INTRUDER OR RESOURCE? A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF METHODS AND APPROACHES IN THE CONTEXT OF BEAVER MANAGEMENT

Beavers play a very important role in nature as ecosystem engineers, transforming the environment and creating new habitats. However, in a human modified environment, beaver activities often clash with human activities, creating conflicts that require management. Beavers are thus compared to intruders (invasive species) and their positive environmental impacts are not recognized. In this context, it is important to evaluate how many studies consider beavers and related-species as a resource and not a problem. Our paper aims to answer this question by investigating models, methods and approaches applied in the context of the beaver. In particular, we focus on the methods applied to evaluate current and future distribution, possible effects or conflicts, type of management approach and purposes (i.e. conservation, conflict management or ecological restoration). The analysis was conducted by a systematic review of the literature coupled with a bibliometric approach. The bibliometric approach was performed with the software VOSviewer and the web-interface for bibliometrix Biblioshiny. The data were collected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases using several keywords such as beaver, management, conservation, model distribution, restoration, etc. The preliminary results give an overview of approaches and methods currently at the base of the definition of beaver management strategies, classifying them according to target subject (Eurasian or North American beaver), year of publication, number of citations, country of application. Moreover, the most popular methods were identified creating chronological and thematic maps. The final result will allow us to identify how frequently beavers have been managed as a tool for freshwater ecosystem restoration.