Origin and history of the beaver introduction in South America

PIETREK, ALEJANDRO G.; FASOLA, L.

MASTOZOOLOGí­A NEOTROPICAL

UNIDAD DE ZOOLOGÍA Y ECOLOGÍA ANIMAL, INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS ARIDAS, CRICYT, CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2014 vol. 21 p. 355 - 359

0327-9383

The introduction of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) to Tierra del Fuego is a widely known example of a successful biological invasion. However, the origin and history of this introduction bears closer scrutiny. Using historical documentation we provide evidence that beaver introduction occurred as a singlerelease event of 20 beavers from northern Manitoba, Canada. This not only clarifies the origin of the invasion, but also suggests that the beaver population of Patagonia descends from a smaller number of individuals than previously assumed.