Article

Food niche variation of European and American mink during the American mink invasion in north-eastern Belarus

Authors:
  • Naust Eco station
  • Mammmal Research Institute PAS
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Abstract

Understanding processes allowing the co-existence of ecologically similar species is important but difficult to study in community ecology. Introductions of alien species are unplanned experiments allowing investigation of co-adaptation of both native and invasive species over a short period. We analysed food niche differentiation between native European mink and alien American mink after invasion of the latter species in Belarus. European mink feed mainly on crayfish, frogs and fish whereas American mink prefer small mammals, fish and frogs. The diet of both species varied between seasons and during the period of alien mink invasion. Concurrent with the progress of American mink invasion, the European mink food niche has narrowed to feeding mainly on frogs, with the proportion of aquatic prey (fish and crayfish) in their diet drastically reduced. In contrast, the American mink food niche became wider during invasion. The breadth was stable but included a varied proportion of different prey categories: namely an increased proportion of aquatic prey and a decreased proportion of water vole and waterfowl. The increase in abundance of American mink saw a decrease in the proportion of larger prey in their diet. When American mink preyed more often on frogs, food niche overlap of both predators increased. This result suggests that arrival of an alien competitor reduced food abundance (exploitative competition) and caused a change in native mink diet. Keywords Mustela lutreola-Neovison vison-Feeding ecology-Species displacement-Invasive predator-Species co-existence

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... The pressure of American mink on their native European counterparts may have several cumulative causes. Competition between both species is likely high, not only because they occupy similar habitats, but also because their diet preferences overlap considerably (Maran et al., 1998;Sidorovich et al., 2010). European mink diet alters under the presence of American mink, diverging from their preferred aquatic prey to amphibians or birds (García et al., 2020;Sidorovich et al., 2010). ...
... Competition between both species is likely high, not only because they occupy similar habitats, but also because their diet preferences overlap considerably (Maran et al., 1998;Sidorovich et al., 2010). European mink diet alters under the presence of American mink, diverging from their preferred aquatic prey to amphibians or birds (García et al., 2020;Sidorovich et al., 2010). This change in diet could result from direct aggression between the mink species, often leading to the European -the smaller -counterpart to flee the fight and hide in unfavourable terrain (Sidorovich & MacDonald, 2001). ...
... Henttonen (1922) linked the decline of the European mink to the simultaneous decline of the European crayfish (Astacus astacus) after invasion of the crayfish plague in Finland. Although some studies indeed found crayfish to be an important part in European mink diet (García et al., 2020;Maran et al., 1998;Sidorovich et al., 2010), in others crayfish were not at all a significant addition (Palazón et al., 2004;Palazón et al., 2008;Sidorovich, 2000). European mink are likely to adapt the crayfish proportion in their diet to availability in their environment. ...
Thesis
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In the past three decennia, a dozen mammal species were saved from the brink of extinction through conservation efforts such as reintroductions. The European mink (Mustela lutreola), as the most critically endangered mammal of Europe, requires increased conservation efforts to survive. Since the abolishment of American mink (Neovison vison) farms in the Netherlands, only a very small number of these animals has been observed in the wild, and therefore the question arose whether it would be feasible to reintroduce the European mink in the Netherlands with one of their major threats gone. This project aims to study the possibility of the reintroduction of the European mink in the Netherlands based on the IUCN guidelines for reintroduction, to provide an outline and identify the knowledge gaps that need to be filled for a successful reintroduction in the future. In general, most threats to the European mink have been mitigated. The presence of the American mink needs to be monitored closely, and its inability to settle in the Netherlands compared to other countries should be researched. The European mink is unlikely to pose a large risk to native Dutch biodiversity such as meadow birds, but is instead likely to consume invasive American crayfish species and aid in its control. There are several societal issues to overcome: the image of the general public of the European mink might be tainted due to COVID-19, and fishermen and trappers are likely to feel inconvenienced. Proper communication and support is necessary to ensure a long-lasting successful project. The most suitable locations appear to be the Weerribben-Wieden and the Biesbosch, although their prey availability in winter months needs to be studied. A habitat suitability analysis needs to be conducted. The release of animals would have to occur over a span of multiple years, and to reduce the stress of travel in the animals, the best course of action would be to set up a breeding centre in the Netherlands. Each year pregnant females can then be placed in a soft-release enclosure, which can be opened up in August to allow the mothers and their young out in the wild. More research is needed on proper monitoring methods, such as the suitability of radio-harnesses compared to intraperitoneal transmitters and the usage of scats for DNA analysis.
... However, due to the varying outcomes and limitations of the techniques employed in diet studies (field observation, scat analyses, stomach contents, DNA metabarcoding; e.g. 3-5 ) and potential seasonal, regional or individual variation, a large number of these studies are required to accurately assess an animal's diet [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] . Alternatively, ecomorphology studies use an animal's anatomy to infer its ecology (e.g. ...
... Both minks are semiaquatic species adapted to riverine habitats, where they hunt both terrestrial vertebrates and aquatic prey 32 . However, the extent of dietary overlap or prey competition between both mink species is unclear due to the wide regional and seasonal variation of main prey in American mink 10,15,33 . This convergent OPEN ...
... However, studies on European mink diet are scarcer 9,14 , particularly those comparing the sexes 13 . Additionally, a few studies have compared diets of sympatric European and American mink 10,15 . All these studies can be summarized as: A, male American mink favor medium-sized mammals and birds usually heavier than themselves; B, female American mink favor aquatic prey, but are displaced towards small mammals and birds when seasonal changes in prey availability shift the males' diet towards aquatic prey; C, European mink favor aquatic prey, particularly fish and crayfish; but D, they are displaced towards amphibians and small mammals when www.nature.com/scientificreports/ ...
Article
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European and American minks are very similar in ecology, behavior and morphology. Both species hunt terrestrial vertebrates and aquatic prey, but the American mink is a more generalist predator which, among other factors, allows it to outcompete the European mink in areas where it has been introduced. We used 3D geometric morphometrics and estimates of muscle mechanical advantage to assess the degree of variation in mandibular morphology, and to determine whether such variation reflects dietary differences between the two species. The three main axes of variation represented interspecific differences, a common allometric trajectory between species and sexes, and the interspecific effect of sexual size dimorphism, with males having overall stronger bites than females. Differences in mandible shape and biomechanical parameters suggest that American minks are better equipped for preying on terrestrial vertebrates, while the features seen in European mink could be related to tougher prey, fish capture, or both. Additionally, within each species, the larger specimens of each sex present indicators of a higher percentage of terrestrial prey in their diet. These results indicate a low potential dietary overlap between both species, suggesting that factors other than prey competition may have a role in the decline of the European mink.
... For instance, American mink are larger, both in length and weight (Sidorovich et al., 1999;Wilson & Mittermeier, 2009), and thus can overcome the native species in physical confrontation. Furthermore, although the American mink has been described as a strictly carnivorous, generalist, and opportunistic predator, there is potential dietary overlap or prey competition between the two species (García Bustos, 2018;Sidorovich et al., 2010). ...
... In both mink species, aquatic prey usually represent the largest percentage of their diet. However, this percentage is bigger in the European mink than in the American mink, since the latter tends to rely more on rodents and waterfowl (e.g., Sidorovich et al., 2010). The fact that the distance between American mink and European polecat in the morphospace of this study is shorter than the distance between the European mink and the European polecat supports this hypothesis, as it suggests a dietary gradient among the three species ( Figure 3A). ...
... However, when two predators which target a similar range of prey coexist, one of them (usually the smaller and/or less aggressive) is generally displaced by the other towards less energetic or abundant prey (Dayan & Simberloff, 1996;Ewer, 1973). This has been studied both within and between both mink species (Birks & Dunstone, 1985;Palazón et al., 2004;Sidorovich et al., 2010), and complemented with studies on social interaction also within and between species Sidorovich et al., 1999). As, the smaller sex of the smaller species, female European mink could be being displaced to an increasingly narrower, poorer diet when both species coexist. ...
Article
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European and American minks (Mustela lutreola and Neovison vison, respectively) are very similar in their ecology, behavior, and morphology. However, the American mink is a generalist predator and seems to adapt better to anthropized environments, allowing it to outcompete the European mink in areas where it has been introduced, threatening the survival of the native species. To assess whether morphological differences may be contributing to the success of the American mink relative to the European mink, we analyzed shape variation in the cranium of both species using 3D geometric morphometrics. A set of 38 landmarks and 107 semilandmarks was used to study shape variation between and within species, and to assess how differences in size factored into that variation. Sexual dimorphism in both size and shape was also studied. Significant differences between species were found in cranial shape, but not in size. Relative to American mink, European mink have a shorter facial region with a rounder forehead and wider orbits, a longer neurocranium with less developed crests and processes, and an antero‐medially placed tympanic bullae with an anteriorly expanded cranial border. Within species, size‐related sexual dimorphism is highly significant, but sexual dimorphism in shape is only significant in American mink, not in European mink. Additionally, two trends common to both species were discovered, one related to allometric changes and another to sexual size dimorphism. Shape changes related to increasing size can be subdivided into two, probably related, groups: increased muscle force and growth. The first group somewhat parallels the differences between both mink species, while the second group of traits includes an anterodorsal expansion of the face, and the neurocranium shifting from a globous shape in small individuals to a dorsoventrally flattened ellipse in the largest ones. Finally, the sexual dimorphism trend, while also accounting for differences in muscle force, seems to be related to the observed dietary differences between males and females. Overall, differences between species and sexes, and shape changes with increasing size, seem to mainly relate to differences in masticatory‐muscle volume and therefore muscle force and bite force, which, in turn, relate to a wider range of potential prey (bigger prey, tougher shells). Thus, muscle force (and dietary range) would be larger in American mink than in European mink, in males than in females, and in larger individuals than in smaller ones. Cranial shape and size variation in European (Mlu) and American minks (Nvi) were studied. Both species differed in shape but not size, while sexes within each differed in size but in shape only for Nvi. Allometric shape changes were related to growth and sexual dimorphism. Overall, differences among species, sexes, and sizes related to masticatory‐muscle volume, which suggests that muscle force (and dietary range) would be larger in Nvi than in Mlu, in males than in females, and in larger mink.
