The Meuse brings beavers together
The European beaver had completely disappeared from Flanders and the Netherlands. After near extinction, only a few relict populations remained in Eurasia. It was only through reintroductions at the end of the last century that the species returned here. Since then, populations have been growing rapidly. Yet their status is still often assessed on a river basin basis.
But do beavers adhere to these boundaries? In new genetic research, we analysed DNA from 129 beavers from Flanders and the Netherlands. We investigated whether beavers spontaneously move between different river basins and whether this mixing enhances genetic diversity. Beavers originating from Bavaria, the Elbe region and Poland were used for the reintroductions in the Scheldt basin, the Netherlands and the German Eifel respectively. Their origins are still visible in their DNA. Nevertheless, there is mixing across basins. The Meuse basin in particular appears to be a meeting zone where beavers of different origins come together.
This exchange ensures greater genetic variation, which is essential for a healthy and robust population. River basins are therefore not closed worlds for beavers, but connected networks. This insight is important for a well-founded monitoring of the status of beavers in our region.
Karen Cox, Frank Huysentruyt
Image above: (Yves Adams - Vildaphoto)