Details of this species in Tierra del Fuego (Chile) Status: Alien
Invasiveness: Invasive
Occurrence: Established and expanding
Source: Anderson and Maley, 2004 Arrival Date: 1950s
Introduction: Introduced by natural means Species Notes for this Location:
Castor canadensis (beavers) spread to Chilean Tierra del Fuego following their introduction to the Argentine half of Tierra del Fuego. The first record of beavers in the Chilean side of the island was in Lynch and Blanco Lakes (west of Fagnano Lake where they were originially introduced), and along the basin of the Grande River. Beavers first appeared on the western side of Fagnano Lake in 1964, and since then appear to be following a north-west bound path of colonisation within Chilean Tierra del Fuego (Jaksic et al., 2002). Today, there are about 41,000 beavers in Chilean Tierra del Fuego (Skewes and Olave, 1990; in Jaksic et al., 2002), extending from the Oro River to San Sebastian village. Management Notes for this Location:
The beaver is subject to a control programme by the Chilean government on Tierra del Fuego Island. Impacts:
Economic/Livelihoods: Beavers impact on forestry business because the beaver dams kill trees in adjacent areas.
Ecosystem change: The beaver, in building its dams, destroys trees by ringing them and inundates Nothofagus forests (Jaksic et al., 2002).
Herbivory: Beavers feed on leaves and bark. In Chilean Tierra del Fuego, beavers are damaging over 5,400haof native southern beech (Nothofagus pumilio) by constructing dams and by direct consumption (Jaksic et al., 2002).
Interaction with other invasive species: Beavers impact on forestry activities as the beaver dams kill trees in adjacent areas. It also allows exotic plants to invade meadows.
Modification of nutrient regime: The beaver alters the nutrient dynamics of Nothofagus forests in Tierra del Fuego (Jaksic et al., 2002). Last Modified: 13/04/2006 2:31:28 p.m.
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