Impacts of Pollutants on Beavers and Otters with Implications for Ecosystem Ramifications. (April 2016) - Peterson, Elizabeth K.
Abstract: Anthropogenic pollution has impacted ecosystems and organisms globally. Aquatic freshwater systems are of particular concern because of their importance to human health and livelihoods. Sentinel species can serve as indicators for both individual and population‐level health risks to both wildlife and humans, and therefore facilitate the mitigation and prevention of such contamination. When such species are also keystone species and/or ecological engineers in aquatic ecosystems, understanding the influence of pollutants on their physiology and behavior acquires added importance. Given that river otters ( Lontra canadensis and Lutra lutra ) and beavers ( Castor canadensis and C. fiber ) serve such roles and are susceptible to a wide‐range of anthropogenic pollution, this makes them prime candidates as indicators or sentinels of aquatic ecosystem health. We review published evidence on the toxicological impacts of pollutants in beavers and river otters and discuss the implications of exposure to their behavioral systems, conservation, and surrounding ecosystem.