... different size or sex). Invasive species are usually characterized by high niche breadth (Jeschke & Strayer, 2006), and in invaded habitats, their diet may change over time in response to prey availability (Sidorovich, Polozov, & Zalewski, 2010). Prey exploitation by invasive predators and, as a consequence, changes in their diet may increase competition with native predators (Sidorovich et al., 2010), but some mechanisms of niche partitioning may also arise. ...
... Invasive species are usually characterized by high niche breadth (Jeschke & Strayer, 2006), and in invaded habitats, their diet may change over time in response to prey availability (Sidorovich, Polozov, & Zalewski, 2010). Prey exploitation by invasive predators and, as a consequence, changes in their diet may increase competition with native predators (Sidorovich et al., 2010), but some mechanisms of niche partitioning may also arise. ...
... Numerous studies have compared the trophic niches of native and non-native carnivores after the establishment of invasive species populations (e.g. Santos, Pinto, & Santos-Reis, 2007;Melero et al., 2008;Sidorovich et al., 2010). All these studies showed that non-native carnivores exploited local food resources alongside native species, and that their trophic niches overlapped to varying degrees. ...
Article
Introductions of invasive species increase competitive interactions in a community proportionally to the similarity between the ecological niches of invasive and native species. Food represents one of the most important resources influencing competition, and differences in the trophic niche of native and invasive species can affect their ability to coexist. Moreover, in sympatric native and invasive species of similar body size and high sexual dimorphism, competition for food between individuals of the same sex may be higher than intraspecific competition between males and females, thus making the overall competitive interactions more complex. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraspecific and intrasexual competition for food resources between two sexually dimorphic mustelids, the native polecat Mustela putorius and invasive American mink Neovison vison , in riparian habitats of Białowieża Forest (Poland). Based on an analysis of 1215 scats, we studied the food habits of eight polecat and 24 mink individuals. The trophic niches of the polecat and mink were narrow and overlapped considerably. The diet of both predators was dominated by amphibians (mainly the common frog Rana temporaria ), which comprised up to 94.1% and 89.7% of polecat and mink prey biomass, respectively. Individual diet variation was low within each sex group of both species. Interspecific similarities in body mass of the sexes and intraspecific differences in body mass between the sexes did not affect pairwise niche overlaps. However, we observed some mechanisms of food segregation between the sexes and species that reduced intra‐ and interspecies competition. Polecat males hunted more common toads Bufo bufo than polecat females, mink males and mink females. They also hunted larger frogs than polecat females, and the opposite pattern was recorded in mink. We conclude that two predator species exploiting abundant prey can coexist despite a very high overlap in their food niches.
... Our results revealed a high trophic niche overlap in sympatric populations of the native and invasive mink, and a high individual variability in the diet of both species in allopatric and sympatric populations. Nevertheless, and unlike previous studies based on faecal analysis [16,17], no significant change in diet of the native species in response to the arrival of the introduced species was registered. A high trophic niche overlap between the species, as well as no displacement of the native mink in response to the arrival of the invasive mink, could indicate significant trophic competition between both mink species. ...
... These differences were attributed to differences in habitat selection [16]. Similarly, a habitat shift in combination with reduced prey abundance has been proposed as a mechanism for the diet change of EM in response to invasion by AM [17]. Introduced non-native predators may cause a significant decrease in the abundance of native prey in their new habitat [46,47], which may increase the competitive interactions between the invasive and native predators [17]. ...
... Similarly, a habitat shift in combination with reduced prey abundance has been proposed as a mechanism for the diet change of EM in response to invasion by AM [17]. Introduced non-native predators may cause a significant decrease in the abundance of native prey in their new habitat [46,47], which may increase the competitive interactions between the invasive and native predators [17]. As a result, a decline in the trophic position of the native predator may occur [9,46]. ...
Article
Full-text available
The pressure elicited by invasive species on native species significantly increases with the increase of the overlap of their ecological niches. Still, the specific mechanisms of the trophic displacement of native species during the invasion process are unclear. The effects of the invasive American mink (Neovison vison) on the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) was assessed by analyses of diet and niche overlap during the invasion process. To do this, the isotopic composition (δ13C and δ15N) of both species of mink and their four main types of prey was analysed. Significant trophic overlap between the native European mink and invasive American mink was found when they coexisted in sympatry. Furthermore, both mink species were characterised by significant individual variation in diet and no obvious change in diet of the native species in response to the arrival of the introduced species was observed. High niche overlap registered between both species in sympatry with no displacement in diet of the native mink in response to the arrival of the invasive mink is expected to have important consequences for the viability and conservation of the native mink populations, as it suggests high competitive pressure.
... G Model MAMBIO-41022;No. of Pages 7 decrease in the contribution of water voles to the mink diet was observed (Sidorovich et al., 2010). In Belarus, water voles were hunted by invasive mink in both the warm and cold seasons, but they comprised a relatively small fraction of the total prey biomass consumed (<10%), even at the beginning of mink colonisation, when their abundance in the study area was higher than in the following years (Sidorovich et al., 2010). ...
... G Model MAMBIO-41022;No. of Pages 7 decrease in the contribution of water voles to the mink diet was observed (Sidorovich et al., 2010). In Belarus, water voles were hunted by invasive mink in both the warm and cold seasons, but they comprised a relatively small fraction of the total prey biomass consumed (<10%), even at the beginning of mink colonisation, when their abundance in the study area was higher than in the following years (Sidorovich et al., 2010). In Poland, water voles have also been found to occur in the mink diet (Jędrzejewska et al., 2001;Bartoszewicz and Zalewski, 2003;Brzeziński, 2008;Krawczyk et al., 2013), but their proportion was found to be low. ...
... The results of this study do not explain how mink predation affects water vole densities and dynamics, but they imply that in this area invaded and colonised by mink, water voles are still abundant. Moreover, the high contribution of water voles to the mink diet confirms that the water vole density is relatively high, as this rodent is less frequently consumed by mink if its availability in a certain area is low (Macdonald et al., 2002;Sidorovich et al., 2010). In the study area, the relationship between water vole densities and predation rates of mink is hard to estimate due to the short study period. ...
Article
Full-text available
The American mink Neovison vison is an invasive carnivore which may significantly affect populations of the water vole Arvicola amphibius. However, its impact on this rodent species depends on the abundance, dispersion and configuration of the habitats suitable for water voles and their accessibility for the mink. Using live-trapping, we studied the water vole and American mink populations inhabiting midfield ponds located in the vicinity of a large lake. In the same area, the mink diet was described after collecting and analysing scats. During four spring seasons, the water vole density gradually increased and no population peaks or crashes were observed. The maximum recorded density was 9.0 individuals/1 km of pond shoreline. Water voles displayed high year-to-year population turnover: less than 5% of the marked individuals were recaptured in the following year. In April–July, the exchange of individuals in the population during one-month periods was also high and usually exceeded 50%. Water vole remains were found in mink scats in all seasons, and the highest overall percentage biomass of water vole in mink diet for a two-months period reached 52.2% in May–June 2012. The results of our study show that at small water bodies adjacent to a large lake, the water vole population may withstand the impact of the invasive American mink.
... Another mink species, the American mink (Neovison vison) is one of the most harmful exotic and invasive species in Europe (Genovesi et al. 2012). Both mink species are small, semi-aquatic, and carnivorous mustelids with considerable niche overlap in food consumption (Sidorovich et al. 2010;Zuberogoitia et al. 2013) and preferred habitat, i.e. habitat adjacent to water with high, dense vegetation cover (Fuller et al. 2016;Maran et al. 2016). However, American minks are more adaptable to poor habitat quality, in addition to being bigger, more aggressive, and more successful breeders than European minks (Palazón and Melero 2014;Zuberogoitia et al. 2014). ...
... In Spain, American minks have established feral widespread populations across 12,530 km of rivers with a population of over 30,000 individuals ( Fig. 1., MAGRAMA 2014). The establishment and spread of the American mink is considered one of the main causes of decline of European mink (Sidorovich et al. 2010;Maran et al. 2016), with similar negative impacts on other native species of conservation concern such as European polecats (Mustela putorius), stoats (Mustela erminea), and sea birds (MacDonald and Harrington 2003;Ahola et al. 2006;Banks et al. 2008;Schüttler et al. 2009;Melero et al. 2012;García-díaz et al. 2013). American mink has also been linked to economic damage T. Goicolea et al. (Pimentel et al. 2005) and transmission of influenza and COVID-19 (ECDC 2020;Fenollar et al. 2021;Harrington et al. 2021;Sun et al. 2021). ...
Article
Full-text available
Forecasting habitat suitability and connectivity can be central to both controlling range expansion of invasive species and promoting native species conservation, especially under changing climate conditions. This study aimed to identify and prioritize areas in Spain to control the expansion of one of the most harmful invasive species in Europe, the American mink, while conserving its counterpart, the endangered European mink, under current and future conditions. We used ensemble habitat suitability and dynamic connectivity models to predict species ranges and movement routes considering likely climate change under three emission scenarios. Then, using habitat availability metrics, we prioritized areas for invasive mink control and native mink conservation and classified them into different management zones that reflected the overlap between species and threat from American to European minks. Results suggest that both species are likely to experience declines in habitat and connectivity under climate change scenarios with significantly larger declines by the end of the century for European minks (72 and 80% respectively) than for American minks (41 and 32%). Priority areas for management of both species varied over time and across emission scenarios, with a general shift in priority habitat towards the North-East of the study area. Our findings demonstrate how habitat suitability and dynamic connectivity approaches can guide long-term management strategies to control invasive species and conserve native species while accounting for likely landscape changes. The simultaneous study of both invasive and native species can support prioritized management action and inform management planning of the intensity, extent, and techniques of intervention depending on the overlap between species.
... The generalist and opportunistic aspects of American mink's diet strongly impacted populations of 47 reported native species, reducing abundance in prey species of seabirds (Nordström et al. 2003), voles (Banks et al. 2005), and crustaceans (Fischer et al. 2009), six of them being included in the IUCN Red List categories near threatened, vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered (Genovesi et al. 2012). One of the impacted species is the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola), with evidence of competition for resources (Melero et al. 2008;Sidorovich et al. 2010;Podra et al. 2013). Both species have similar ecological niches, being carnivorous mammals in riparian ecosystems and predating on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. ...
