middle and southern lat- ests in the west of European Russia (Lavrov, 1975, 1981). itudes. Currently, Eurasian beaver numbers are growing Baskin et al. (2011) showed that the dynamics of the due to beavers colonizing unoccupied watercourses and recovery of the beaver populations changed with a growth in the density of earlier formed populations geographical latitude. By 1972–2003, the beaver pop- (Grevtsev, 2011). In 2011, the total beaver population in ulation density reached 0–1.4 beavers to the square km Russia was 600000–650000 (Borisov, 2011). 355 356 PETROSYAN et al. Studies of beaver followed its recovery; yet, the non-key species, making it difficult to predict their ecological consequences of reintroduction and pat- population dynamics and distribution. Wright et al. terns of beaver populations growth still remain insuffi- (2004) used a model that assumed the following: at the ciently studied. Some success was achieved by analyz- moment t E individuals can use the total habitat stock ing the state of beaver populations in natural reserves, T = H + V + D that is composed of usable habitats since the places of release, number, sex, and age of (H—active habitats), recovering habitats (V), and released animals were known in those cases; popula- those, which are temporarily unsuitable for beavers tion protection and survey were organized, and the (D—degraded habitats). The used system of differen- environment was monitored. tial equations reflects changes in the values of H, V, and in time with consideration for the following In recent years, the importance of natural distur- D parameters of the intensity of changes in habitats: — bances of different types for the dynamics of forest r the rate of colonizing new habitats, —the rate of tran- ecosystems and preservation of biological diversity is p sition from the state into ; and —the rates of understood more and more (Smirnova, 2004; V H d c degradation and recovery of habitats, respectively. The Bobrovskii, 2010). The sources of such disturbances models that are presented in this work are designed to include Eurasian beaver as a keystone species (an edifi- make long-term prediction, but the use of a continuous cator species, ecosystem engineer) that transforms time scale creates certain difficulties in interpreting the aquatic and riparian ecosystems, which abound in forest results. To overcome this, we developed a discrete time landscapes (Zavyalov et al., 2005; Zavyalov, 2015). That model that was used to describe beaver population being said, the role of beavers in the structure and dynamics for the Prioksko-Terrasnyi Biosphere Nature dynamics of forest ecosystems is still insufficiently Reserve (Petrosyan et al., 2012b). studied. This is especially important for the countries of Western Europe and Russia, where, owing to the The goal of this work was to establish the patterns programs for beaver reintroduction and subsequent of beaver population dynamics under different envi- population dispersal, Eurasian beaver is restoring its ronmental conditions on the basis of the available former positions in aquatic and riparian ecosystems long-term data. The tasks of the study included the (Grevtsev, 2011; Halley et al., 2012; etc.). following: the quantitative characterization of the development of beaver populations from introduction An effective method to describe, analyze, and pre- to the present time in cases of specially protected nat- dict the main trends of beaver population dynamics in ural areas (reserves); identification of the main trends different environmental conditions is to create special and patterns of beaver population dynamics in the mathematical models. However, the models that are reserves that are located in different natural zones of traditionally used in ecology are not always suitable for Russia; and predicting the state of populations of this the study of beaver populations, since they take into key species. account the trophic relationships and competition of species, but do not include the influence of a species on a habitat and the feedback between a species and its MATERIALS AND METHODS environment. For example, the classical “predator– We analyzed the data on the long-term beaver pop- prey” model of Lotka-Volterra or its modifications ulation dynamics in the area of six reserves that are (the Rosenzweig–MacArthur model) for prey, predator, located in European Russia: the Lapland, Darvinsky, and super-predator, for the most part include trophic Central–Forest, Prioksko–Terrasnyi, Oksky, and relationships and species competition (Deng, 2001). The Khopersky Reserves (Fig. 1). The data on beaver pop- researches (Cuddington and Hastings, 2007; ulation dynamics were published earlier with the Petrosyan et al. 2012a; Rechnoi bobr kak klyuchevoi…, exception of observations in the Khopersky Reserve 2012) showed that it was not correct to use these mod- (see below). els as well as modified discrete models of Malthus, (LR) is located in the moun- Beaverton-Holt, and Ricker and models based on the The Lapland Reserve tainous regions of the Kola Peninsula, to the north of time series analysis to describe the population dynamics the Arctic Circle (67°39′ N, 32°38′ E). The area of the of key species that actively change their environment. reserve is 276435 ha. It is confined to the hypoarctic Such species may have higher population growth rates in (taiga) type of mountain altitudinal zonality (Fig. 1). suboptimal and pessimal habitats than other. Most of the territory (55%) is covered with northern In addition to general descriptions, there are sev- taiga forests composed of pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour; eral main models that were developed to predict the Pinus friesiana Wichura), spruce (Picea obovata influence of key species on riparian ecosystems. For Ledeb.; Picea fennica (Regel) Kom.), and birch (Bet- example, Gurney and Lawton (1996) developed a ula callosa Lindq.; Betula kusmisscheffii (Regel) Suk- model for the situation when the role of a key species aczev; Betula pendula Roth). The forest plant commu- is to modify the habitat and move it from one state into nities also include rowan (Sorbus gorodkovii Pojark), two–three others. The research by Cuddington and gray alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench), goat willow Hastings (2004) showed that the non-equilibrium and two-color willow (Salix caprea L.; Salix phylicifo- dynamics of key species differed from the dynamics of lia L.), and small groups of aspen (Populus tremula L.).
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