# Castor fiber

**European Beaver / Beaver / Eurasian Beaver**

Information about this species.

This species is an important part of the ecosystems in Västerbotten.

## FAQs

- **How does the Eurasian beaver act as an ecosystem engineer in the Taiga?**: By building dams, beavers impound streams and create new wetlands. This structural modification slows water runoff, raises the groundwater table, and establishes essential habitats for amphibians, fish, and waterfowl within the boreal zone.
- **What effect does beaver activity have on deadwood (CWD) and biodiversity?**: Flooding from beaver dams kills riparian trees, which locally creates a massive increase in standing and fallen deadwood (Coarse Woody Debris, CWD). This profoundly benefits saproxylic beetles (e.g., Tragosoma depsarium) and wood-decaying fungi, boosting biodiversity in managed forests.


## Weitere Informationen

- Illustration: Castor fiber
- Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten
- Native to Northern Sweden