... Both species have similar ecological niches, being carnivorous mammals in riparian ecosystems and predating on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. The presence of the American mink in the native species habitat was shown to reduce the diet breath of European mink so that it becomes more specialized, while the American mink's diet became more generalist (Sidorovich et al. 2010). ...
Article
Full-text available
One of the threats that the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) faces throughout its relict range, including the occidental population, is the impact of the American mink (Mustela vison) invasion in its natural habitat. We aimed to explore the differences in microbiota and genetic diversity between European and American mink to test phylosymbiosis theory. We investigated the gut microbiota composition of European and American mink in controlled environments (captive breeding compounds and fur farms respectively) to account for the impact of the environment on gut bacterial composition. We compared them to the gut microbiota of both mink species in the natural environment across habitats. Our exploratory results showed differences between free-ranging and captive individuals, with more extreme changes in American mink compared to European mink. However, feral American mink from a long-established population exhibited gut bacterial composition closer to the free-ranging native species compared to more recently established feral populations. This result could be explained by dietary shifts in the area sampled based on prey availability through different landscape, but also to a lesser extent due to greater genetic differentiation. This exploratory work contributes to the scarce literature currently available on the dynamics between gut microbiota and mammal invasion. Graphic Abstract
... Habitat degradation and human-mediated translocations of invasive species are some of the leading threats to biodiversity worldwide (Mack et al., 2000;Simberloff et al., 2013). Following establishment and subsequent spread, non-native species can negatively impact native communities and ecosystems through various ecological processes, such as competition for limited shared resources, direct predation, habitat displacement via agonistic interactions, habitat or food-web alterations, or the contamination of native genotypes through introgressive hybridisation (D'Amato et al., 2007;Martin et al., 2010;Salo et al., 2007;Sidorovich et al., 2010;Vander Zanden et al., 1999); all of these translate into considerable environmental and economic consequences on ecosystems and human populations, respectively (Mack et al., 2000;Nghiem et al., 2013). ...
... PC loadings are shown in the bottom-left insert. Dotted ellipses represent the 95% confidence intervals of centroid means become severely limiting for native populations (Sidorovich et al., 2010). Given that C. gariepinus has been shown to feed at a higher frequency and across a larger spatial extent than C. batrachus (Chakraborty et al., 2000), and grows at a faster rate (Verreth et al., 1993) to a much larger size (≤1.5 m in total length, vs. 40 cm in C. batrachus) (Ng et al., 2014;Welcomme & Vidthayanon, 2003), synergisms between trophic and habitat competition may be the driver of native C. batrachus displacement from preferred habitats. ...
Article
The African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus , is a globally invasive species with known severe impacts, including native species declines through ecological (e.g., competition, predation) and genetic interactions (e.g., hybridisation, introgression). The species was introduced to the Malay Peninsula in the late 1980s, and has since become widely established. In this study, we used structural equation models (SEMs) (habitat analyses) and stable isotope analyses (dietary analyses) to elucidate the determinants of C. gariepinus invasion success in streams of the Malay Peninsula and investigate potential impacts on native counterparts. Our SEMs indicate that C. gariepinus invasions were mediated by greater anthropogenic influences as well as environmental conditions associated with open streams (large channels, higher temperatures and lower canopy cover). Additionally, on the one hand, we find that invasions by C. gariepinus have led to substantial negative impacts on the native Asian walking catfish, Clarias batrachus , with the latter being displaced, or in some areas extirpated, from its characteristic open‐stream habitats. On the other hand, C. gariepinus invasions did not appear to impact the native forest specialist, Clarias leiacanthus . Stable isotope analyses showed that all three Clarias species were opportunistic, generalist feeders. There was substantial overlap in the diets of C. gariepinus and C. batrachus . However, C. leiacanthus generally assimilated comparatively greater volumes of aquatic macroinvertebrate prey, therefore reducing dietary overlap with introduced C. gariepinus . Our findings indicate that propagule pressure and exaptations probably have played a major role in facilitating C. gariepinus invasions in the Malay Peninsula. Furthermore, our results suggest that habitat competition may have acted synergistically with trophic competition to drive C. gariepinus impacts on native species, although this was mitigated by differentiation in ecological preferences. Our results help shed light on the general characteristics of invasive species, the mechanisms facilitating their proliferation, and the potential outcomes of biological invasions. These highlight the urgent need to manage the introduction, spread and impacts of invasive C. gariepinus in the Malay Peninsula and elsewhere in its invaded range.
... Another mink species, the American mink (Neovison vison) is one of the most harmful exotic and invasive species in Europe (Genovesi et al. 2012). Both mink species are small, semi-aquatic, and carnivorous mustelids with considerable niche overlap in food consumption (Sidorovich et al. 2010;Zuberogoitia et al. 2013) and preferred habitat, i.e. habitat adjacent to water with high, dense vegetation cover (Fuller et al. 2016;Maran et al. 2016). However, American minks are more adaptable to poor habitat quality, in addition to being bigger, more aggressive, and more successful breeders than European minks (Palazón and Melero 2014;Zuberogoitia et al. 2014). ...
... In Spain, American minks have established feral widespread populations across 12,530 km of rivers with a population of over 30,000 individuals ( Fig. 1., MAGRAMA 2014). The establishment and spread of the American mink is considered one of the main causes of decline of European mink (Sidorovich et al. 2010;Maran et al. 2016), with similar negative impacts on other native species of conservation concern such as European polecats (Mustela putorius), stoats (Mustela erminea), and sea birds (MacDonald and Harrington 2003;Ahola et al. 2006;Banks et al. 2008;Schüttler et al. 2009;Melero et al. 2012;García-díaz et al. 2013). ...
Preprint
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Forecasting habitat suitability and connectivity can be central to both controlling invasive species expansion and promoting native species conservation, especially under changing climate conditions. This study aimed to identify and prioritize areas in Spain to control the expansion of one of the most harmful invasive species in Europe, while conserving its counterpart, the endangered European mink, under current and future conditions. We used dynamic ensemble habitat suitability and connectivity models to predict species ranges and movement routes considering likely climate change under three emission scenarios. Then, using habitat availability metrics, we prioritized areas for invasive mink control and native mink conservation and classified them into different management zones that reflected the overlap between species and threat from American to European minks. Results suggest that both species are likely to experience declines in habitat and connectivity under climate change scenarios with significantly larger declines by the end of the century for European minks (72 and 80% respectively) than for American minks (41 and 32%). Priority areas for management of both species varied over time and across emission scenarios, with a general shift in priority habitat towards the North-East of the study area. Our findings demonstrate how dynamic habitat suitability and connectivity approaches can guide long-term management strategies to control invasive species and conserve native species while accounting for likely landscape changes. The simultaneous study of both invasive and native species can support prioritized management action and inform management planning of the intensity, extent, and techniques of intervention depending on the overlap between species.
... Among alien species excluded from the black-list, the American mink Neovison vison is a North American carnivore (Mustelidae) which has been introduced to Europe for fur farms and now it is very widespread in at least 20 European countries (Bonesi and Palazon, 2007;Mori and Mazza, 2019), where it has been reported to threat local populations of water voles, amphibians, crayfishes and birds (e.g. Ferreras and Macdonald, 1999;Clode and Macdonald, 2002;Ahola et al., 2006;Sidorovich et al., 2010;Brzeziński et al., 2018). Furthermore, it may compete with native mustelids (e.g. ...
... García et al. (2009) and Fig. 1. Locations of studies on the diet of invasive mink in Europe: 1) Bueno (1996); 2) Melero et al. (2009) 3) Angelici et al. (2000); 4) Mori and Mazza (2019); 5) Lapini (1991); 6) Mezzetto et al. (2019); 7) Lode (1993); 8) Bonesi et al. (2004); 9) Ferreras and Macdonald (1999); 10) Dunstone and Birks (1987); 11) Zschille et al. (2014); 12) Novakovà and Koubek, 2006;13) Bartoszewicz and Zalewski (2003); 14) Krawczyk et al. (2014); 15) Jędrzejewska et al. (2001); 16-18) Brzeziński (2006); 19-23) Sidorovich (2000), Sidorovich et al. (2010); 24) Maran et al. (1998);25-27) Gerell (1967); 28) Erlinge (1969); 29-30) Hammershøj et al. (2004). Shaded areas represent the range of the American mink in Europe. ...
Article
The American mink Neovison vison is an invasive species in Europe with a number of expanding populations in over 20 countries. In this work, we reviewed feeding habits and temporal behaviour of the American mink introduced to Europe. We summarised the results of 30 studies on diet of this mustelid and of 5 studies on activity rhythms. Trophic niche breadth was high in Europe and increased with increasing sampling period, thus emphasizing that American mink may shape its diet according to the seasonal availability of potential prey. American minks showed a polyphasic or cathemeral locomotor pattern, being active both during the day and the night in Europe and tending to limit encounter probabilities with native, larger mustelids. Acceptance of programs of eradication/numerical control are linked to the awareness of impact by this semiaquatic mammal and to recent sightings of free-ranging individuals. Numerical control of this charismatic, invasive mammal species may thus encounter a strong opposition by the general public, particularly because its presence and its impacts are poorly known. Educational campaigns and consultation with all potential stakeholders should be addressed to design effective decision-making processes.
... Особенности индивидуальных участков американской норки достаточно хорошо из-учены как в отечественной [5][6][7] так и в зарубежной литературе [8][9][10][11][12][13]. В. Г. Гептнер и др. ...
... Кроме того, отмечено, что в холодные и неблагоприятные сезоны участки могут закономерно увеличиваться, а также наблюдаются случаи перемещения особей по водоемам и использование ресурсов, удаленных от них [6]. В Беларуси в результате многолетних исследований местообитаний хищника получены данные о том, что участок может укладываться в интервалы от 5 до 15 га для разных типов водоемов [7][8][9]. J. Zabala с соавторами [10] проводил исследования участков норки с помощью GPS-трекинга в Испании, по их результатам размеры варьируют от 7 до 18 га, в зависимости от сезонов года и половой принадлежности. Подобные данные приводят в своих работах D. W. MaсDonald, L. A. Harrington [11] для США и Новой Зеландии; M. Brzezinski, M. Marzec [12] -Европы. ...
