Comparing the species distributions of the giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis), modern beaver (Castor canadensis), and muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) during the Late Pleistocene

Keywords: Castoroides, Castor, Ondatra, beaver, muskrat, Pleistocene, extinction, Ice Age, Younger Dryas, species distribution, niche modeling
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

The extinct giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) was a characteristic part of the Pleistocene mammalian fauna for much of eastern North America until its extinction approximately 10,000 years ago. Previous work has suggested that C. ohioensis is not simply a larger version of the modern beaver (Castor canadensis) in terms of its ecology. Other work has suggested that food availability may have been a limiting factor in Castoroides' distribution. While C. canadensis and the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) survived the climatic and environmental upheaval of the Younger Dryas event, C. ohioensis did not. This study will use ecological niche modelling to investigate the extent to which differing responses to environmental changes contributed to the differential survival of the Castoroides, Castor, and Ondatra at the end of the Pleistocene.