Introduction
Beavers are huge mammal with sharp front teeth. They attain between sixteen and thirty one and half kilograms at maturity and an overall measurement of one hundred and twenty centimeters lengthwise (Feldhamer, Thompson and Chapman 289). Some of its distinct characteristics include a flat tail and shiny fur. This paper offers an in-depth insight on the habitats, ranges, reproduction, special adaptations, and the ecological significance of beavers.
Habitat
Beavers are known to make holes or dens for in the banks of rivers and lakes. They also convert other water bodies to favorable territories through constructing barriers. Results from past studies have shown that the most important of chief habitat of the beaver include near and along river banks with softwoods. Therefore, concentrating protection and management measures in these regions is of fundamental significance. Beavers have been proven to reach an elevated level of fertility and productiveness in the riparian softwoods, most likely due to reduced clashes with human beings. Other habitats favorable for the beaver include marsh regions especially in inundated plains near rivers. These areas are considered fit for the attainment of optimum beaver populace. Results from a methodical investigation conducted along the Lower Rhine River elucidated the fact that allowing development of Natural River aspects resulted to the most favorable habitat for the beavers (Nolet 18). However, the best habitat must have a large, secured, and parched that acts as a refuge or sanctuary for the beavers in times of floods.
All environments for the beavers are in places free from artificial water reservoirs as these have a negative consequence for the beavers through the adjustment of the normal water systems. This is due to the fact that beavers accumulate and create their food reserve in the water. Seasons of low and high water levels may wash away these food reserves. Reduced water levels also expose the beavers to marauder and other unwelcome intruders in their habitat and this is a threat to their survival. In such cases, they may be forced to relocate hence increase the chances of drowning and malnourishment. It is also important to posit that beavers (Nolet 19).
Range
To understand the range of the beaver, it is important to focus on both the historical and present ranges. According to Feldhamer, Thompson and Chapman prior to the inhabitation of Europeans in North America, the beaver populace was anticipated to be between sixty and four hundred million. Their population was widely spread across Canada, Alaska, and the United States where they occupied appropriate and fitting marshland and along river banks. In Mexico, they occupied the Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the population of the beavers greatly declined as a result of their slaughter by man to support the widening fashion industry mainly to make hats. The hunt for beavers led to the destruction of their habitats and this aided the decline in population. This led to the introduction of government directives and rules that controlled the killing of beavers for their fur. Subsequently, as a result of public cry, strategies were put into place to create artificial habitats for beavers in the wake of the twentieth century. They were cached and reintroduced to their previous as well as new habitats (288). Over time, beavers have been brought up in artificial habitats outside their range.
Currently, the population of beavers is projected to be between six and twelve million. Today, beavers occupy most parts of North America despite the fact that their territories have experienced encroaching by man through farming and settlements. There has been absence of beavers in Alaska and Canadian Arctic tundra as the plant life in these area has deficiency in vital wooded vegetation which is a source of food for beavers, and also due to reduced outside contact as a result of frost. In other places of Canada and America, the beaver population has been on the rise. Their population in Mexico today is insignificant despite the fact that they can manage to survive. Beavers have currently been introduced in other parts of the world particularly Finland and Argentina (Feldhamer, Thompson and Chapman 289).
Reproduction
Beavers are known to arrange themselves into undeviating procreation couples and a male only has one partner. Since time immemorial, only mature or fully developed beavers rear young ones. Among the Eurasian breeds of beavers, females experience instances of sexual heat or excitement starting from December with the most occurrences happening in the middle of the month of January. Beavers mate more during the warm weathers and copulation takes place inside the water or in the sleeping den once in a blue moon (Schwarze and Sun 80). According to Soderstorm, Beavers mate only one time in a year. Southern beavers mate starting from December while those in the northern part of the world mate between January and March. Conception and development of the young inside the mother’s womb takes a span of four months. Beavers that give birth between April and August produce between two to four young ones. These young ones are able to toddle and swim a couple of days after birth (87).
According to Schwarze and Sun, “In a study in Newfoundland the mean litter size of the North American beavers was 2.7 embryos. In Maine there were 3.55 young in every litter on average. Females had four placenta scars each indicating one embryo in the preceding gestation period” (81). This shows that the rate of death for the young beavers is seemingly small. In presence of huge levels of ideal foods and favorable weather conditions, a female beaver can give birth to around six kits or young ones.
Special adaptations and ecological significance
The teeth of the beaver develop incessantly and are twisted into the shape of a chisel. This adaptation enables it to chew and bite firm or stiff substances with its teeth, therefore, it is able to supply and provide itself with the essential items for construction of its living quarters (Simmons 119). The beaver has a favorable and appropriate ratio of body weight to that of the brain which means that it is cleverer than other animals of similar size (Schwarze and Sun 11). Dams resulting from the construction of living quarters by beavers adjust and transform the course of a river as well as the organization and composition of the habitation. The resulting pools of water improve or augment the rotation and sequence of nutrients, allow accumulation of residue, and also dispel or fritter away forces linked with inundations. Beavers also support marine habitats and organic multiplicity. Their territory or habitation forms a well-off or favorable environment for other mammals such as fish, frogs, and ducks. Due to the fact that their dams and ponds maintain water on dry land for prolonged periods of time, they help in the mitigation of dry spells, reduces the rate of soil erosion, and also help in cleansing and sanitizing water (Baron 114).
Conclusion
In conclusion, beavers are enormous mammal with pointed razor sharp front teeth. They reach between sixteen and thirty one and half kilograms at maturity and an overall measurement of one hundred and twenty centimeters lengthwise. Some of its distinct characteristics include a flat tail and glossy outside coating. They are known to make holes or dens for in the banks of rivers and lakes and also convert other water bodies to favorable territories through constructing barriers. During the period preceding the encroachment of North America by Europeans, the beaver general population was predicted to be between sixty and four hundred million. Their population was widely extended across Canada, Alaska, and the United States where they occupied appropriate and fitting marshland and along river banks. In Mexico, they occupied the Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers. They mate only once in a year. Southern beavers mate starting from December while those in the northern part of the world mate between January and March. Conception and development of the young inside the mother’s womb takes duration of four months. Beavers that give birth between April and August produce between two to four young ones. These young ones are able to toddle and swim a couple of days after birth. Their razor sharp teeth enables them to chew and bite firm or stiff substances with its teeth hence enabling them to supply and provide themselves with the essential items for construction of its living quarters. Beavers adjust and transform the course of a river as well as the organization and composition of the habitation.
Works cited
Baron, Jill. Rocky Mountain Futures: An Ecological Perspective. Washington: Island Press, 2002. Print.
Felhhamer, George, Thompson Bruce and Chapman Joseph. Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. Baltimore: JHU Press, 2003. Print.
Nolet, Bartholomeus. Management of the Beaver (Castor Fiber): Towards Restoration. UK: Council of Europe, 1997. Print.
Schwarze, Dietland and Sun Lixing. The Beaver: Natural History of a Wetlands Engineer. New York: Cornell University Press, 2003. Print.
Simmons, Adam. Encyclopedia of Adaptations in the Natural World. USA: Adam Simmons, 2010. Print.
Soderstorm, Neil. Deer-Resistant Landscaping: Proven Advice and Strategies for Outwitting Deer and 20 other Pesky Mammals. USA: Rodale, 2008. Print.
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