... American mink expansion in Poland is a part of a continent-wide process of its invasion in Europe, however, in Central and Eastern European countries the dynamics of mink expansion is not described sufficiently. To the north-east and east of Poland, wild living mink population is widespread in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Belarus (Mickevicius and Baranauskas 1992;Ozoliņ š and Pilāts 1995;Sidorovich 1997;Bonesi and Palazon 2007). These populations were established until the 1970s. ...
... Indeed, a short time after colonisation of a new area the abundance of some prey (e.g. water birds and water vole) and its proportion in the mink diet decreased (Macdonald et al. 2002;Sidorovich et al. 2010;Brzeziński et al. 2012;Zalewski and Bartoszewicz 2012). At the beginning of expansion in Poland, mink may have benefited from the abundance of the introduced muskrat Ondatra zibethicus, which is an important prey of mink in its native range (Errington 1943). ...
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The American mink, an invasive mammal introduced to Europe, severely impacts native biodiversity. The history of its invasion has been poorly investigated in central and eastern Europe, and the current variations in densities of mink populations are not well studied, thus making a reduction of its impact difficult. Here we analyse the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of the American mink population in Poland, which began to establish itself at the beginning of the 1980s and originated from Polish farm escapees and immigrants from Lithuania and Belarus. Mink dispersal started in the north and continued to the south and in 2016 mink occurrence was recorded across ca. 75% of the country. By about 1997 mink had colonised half of Poland, and in 2016 the only mink-free area was in the south and south-east of the country. The rate of expansion showed accelerating and decelerating patterns, and reached its maximum 12 years after the beginning of the expansion. Mink farming in western Poland developed rapidly after 2000 and probably influenced acceleration of mink range expansion rates in years 2006–2008. Indices of mink densities showed significant nonlinear change over time since local populations were established and were highest in populations estimated to be 10–15 years old. The prediction of non-native species invasion rates and population dynamics should be incorporated into management actions curbing their negative impact on native fauna.
... Under conditions leading to coexistence, competition with a dominant species may limit the distribution and density of a subordinate carnivore (Hardin 1960;Schoener 1983;Glen and Dickman 2008;Sidorovich et al. 2010), which can make the population less resilient to changes in habitat or resource availability. Thus, the ability to minimize competition through resource partitioning may be critical for the long-term persistence of specialist carnivore populations facing novel competitive pressures. ...
... Dietary overlap between the two species also remained high (91% annually). Interestingly, our results suggested that the frequency at which a prey class was (Sidorovich et al. 2010). Coyotes likely colonized the Great Basin by the early 1900s, and coyote control programs had been implemented by the 1950s (Egoscue 1956). ...
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Range expansions by generalists can alter communities and introduce competitive pressures on native species. In the Great Basin Desert, USA, coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) have colonized and are now sympatric with native kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis Merriam, 1888). Since both species have similar diets, dietary partitioning may facilitate coexistence. We analyzed coyote and kit fox diets, then compared our results to an earlier study. Because populations are dynamic, we expected that decreases in prey or increases in predator abundance could alter dietary patterns. We found no significant changes in population-level prey diversity for kit foxes or coyotes, but found high levels of dietary overlap between species. We did detect a significant decrease in the relative importance of leporids (family Leporidae) in the diets of both canids, but they remained important for coyotes. The relative importance of small mammals was greater for kit foxes than coyotes, but their importance had not changed significantly over time. We detected significant declines in prey diversity per sample (scat-level dietary diversity) for both canids, suggesting that during a foraging event, individuals may encounter less diverse prey now than historically. These findings suggested that kit foxes and coyotes were not limited by prey, despite high dietary overlap.
... space or food), as reported for the invasion biology of different taxa, such as spiders (Houser et al. 2014), fish (Bøhn and Amundsen 2001) and mesocarnivores (Harrington et al. 2009). If there is no (sufficient) niche differentiation and resources are limited, interspecific competition occurs and effects on the individual, such as reduced survival and/or reproductive success, will be reflected at the population level (distribution, population density, persistence) (Shuttleworth et al. 2015), possibly driving one of the two competing species to extinction (Ricciardi et al. 1998;Mooney and Cleland 2001). ...
... Competition for food is often reported in invasion biology especially between similar native and alien species (e.g. Bøhn and Amundsen 2001;Ruiz-Miranda et al. 2006;Sidorovich et al. 2010). Body condition is known to affect survival of animals: fat reserves allow individuals to survive during periods of lack of food or to cope better with cold temperatures (Gosler 1996;Monteith et al. 2013). ...
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Alien species can affect native species through several ecological processes such as competition. Here we tested the hypothesis of interspecific competition for space and food resources between the native Eurasian red squirrel and the invasive Pallas’s squirrel introduced in Italy. We used an experimental study design comparing space and habitat use and body condition parameters of red squirrels between areas of co-occurrence with the Pallas’s squirrel and areas without it. There were no differences in mean home range size of red squirrels between red-only areas and red-Pallas. However, when Pallas’s squirrels were removed, the red squirrels increased their home ranges. Moreover, in the area of syntopy, red squirrels had a higher degree of intraspecific home range overlap than in the red-only area. We also found indirect evidence for competition for food with red squirrels having a poorer body condition when co-occurring with the alien species. We analyzed the body mass and size of red squirrels in the two areas and our results showed that red squirrels had a reduced body mass and size when in syntopy, confirming that the interspecific competition does not allow red squirrels to reach the optimum body condition that they would have if the competitor was not present. Moreover, tree-species niche overlap was very high and both species fed primarily on the same tree seeds. Differences in vegetation cover between areas are discussed. This is the first study that confirms the invasiveness of the Pallas’s squirrel also in terms of capability to compete with native species.
... Рыба также является основой рациона; норка продолжает отлавливать в основном карася. По мнению В. Е. Сидоровича [36] и А. Г. Полозова [37], в летний период для американской норки наиболее значимы рыба (χ 2 = 24.5; df = 5; p < 0.01) и земноводные (χ 2 = 34.5; ...
... Низкий уровень воды в холодные сезоны, а также локальная агрегация рыбы способствуют активной охоте норки в различных водоемах. Подобные показатели характерны также для территории Северо-Запада России [40] и Республики Беларусь [37]. Зимой норка продолжает отлавливать мышевидных грызунов и птиц. ...
... При этом биомеханические особенности нижней челюсти, различающиеся у этих видов, косвенно указывают на определенную специфичность их диеты: у европейской норки проявляется специализация к питанию водными и околоводными животными, а у американской норки добычей являются преимущественно наземные виды. Согласно результатам исследований диеты этих двух видов, проведенных в природных условиях в Европе (Sidorovich et al., 2010;Põdra, et al., 2013;Law et al., 2018), справедливость выводов о разных предпочитаемых ими кормах полностью подтверждается фактическими данными. ...
Article
Differences between the lines of aggressive and tame American minks that arose as a result of selection for traits of defensive behavior (16–17 generations) were revealed based on the biomechanic indices of the mandible characterizing the mechanic potentials of the canine and carnassial teeth. The results are consistent with D. K. Belyaev’s theory of destabilizing selection: along with an increase in the variability of functions and the destabilization of the historically established system of their sexual differences (sexual dimorphism), new biomechanic features of the mandible were formed in the line of tame minks. In contrast, the control line of non-selected minks unaffected by selection retained significant sex differences in biomechanic indices. Between the American minks from a Canadian natural population and the lines of aggressive and tame individuals, the differences in biomechanic indicators were less pronounced than between the lines themselves. Differences between the American mink, the European mink (Mustela lutreola L. 1758) and the Siberian weasel (M. sibirica Pallas 1773) in the biomechanic potentials of the canine and predatory teeth of the mandible which reflect specializations in the genus Neogale and the specifics of the hunting behavior of the species were found. In the invasive American mink, the mechanic potential (MP) of the canine tooth prevails, vs the MP of the carnassial tooth both in the European mink and the Siberian weasel, this trait being capable of ensuring the divergence of their trophic niches and contribute to the preservation of native species in areas of their sympatry with N. vison.
... Another consideration for the potential impacts of the American mink is that it can prevent the return of the European mink (Mustela lutreola) to Bulgaria. The European mink is another mustelid competitor to the American mink; however, unlike the otter, it has been proven to be a weaker competitor than its American congener [27,91,101,102]. The spread of the American mink is considered one of the key factors in the decline of the native European mink throughout its range [47,101,103,104]. ...
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Mink farming has seen a resurgence in Bulgaria since 2013, and this has led to a high risk of American mink escaping and establishing feral populations. The largest active commercial farm in the country has a capacity of nearly 130,000 animals. The aims of this study were to gather first-hand evidence of the presence of mink in the wild around the farm, assess their level of establishment, and document the native species and local communities for future impact assessment. Surveys were conducted using camera traps within a 3.7 km radius around the farm in the period 2020-2021 at ten stations with 1943 realised trap-nights. Some early signs of the establishment of the American mink in Bulgaria were documented. A large number of registrations was made, as frequently as the Eurasian otter and golden jackal and more frequently than other mustelids in the study area. Mink were observed throughout the two-year study, and escaped mink have been registered in the region as early as 2017. These factors are interpreted as signs of the early stages of establishment. When considering environmental, economic, public health, and social factors, we recommend that mink farming should be banned in Bulgaria and further monitoring and management actions must be undertaken for the individuals in the wild.
... The American mink can however be in direct and indirect competition for resources with other carnivorous mammals such as the critically endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola), with evidence of direct aggression from the invader towards the native species observed in other parts of Europe (Melero et al. 2008;Sidorovich et al. 2010;Podra et al. 2013). Current distribution of both species in France advocate without confirmation for European Mink displacement from the American mink (DREAL Nouvelle Aquitaine et al. 2021). ...
