plasticity in beaver mating behavior and the mating system
(Smith 1997; Sun 2003).
Many aspects of beaver life history make them an ideal
species for testing hypotheses regarding the evolution and
maintenance of mating systems. Considerable theory and
data are available for specific behaviors associated with the
structure and function of the beaver social group. However,
further experimental field tests are required to discern
among alternative hypotheses for the evolution and main-
tenance of the beaver mating and social system.290 Chapter Twenty-Four