Scent-Marking in the Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) as a Means of Territory Defense |
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Authors: | Frank Rosell Frode Bergan Howard Parker |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Environmental Sciences, Telemark College, N-3800 B, Norway |
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Abstract: | Beaver (Castor spp.) normally scent-mark by depositing castoreum and/or anal gland secretion on scent mounds close to the water's edge. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that the Eurasian beaver (C. fiber) scent-marks as a means of territory defense. Scent-marking behavior was studied during an entire year (April 1, 1995–March 31, 1996) in seven adjacent territories along 9.2 km of the B River in Telemark County, Norway. The number and location of fresh scent marks were recorded biweekly. The main results showed that: (1) the number of scent marks in territories was significantly higher in spring, when dispersal of subadults normally occurs than during the rest of the year; (2) the number of scent marks was clumped near territorial borders; and (3) the number of scent marks was significantly greater upstream than downstream of the lodge. |
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Keywords: | Beaver Castor fiber Castor canadensis castoreum anal gland secretion scent mound scent-marking territorial behavior Norway |
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