Article
The American mink (Mustela vison) is known as a successful non-native species in Europe, impacting native species’ population sizes and habitats. This study investigates the genetic structure and diversity of American mink populations in France over two decades (1997–2016). The analysis involves feral and farmed mink sampled from various regions, using ten autosomal microsatellite loci for genotyping. The objective is to identify the putative existence of genetic lineages, especially between feral and farmed individuals, and to assess changes in genetic structure over time. Results reveal high genetic diversity and inbreeding within populations, with evidence of genetic structure influenced by both farm releases and feral colonization. The study highlights the reflection of the genetic structure in farm populations in the feral populations within the first period (1997–2007), and a decline of a lineage over time in the second period (2007–2016) with the emergence of a new genetic cluster, potentially influenced by factors such as selection, phenotypic changes, and interactions with pathogens. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of American mink populations in France and their genetic variability, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and management efforts to mitigate the impact of this invasive species, especially on endangered or/and endemic species such as European mink (Mustela lutreola) and Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).
... The other analysed host, the American mink, is a species of mustelid which is native to North America and introduced to Europe. The diet of this species has been analysed in various studies using different methods, and its composition is likely to be strongly affected by extrinsic factors such as habitat, weather conditions, seasonality, or the abundance of potential prey (e.g., [20,[29][30][31][32]); nevertheless, the core components are rodents, fish and amphibians. Thus, this species falls among the most common definitive host of I. melis. ...
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Background Here we provide a comparative analysis of the genetic structure of populations (based on nad1 mtDNA) of Isthmiophora melis isolated from the American mink (Neogale vison), an introduced invasive species, commonly occurring in the territory of Poland, and from the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). Methods A total of 133 specimens of I. melis were obtained from naturally infected N. vison collected from six localities in Poland (108 samples) and 25 individuals of I. melis from A. agrarius. All sequences of the nad1 gene obtained during the present study were assembled and aligned. The standard statistics for haplotype composition, i.e., the number of haplotypes, haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity, and average number of nucleotide differences, were calculated. Haplotype analysis and visualization of haplotype frequency among populations were performed using a median-joining network. Results Based on the samples collected from different localities in Poland, our study revealed that the overall genetic diversity of I. melis isolated from the American mink and of the striped field mouse do not differ significantly. The median-joining network showed that the three main haplotypes are in the centre of a star-like structure, with the remaining haplotypes as the satellites, reflecting the recent expansion of the populations. Conclusions The overall genetic diversity of I. melis isolated from the American mink and striped field mouse reveals a high level of homogeneity. Moreover, regional differences in the food composition of the definitive hosts play an important role in shaping the genetic structure of the trematode populations. Graphical Abstract
... However, along a river their home range varies from 3 to17 km, depending on the sex (Garin et al., 2002b). They live up to 4 years in situ (Maran & Põdra, 2009: 6) and eat fish, crustaceans, amphibians, small mammals (e.g., water voles), birds, and insects (Sidorovich et al., 2010;Maran et al., 1998;Maran & Põdra, 2009: 6). They are nocturnal animals (Garin et al., 2002a;Ortiz-Jiménez et al., 2021) who are also sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances such as noise and are prey to aerial predators like raptors and terrestrial predators like dogs and foxes) (Ortiz-Jiménez et al., 2021). ...
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Species conservation activities are gaining more attention in the context of environmental degradation. This article proposes to tackle different semiotic aspects of reintroduction as one possible way of furthering species conservation. More specifically, we aim to bring forth the strength of ecosemiotic perspective when dealing with such a complex matter with many different human and non-human subjects. We concentrate on animal agency, search and function tone, semiotic fitting and changes in umwelten when analysing the reintroduction process from the perspective of the animal. When considering the locals’ perspective, we take into account the appeal and cultural placement of the species, as well as human and non-human umwelt overlap when it comes to resources. As our case study we use the European mink (Mustela lutreola) and its reintroduction to the island of Hiiumaa and planned reintroduction to the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. By employing semiotic analysis, we discover that reintroduced animals need to exhibit innovation and plasticity to establish novel semiotic relations but also restore relations characteristic to the historical environments of the species. We argue that human views and expectations towards the species and (re)introduction efforts account for animals’ appearance and agency. Additionally, contrast with other wild species, the perceived overlap of human and non-human umwelten, and broader conservation discourse are decisive for the formation of interspecific relations in situ. Thus, ecosemiotcs proves to be a valuable research platform for an analysis of conservation practices that targets both, sociocultural context and animal umwelten.
... A commonly utilized method was used to determine the density of the American mink (Harrington et al., 2008;Bonesi and Macdonald, 2004;Sidorovich et al., 2010): the distribution of the animals was based on their tracks during winter. Animal counts were carried out at the same study sites each year, but due to different weather conditions during snow tracking (changes in water level, the presence of ice cover, and others), the route was slightly different. ...
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Invasive animal species pose a significant threat to native biocenoses. For the management of invasive species, it is important to know their distribution. We aimed to investigate the potential use of American mink (Neovison vison) scats as a bioindicator of the presence and density of invasive crayfish Faxonius (Orconectes) limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) in the watercourses. The structure and seasonal dynamics of the mink’s diet were studied in western Belarus. The dietary composition of the American mink showed great similarities across different types of watercourses (rivers and drainage channels). The basic diet consisted of rodents, amphibians, and fish. The crayfish’s presence in the samples during the warm season was negatively dependent on all the other main prey groups, but mostly on aquatic insects. During the cold season the relations were weaker, and crayfish was negatively associated mostly with birds in the samples. The percentage of crayfish in scats collected during the warm season was correlated with crayfish density, which indicated that with higher crayfish densities, the mink more often used this type of prey. However, the regression model was only a moderate fit. Droppings collected during both seasons can indicate the presence of crayfish in the environment. We conclude that the American mink’s diet can be a good indicator of invasive crayfish presence and their density in the environment. However, estimating crayfish density based on the mink’s diet may deviate from the trend during years of low water level, therefore, it is necessary to first assess precipitation during the season.
... Where predators expand their range, they must adapt their foraging and trophic niche to the new biotic and abiotic conditions (Bevanger & Lindtsröm, 1995;Holmala & Kauhala, 2006;Sidorovich et al., 2010). At the same time, morphological and physiological restrictions (e.g. ...
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Aim Ongoing global changes can lead to the expansion of species' geographical range. Exploring the drivers of the successful ongoing expansion of the golden jackal across Europe is essential to understand the species' trophic ecology. We analysed which climatic and environmental factors affected the dietary composition of golden jackals and compared these drivers in the species' historic and recently colonized distribution ranges. Location Eurasia. Taxon Golden jackal ( Canis aureus ). Methods Using 40 published datasets, we modelled jackal diet composition using 13 food categories based on the relative frequency of occurrence of food items and trophic niche breadth ( B A) against climatic and environmental factors from throughout the jackals' recently colonized (22 studies) and historic range (18 studies) using general additive models. Results The proportion of small mammals in golden jackal diet decreased with annual mean temperature, whereas the consumption of wild ungulates increased with environmental productivity. Increasing temperature and environmental productivity positively influenced niche breadth, while increasing precipitation negatively affected it. The recently colonized distribution range of golden jackals in Europe had a lower mean temperature but higher environmental productivity compared to the species' historic range in Eurasia. In the recently colonized range, jackals consumed small mammals and/or wild ungulates (mostly from scavenging) more frequently, and fewer plants and/or domestic animals (again, mostly from scavenging). Main Conclusions The golden jackal is an opportunistic, omnivorous carnivore with high dietary flexibility and biogeographical variation. Climatic and environmental factors shape the species' diet composition, which, in a changing environment, greatly enhances the opportunities for golden jackals to colonize new areas successfully. Golden jackals will likely continue to expand their range in the foreseeable future. The species' trophic niche is expected to broaden with predictions of overall increasing temperatures and reduced precipitation.
... These similarities may have significant ecological implications in environments inhabited by both species: they may affect interspecific competition for food resources (Moors, 1980). The ecological niches of the polecat and mink overlap: the species often share riparian habitats (Harrington and Macdonald, 2008) and partly exploit the same food resources (Sidorovich, 2000;Sidorovich et al., 2010;Zalewski et al., 2021). Although both interference competition and exploitation competition for food and space can occur, the spatio-temporal coexistence of the polecat and mink appears to be possible in habitats offering sufficient food . ...
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Change in body size is considered to be one of the animal responses to climate warming, although in many cases it is difficult to show whether it is evolutionary or a result of phenotypic plasticity. In this study, we analysed long-term changes in the body size and sex ratio of the European polecat Mustela putorius in relation to two factors: climate warming and competition with the invasive American mink Neovison vison. In the years 1959-2021, the average body mass of polecats inhabiting north-eastern Poland increased from 869 to 1109 g in males and from 449 to 690 g in females, whereas structural body size (the condylobasal length of the skull) increased from 64.4 to 68.0 mm in males and from 55.9 to 59.6 mm in females. The rates of these increases were different for both measures; in consequence, the index of body condition changed non-linearly over time with a high increase in last 30-40 years. The observed increase in polecat body mass and skull size correlated with the rise of mean winter and summer temperatures. We explain the recorded trends by easier access to amphibians (the staple food of polecats in the study area) in mild winters, which increases the survival rate of larger polecats and/or leads to a faster growth rate of subadults in warmer summers. Competition for food between the native polecat and invasive mink could play a role in the increase of polecat body size simultaneously with climate warming, but the timing of recorded changes suggests the second factor to be more important. Our study also confirmed a previous observation of increasing skewed sex-ratio towards polecat males, which, similarly to changes in polecat body size, could have resulted both from climate warming and competition with mink.
... In Europe, the American mink Neovison vison is a widespread invasive mammalian species (Bonesi and Palazon 2007). Its competitive impact on native carnivores, mostly the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra and European mink Mustela lutreola, has been studied across the continent (Sidorovich et al. 1999(Sidorovich et al. , 2010Jędrzejewska et al. 2001;Bonesi et al. 2004;Brzeziński et al. 2008). There have also been attempts to explain how the American mink interacts with the European polecat Mustela putorius (Lodé 1993;Hammershøj et al. 2004;Fournier et al. 2007;Harrington and Macdonald 2008;Barrientos 2015), although its impact on polecat populations at a landscape scale remains unclear. ...
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Introduced alien species can negatively affect native competitors by reducing their populations or eliminating them from ecosystems. However, studies do not always find evidence for anticipated impacts, and changes in native populations can be difficult to estimate. Interactions between the invasive American mink Neovison vison and native European polecat Mustela putorius have been studied in several countries, but the mink’s impact on polecat populations at a large spatiotemporal scale remains unclear. In the years 1995–2018, we live-trapped mink and polecats at 60 study sites in Poland, and we analysed hunting bags of mink and polecats from the years 2009–2018. During 13,766 trap-nights, we captured 905 individuals. Mink comprised 91.2% and polecats 8.8% of trapped animals. The mean mink and polecat trappability was 6 and 0.6 individuals per 100 trap-nights, respectively. At rivers, polecat and mink trappability were negatively correlated, whereas at lakes, they were not correlated. The sex ratio of trapped polecats was more skewed toward males than that of mink. Mink comprised 63.6% and polecats 36.4% of 59,831 animals killed by hunters. Over 10 years, the numbers of mink shot annually increased slightly, whereas the numbers of polecat decreased slightly. There was a positive correlation between numbers of mink and polecats shot annually. We found weak evidence that at a large spatiotemporal scale, the invasion of mink has led to a decline in polecat numbers. Although the datasets we analysed were based on large samples, they were insufficient to show evidence of competitive interactions between these two mustelids.
... El visón americano compite con el visón europeo por el territorio y la comida, desplazándolo del nicho y poniéndolo en riesgo de extinción. El visón americano basa su dieta según la disponibilidad de presa en la estación climática, como consecuencia de su predación ha puesto en riesgo también a otras especies como al cangrejo de río europeo (Astacus astacus) o a la rata topera (Arvicola terrestis) (Sidorovich et al., 2010). Además, se ve involucrado en el ciclo de la Trichinella contribuyendo a la transmisión de este parásito en la fauna autóctona (Hurníková et al., 2016). ...
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Conflicts between humans and wildlife occur in all ecosystems causing socioeconomic impacts and damage to the environment. These conflicts have been going on for thousands of years. Interactions between wildlife and humans have both positive and negative consequences. In geographic regions with fewer resources, the economic and/or social impact will be greater. Historically, wildlife had a higher pressure due to hunting. Given the decline in this activity, wildlife has been able to grow and expand without restrictions. This has resulted in increased interactions between people and wildlife. As interactions have grown, so have the resulting damages and problems. Depending on the nature of the conflicts, it can be classified into damage to agriculture, livestock predation, urban conflicts, reemerging zoonoses and invasive species. In order to manage the growing problem, different measures have been developed and implemented, such as lethal control or dissuasive methods. At present, with the growing citizen concern for animal welfare and environmental awareness, it is necessary to address conflicts from the sociological aspect. Tools such as education or citizen participation can be key to mitigating conflicts. It’s important to understand that the management of these conflicts has a great social, economic, health relevance and in the conservation of nature and biodiversity. Finding a way in which humans and wildlife can coexist is critical to the survival of many species.
... vison») is classified as invasive species threatening the biodiversity and stability of variouszoocenoses and preservation of multiple threatened species [2]. The most damning example being the role played by N. vison in the near extinction of the European mink Mustela lutreola (Linnaeus, 1761), the latter process being directly tied to uncontrolled spreading of N. vison [3][4][5][6][7]. It also acts as a carrier and natural reservoir for a number of diseases dangerous to the endemic wildlife. ...
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American mink (Neovison vison) is both a problematic invader and an economically valuable fur breed species in Belarus. The increasing scale of mink breeding for fur and the growing impact of this invasive species on the local ecosystems requires sound, novel strategies for managing both farm and wild populations. Containment of wild American mink populations under the effects of possible migration from the fur farms could be especially problematic. With that issue in mind, we have used microsatellite analysis todetermine the genetic polymorphism in two color breeds of farm-bred American mink in the populations of several Belorussian model fur farms, as well as the same characteristics for the feral populations on the territories adjacent to said fur farms. We confirm the presence of effective influx of mink into the wild from fur farms, determined through the means of analyzing microsatellite genotype data of feral and farm populations.
... Those new situations of co-occurrence between species may cause rapid niche changes (over less than 100 years; Fitzpatrick et al., 2007), which may in turn represent a key factor in allowing successful invasion by new species (Pearman et al., 2008). For example, it has been shown that following the American mink (Neovison vison) invasion, the native European mink (Mustela lutreola) switched its diet considerably over the course of a few years to reduce the overlap in food niche (Sidorovich et al., 2010). ...
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The Atlantic-Gaspésie caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) is an endangered, isolated population that has been declining for decades in response to intensive logging. Timber harvesting has led to a significant increase in moose (Alces americanus) densities and has triggered numerical and functional predator responses. Moose are now frequently observed at higher altitudes in preferential caribou habitat. Despite extensive range overlap between these two species across Canada, few studies have precisely assessed the potential role of exploitative competition. We assessed the potential overlap between their diets during summer, a key period for energy and nutrient acquisition in cervids. We collected faeces from both species along an altitudinal gradient (200 m–1250 m asl) and used plant chloroplast barcoding sequence trnL to reconstruct diet at the species level. Plant species composition differed between caribou and moose samples, with cervid species explaining 40% of the variation in dissimilarity. We noted slight variations in dissimilarity between species between months and along an altitudinal gradient. Some species that are almost exclusively eaten by moose (speckled alder, wild redcurrant) or by caribou (common juniper, common horsetail) contributed the most to the dissimilarity between diets. The potential for food competition appears relatively low, even at increased moose densities, possibly as a result of past competition. This separation in food niche could also be explained by an imperfect segregation of species since the proportion of time spent in different strata of altitude is unequal. High moose densities thus appear to be more harmful to caribou due to shared predators, but a low level of competition for a few food items could contribute to the decline of this endangered population if some caribou are nutritionally stressed.
... American mink is an invasive mammal species with the highest impact on native fauna in Europe, affecting negatively at least 47 native species (Genovesi et al. 2012). Through ecological competition it affects negatively several native carnivores, namely European mink, polecat and stoat (Mustela erminea) , Sidorovich & Macdonald 2001, Sidorovich & Solovej 2007, Sidorovich et al 2010, Zuberogoitia et al. 2013. The impact of American mink predation on waterfowl, seabirds, small mammals, amphibians and fish has also been documented in various studies in Europe (Woodroffe et al. 1990; Barreto et al. 1998, Macdonald et al. 2002a, Ahola et al. 2006, Banks et al. 2008, Ficher et al. 2009, Melero et al. 2012, Brzezinski et al. 2012, Aars et al. 2001) and in South America (Fasola et al. 2011, Valenzuela 2013. ...
Technical Report
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The EU NON-NATIVE SPECIES RISK ANALYSIS – RISK ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE for Neovison vison was made as an argument to introduce this species on the EU Invasive Alien Species list. The first Union list of 37 plant and animal species was introduced in August 2016 and another 12 were added in August 2017. However, this accounts for just 3% of all IAS believed to already be in Europe and disregards a main introductory pathway by not including any marine species. Furthermore, despite the Regulation’s emphasis on prevention, only a handful of species on the list are in the early stages of invasion or are not yet in the EU. One explanation for the limited number of species on the list could be the lack of dedicated IAS funding available. The IAS Regulation recognises that some species may provide economic benefits in certain Member States but asserts that this should not compromise the Regulation objectives. Unfortunately, lobbying pressure means that economic and environmental interests sometimes clash. The American mink significantly affects native mammals and birds, and has caused the extinction of some of the last populations of European mink. It seems that the economic argument has won here with the result that the American mink has not been included on the Union list.
... feral cats take terrestrial vertebrates; Doherty et al. 2017), or via increased competition (e.g. invasive American mink compete with native European mammalian carnivores Sidorovich et al. 2010). Mammals are notoriously elusive, making their diet difficult to document through direct observations, so that morphological diagnostics of prey remains from stomach contents and faeces are a popular method (Brzeziński et al. 2018). ...
Article
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1. Invasive non-native species are now considered to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide. Therefore, efficient and cost-effective management of species invasions requires robust knowledge of their demography, ecology and impacts, and genetic-based techniques are becoming more widely adopted in acquiring such knowledge. 2. We focus on the use of genetic tools in the applied management of mammalian invasions globally, as well as on their inherent advantages and disadvantages. We cover tools that are used in: 1) detecting and monitoring mammalian invaders; 2) identifying origins and invasive pathways; 3) assessing and quantifying the negative impacts of invaders; and 4) population management and potential eradication of invasive mammals. 3. We highlight changes in sequencing technologies, including how the use of techniques such as Sanger sequencing and microsatellite genotyping, for monitoring and tracing invasive pathways respectively, are now giving way to the use of high-throughput sequencing methods. These include the emergence of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for the early detection of invasive mammals, and single nucleotide polymorphisms or whole genomes to trace the sources of invasive populations. We are now moving towards trials of genome-editing techniques and gene drives to control or eradicate invasive rodents. 4. Genetic tools can provide vital information that may not be accessible with non-genetic methods, for the implementation of conservation policies (e.g. early detection using systematic eDNA surveillance, the identification of novel pathogens). However, the lack of clear communication of novel genetic methods and results (including transparency and reproducibility) to relevant stakeholders can be prohibitive in translating these findings to appropriate management actions. Geneticists should engage early with stakeholders to co-design experiments in relation to management goals for invasive mammals.
... This wide range of occupied habitat is related to the species' generalist diet composition; American mink hunt varied prey, including both aquatic (mainly crayfish, fish, and frogs) and terrestrial (birds and rodents) species (Jędrzejewska et al. 2001;Zalewski and Bartoszewicz 2012). Dietary composition varies greatly between seasons and localities and has also changed over the period of American mink invasion (Jędrzejewska et al. 2001;Bartoszewicz and Zalewski 2003;Sidorovich et al. 2010;Brzeziń ski et al. 2018a). The carnivore typically lives no more than 6 years, but the mortality rate is high, especially in subadult mink (Bonesi et al. 2006). ...
Article
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Invasive non-native species can become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and cause their spread during colonization, increasing the risk of zoonoses transmission to both wild hosts and humans. American mink (Neovison vison) are considered an important invasive mammal species responsible for carrying endoparasites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of feral American mink as a possible transmission vector of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in wildlife. We analysed the frequency of American mink exposure to both parasites, the spatial distribution in Poland, and the variability over time on the basis of specific antibody presence using ELISA and Western blot. Alimentary tract analyses revealed that American mink do not serve as definitive hosts for these parasites. Altogether, 1100 American mink were examined. The average seropositivity for American mink was 14.2% for echinococcosis and 21.7% for toxocarosis; dual-seropositivity was detected in only 6.0%. Seroprevalence of both parasites differed between study sites and significantly increased over time in Toxocara spp. Thus, our study revealed that free-living American mink are exposed to parasites and likely to be involved in the maintenance of both Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in the wild as paratenic hosts.
... Over time the abundance of other prey (e.g. waterbirds) and their proportion in the Mink diet may also decrease (Macdonald et al. 2002, Sidorovich et al. 2010, Zalewski & Bartoszewicz 2012). ...
Article
In birds, adaptations that mitigate predators' impact are usually ineffective in confrontation with introduced and rapidly expanding invasive non-native predators. As a consequence, bird populations often decline in the period following the time when predator population is established. Changes in bird numbers and nest spatial distributions in breeding populations of the Eurasian Coot Fulica atra and Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus were studied in Mazurian Lakeland, northeastern Poland in 2002–2003 and 2016, and were analyzed with reference to the abundance of invasive American Mink Neovison vison, whose density declined since mid 1990s. The study was based on a census of breeding pairs and a search of nests at 31 lakes. The numbers of breeding Coots and Grebes increased 2.6-fold and 1.2-fold, respectively. In both study periods Grebes displayed a strong tendency to nest in the vicinity of human settlements and in colonies; however, the percentage of Grebe pairs nesting near settlements and in colonies decreased from 51% to 34% and from 73% to 57%, respectively. Coots also preferred to nest in the vicinity of human settlements. Distributions of their nests have not changed significantly over time: in both periods 55–60% of Coot nests were found in close proximity to human settlements and 13–19% in Grebe colonies. The obtained results suggest that breeding populations of the Coot and Great Crested Grebe can cope with the invasive American Mink, whose predation was considered to be the main reason for waterbird declines in Mazurian Lakeland at the end of 20th century.
... The diet of the American mink Neovison vison, an invasive carnivore that heavily impacts native fauna in colonized areas (Bonesi and Palazon 2007;Niemczynowicz et al. 2017), has been well described using scat analysis (Jędrzejewska et al. 2001). Mink diet varies considerably according to the abundance of potential prey, which is shaped by habitat, season, weather conditions, and/or other environmental factors (Sidorovich 2000;Brzeziński 2008;Skierczyński et al. 2008;Sidorovich et al. 2010). In the studies reviewed by Jędrzejewska et al. (2001), mink diet in Europe depends mostly on habitat type and does not change significantly with latitude. ...
Article
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Invasive alien predators pose a threat to native fauna and the studies of their feeding habits are crucial to understanding their impact on prey populations. Diet of the American mink Neovison vison, an invasive species in Europe, is relatively well studied based on scat analysis, however, the use of other methods of diet analysis enables a better overview of this issue. We analyzed the isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in the livers, which reflects the diet from about 30–40 days (scat analysis provides information on the diet over 1–2 days only) of the American mink from four national parks in Poland and in the muscles of three types of mink prey (root voles, common frogs, and roach) in order to estimate their contribution to the mink diet. Mink in Biebrza and Narew National Parks fed mainly on frogs and fish, in Drawa National Park on voles and fish, and in Warta Mouth National Park almost exclusively on fish—as shown by Bayesian mixing models calculated for three selected groups of prey. There was no isotopic evidence for differences between the diets of male and female mink. In all groups of prey, we found surprisingly high differences between individuals of the same species from different study sites in the isotopic composition of both δ13C (up to 3‰) and δ15N (up to 6‰). Based on a detailed literature review, we predict that the main reasons for these variations are differences in abiotic environment, food availability, and trophic position. We also indicate a lack of data on trophic discrimination in fish and amphibians, which makes it hard to assess the influence of differences in trophic position on isotopic variations. We suggest caution to authors who plan to study geographical variations in diet of animals using stable isotope analysis without acknowledging that taxonomically and ecologically similar prey can differ in isotopic composition between studied areas.
... While overhunting eradicated the species in several parts of Eastern Europe in the past [4], habitat loss in western Europe has recently been observed to condition population viability and dispersive potential in areas where rivers have deteriorated [5]. Additionally, there is growing evidence supporting the rapacious effect of the invasive American mink on all remaining populations of the European species [4][5][6][7]. The most recent data from the southwestern population shows that the American mink is occupying the European mink´s distribution area with devastating effect, leading to the disappearance of the latter species [8]. ...
Article
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The European mink (Mustela lutreola) is one of the most threatened mammals of Europe. Its present distribution is limited to three isolated areas: northern Spain and western France, the Danube delta in Romania, and Ukraine and Russia. Hunting pressure, habitat loss and the impact of the alien American mink (Neovison vison) have all been proposed as reasons for this drastic decline. American mink is occupying the last European mink distribution areas leading to the disappearance of the latter species. To add to this dramatic situation, two new threats are currently undermining conservation efforts: firstly, the powerful fur trade lobby is trying to exclude the American mink from the Invasive Species List and secondly, a recent opinion is paradoxically proclaiming to consider southern populations of European mink as invasive species. However, there is an immediate need for energy and budgets to be focused on avoiding this mammal´s imminent extinction.
... Les impacts indirects des introductions sont susceptibles de modifier les densités d'une espèce prédatrice ou parasite indigène (Courchamp et al. 2003). Par exemple, l'introduction du vison d'Amérique (Mustela vison) a diminué, par exploitation compétitive, la proportion de larges proies dans le régime alimentaire des visons européens (Mustela lutreola) (Sidorovich et al. 2010). En milieux insulaires, isolés géographiquement et plus sensibles aux perturbations, des changements majeurs de la structure et du fonctionnement des communautés et des écosystèmes peuvent être engendrés par l'introduction d'une ou plusieurs espèces envahissantes (Williamson and Fitter 1996). ...
Thesis
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La variation de la diversité des communautés d’hôtes réservoirs peut modifier le risque de maladies impliquant ces espèces. En particulier, l’introduction d’une espèce potentiellement réservoir est susceptible d’augmenter le risque de maladie, en agissant comme un réservoir supplémentaire et/ou en amplifiant la circulation des agents pathogènes chez les réservoirs autochtones. L’objectif du travail de thèse est de quantifier la contribution, d’une espèce introduite, le tamia de Sibérie (Tamias sibiricus barberi), au risque d’une maladie multi-hôtes, la borréliose de Lyme, due à des bactéries appartenant au complexe d’espèces Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato et transmises par des tiques, principalement Ixodes ricinus en Europe. Dans un premier temps, nous avons testé si le tamia est un réservoir compétent pour la maladie de Lyme en milieu naturel, c'est-à-dire s’il est capable de transmettre B. burgdorferi sl aux tiques I. ricinus et de maintenir l’infection. Le tamia est fortement infesté par les tiques et infecté par les bactéries et il peut transmettre B. burgdorferi sl aux tiques. Nos résultats ne montrent pas clairement que le tamia peut maintenir l’infection. Une des deux composantes du risque de la maladie de Lyme pour l’homme est le risque acarologique, c'est-à-dire la densité de nymphes infectées en quête d’hôtes. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons calculé la contribution du tamia au risque acarologique et l’avons comparé à celles du campagnol roussâtre (Myodes glareolus) et du mulot sylvestre (Apodemus sylvaticus), réservoirs avérés de B. burgdorferi sl. Puis, nous avons étudié la variation temporelle de la contribution du tamia et testé si sa présence influençait la contribution des réservoirs rongeurs natifs. Pour calculer la contribution au risque, nous avons utilisé deux approches, l’une basée sur des captures des rongeurs, et l’autre sur l’identification des espèces hôtes sur lesquelles se sont gorgées les tiques. Le tamia produit plus de nymphes infectées à l’affût que le campagnol et le mulot. La contribution du tamia varie entre années suivant la densité de tamias et intra-années suivant la disponibilité en tiques. Sa plus forte infestation par I. ricinus et infection par B. burgdorferi sl, que les rongeurs natifs, peuvent être expliquées par sa plus forte exposition aux tiques. En conclusion, le tamia semble un réservoir compétent pour B. burgdorferi sl, avec une forte contribution au risque acarologique et une amplification possible de la circulation des pathogènes dans les communautés natives. Sa présence peut augmenter le risque pour la borréliose de Lyme chez l’homme en augmentant la prévalence d’infection des nymphes, mais pas les densités de nymphes à l’affût.
... El caso del visón americano Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777) es diferente, ya que se conoce con bastante precisión su origen y las fechas del comienzo de su invasión, al menos en el caso de Bizkaia (donde se citó por primera vez en el medio natural en 1993, , y ha pasado de no existir a ser una especie invasora ampliamente extendida y abundante en apenas dos décadas (Rodríguez-Refojos & Zuberogoitia, 2011). Una de las principales causas de regresión de las poblaciones de visón europeo se relaciona con la competencia con el visón americano y su rápida expansión por toda el área de distribución de la especie autóctona (Maran et al. 1998;Sidorovich et al. 2010;Podra et al., 2013). ...
Article
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Este artículo se muestra la evolución de las poblaciones y el conocimiento del visón europeo Mustela lutreola (Linnaeus, 1761) y americano Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777) en Bizkaia en las dos últimas décadas (1990-2013). Durante los primeros años de los noventa los visones europeos se distribuían preferentemente por las cuencas orientales, expandiéndose a la práctica totalidad de los ríos al final de la década y retrayéndose a las cuencas del Butrón, Oka y Kadagua, principalmente, en 2010. Mientras tanto, a comienzos de los noventa aparecieron las primeras poblaciones de visón americano en el río Butrón, y poco después en los ríos Artibai y Lea, expandiéndose rápidamente por todas las cuencas de la mitad oriental de Bizkaia. Paulatinamente se desarrollaron trabajos sobre la ecología y comportamiento de ambas especies, destacando aspectos como la selección positiva que ambas especies hacen de la vegetación arbustiva de las riberas, la fuerte territorialidad de los visones europeos o la separación espacial intraespecífica en ambas especies. Los estudios mostraron como, en ambas especies, las poblaciones se ordenan de los cauces principales hacia los tributarios, de forma que los machos dominantes mantendrían sus áreas vitales en los principales y entrarían en los secundarios en busca de hembras, mientras que las hembras ocuparían los tributarios y utilizarían tramos de río principal como canales de flujo entre diferentes arroyos de su territorio. Por último, los principales factores que amenazan la supervivencia de las poblaciones de visón europeo son la competencia con el visón americano, la contaminación de las aguas y, de forma notable, la fragmentación del medio como consecuencia de las obras que se realizan en los ríos.
... They hunt for both aquatic and terrestrial prey; therefore, in their native and introduced range they feed on a variety of prey including rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates (Jędrzejewska et al., 2001). Rodents are some of the most important food resources to American mink, and at some sites rodent contribution to mink diet reaches 45% of consumed biomass (Jędrzejewska et al., 2001;Sidorovich et al., 2010). American mink also exhibit interspecific killing of smaller carnivores or cannibalistic behaviour (Bartoszewicz and Zalewski, 2003). ...
... For example, European and American mink (Mustela lutreola and Neovision vision) are characterized by similar morphology and ecology and both species occupy semi-aquatic habitats. The invasion of American mink in Europe caused drastic declines of European mink due to interspecific competition [112][113][114]. Likewise, the smaller arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is excluded from more productive habitats by the larger red fox [18,19] and the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) can be excluded from habitats with high vole densities by the two times larger stoat (Mustela erminea) through interference competition [115]. ...
Article
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Coexistence of ecologically similar species relies on differences in one or more dimensions of their ecological niches, such as space, time and resources in diel and/or seasonal scales. However, niche differentiation may result from other mechanisms such as avoidance of high predation pressure, different adaptations or requirements of ecologically similar species. Stone marten (Martes foina) and pine marten (Martes martes) occur sympatrically over a large area in Central Europe and utilize similar habitats and food, therefore it is expected that their coexistence requires differentiation in at least one of their niche dimensions or the mechanisms through which these dimensions are used. To test this hypothesis, we used differences in the species activity patterns and habitat selection, estimated with a resource selection function (RSF), to predict the relative probability of occurrence of the two species within a large forest complex in the northern geographic range of the stone marten. Stone martens were significantly heavier, have a longer body and a better body condition than pine martens. We found weak evidence for temporal niche segregation between the species. Stone and pine martens were both primarily nocturnal, but pine martens were active more frequently during the day and significantly reduced the duration of activity during autumn-winter. Stone and pine martens utilized different habitats and almost completely separated their habitat niches. Stone marten strongly preferred developed areas and avoided meadows and coniferous or deciduous forests. Pine marten preferred deciduous forest and small patches covered by trees, and avoided developed areas and meadows. We conclude that complete habitat segregation of the two marten species facilitates sympatric coexistence in this area. However, spatial niche segregation between these species was more likely due to differences in adaptation to cold climate, avoidance of high predator pressure and/or food preferences by both species than competitive interaction between them.
Chapter
In a zoosemiotic inquiry, alloanimal agency is accepted as a natural property of all animals. The aim of zoosemiotics is to analyse the behaviour of alloanimals and ecological relations through the emic perspective. This chapter shows certain changes that take place in an animal’s perceptual world and are mirrored in their operational world. The zoosemiotic analysis will be based on the Umwelt theory and work chiefly with a case study of reintroduction of the European mink (Mustela lutreola) and interviews conducted with local people in 2019 on the island of Hiiumaa in Estonia. The agency of animals becomes especially important when substantial changes take place in their environment, their food resources, or social relations; these are changes to which animals must adapt according to their Umwelt. In the context of reintroduction of the European mink, animal agency is central because ex situ environment was replaced with an in situ environment. What will be proposed and formulated is a special case of Umwelt transition, an ‘Umwelt reversion’, where the reintroduced minks return to their ‘natural’ social relations and food resources. This indicates that meaning carriers in the environment can change due to the agency of the mink.
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Obecna doktryna prześladowania gatunków nierodzimych jako obcych i dlatego złych nie jest i nie może być uzasadniona naukowo, jest wyrazem ksenofobii i kwalifikuje się jako faszyzm środowiskowy. Powstała ona przez połączenie dyletanckiej ekocentrycznej etyki środowiskowej A. Leopolda z teorią inwazji zwierząt i roślin C.S. Eltona. Mimo powtarzającej się krytyki jest ona szeroko i bezrefleksyjnie przyjmowana przez konserwacjonistów i większość biologów, co prowadzi do rażącej stronniczości w prowadzeniu i publikowaniu badań, wyrażającej się szczególnie w języku demonizującym gatunki nierodzime, oraz w interpretacji wyników, która ma wspierać kampanię ich zwalczania i ignorować ich pożądany wpływ na ekosystemy. Jest to działalność biopolityczna uprawiana pod szyldem nauki i jako taka jest nadużyciem publicznego zaufania i publicznych środków na naukę. Licznych przykładów dostarcza traktowanie norek amerykańskich i jenotów. Norki amerykańskie wpasowują się do europejskich ekosystemów (mimo ciągłej interferencji uciekinierów z ferm) i przyczyniają się do ich stabilizacji przez ograniczanie populacji innych przybyszy (piżmaków, raków luizjańskich) oraz drobnych gryzoni. Nie są one główną przyczyną trwającego od XVII w. zaniku norek europejskich nawet jeżeli mogą przyśpieszać zanik reliktowych populacji, czego jednak jednoznacznie nie udowodniono. Jenoty wpasowały się już w europejskie ekosystemy i nie zagrażają żadnemu innemu gatunkowi. Jeżeli byłoby wskazane ograniczanie populacji nierodzimych drapieżników, to należałoby w pierwszej kolejności zabronić zabijania ich rodzimych konkurentów, a nie podżegać ludność do prześladowań dzikich zwierząt. Irracjonalizm i zawziętość konserwacjonistów w prześladowaniu zwierząt z nierodzimych („obcych”) gatunków domaga się psychologicznego wyjaśnienia i wydaje się być wynikiem działania biofilii bez udziału refleksji etycznej, a konkretnie przekierowania gniewu biofilów za dewastację biosfery na wprowadzone przez ludzi zwierzęta.
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У навчальному посібнику детально розглянуто представників чоти-рьох родин хижаків, зокрема ведмедевих, псових (вовчих), котових (котя-чих) і мустелових (куницевих). Подано загальні відомості про тварин, ареа-ли їх поширення, спосіб життя, розмноження, харчування. Висвітлено про-блеми збереження і приналежність до видових категорій згідно з Червоним списком Міжнародного союзу охорони природи. Для студентів і викладачів географічних факультетів вищих закладів освіти, майбутніх фахівців у галузі географії і природничих наук, усіх, хто цікавиться життям тварин.
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Fur farming involves the captive-breeding, rearing, and killing of between 85 – 100 million animals annually for their pelts. The purpose of this report is to summarise key areas of significance and concern regarding fur farming, and discuss these matters and their one-health considerations. We conducted primary literature searches using Google Scholar and PubMed that focused on issues of animal welfare, zoonoses and public health, and environmental impacts of fur farming, and examined 280 reports. We identified that at least 15 species are farmed for fur across at least 19 countries. We found 16 categories of animal welfare concern (e.g., deprivation, stress, abnormal behaviours, insanitary conditions, forced obesity, and high morbidity and mortality), 18 reported endemic pathogens and diseases with confirmed or potential zoonotic and cross-species implications (e.g., bacterial n = 6, viral n = 5, and parasitic n = 7), and four main categories of environmental concern (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, invasive alien species, toxic chemicals, and eutrophication) associated with fur farming. Despite numerous efforts to systematically monitor and control animal welfare at fur farms, practices continue to fail to meet normal scientific principles and models used in other animal welfare situations. In our view, limited available data does not currently indicate that fur farms are major sources of zoonotic epidemics and pandemics. The environmental problems caused by fur farming are significant, and relate mainly to invasive species, toxic chemical release and eutrophication of water bodies. We offer some recommendations for monitoring and controlling particular fur farming practices, in line with many governments and other investigators we conclude that inherent problems are essentially unresolvable and advocate complete prohibitions on the sector.
Preprint
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A species expansion beyond the native range is often assumed to be associated with an increased dietary niche breadth. However, empirical evidence remains limited due to a scarcity of studies comparing both the parental and invaded ranges. Here, we test the trophic niche expansion hypothesis by examining stable isotopes and functional morphology across native (NW Black Sea) and invaded (SE Baltic Sea) ranges of two amphipods, Dikerogammarus villosus and Pontogammarus robustoides, originating from the Ponto-Caspian region - a major source of species invading Holarctic inland waters. Stable isotopes revealed that both species underwent a twofold contraction of the dietary niche with a shift towards decreased carnivory in the invaded range. This dietary shift was morphologically mirrored by an overall reduction of prey grasping appendages, antennae, and mouthpart palps. The magnitude of dietary and morphological change was greater in D. villosus. Our findings indicate that previous experimental reports of aggressive predation in D. villosus reflect opportunistic foraging and align with local stable isotope studies which generally indicate a low trophic position. We conclude that Ponto-Caspian species can undergo rapid, if non-intuitive, changes in both diet and functional morphology outside the native range, likely contributing to their invasive potential.
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The introduction and expansion of an invasive non-native species could have important consequences for the genetic patterns and processes of native species, moreover if the new arrival competes strongly for resources and space. This may result in the demographic decline of the native species. Knowing the effects on the levels of genetic diversity and structure in native species is key in terms of their conservation. We analysed temporal (over 50 years) genetic variation of the population of the European polecat (Mustela putorius), a species under threat in several European countries, in the Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF), Poland, before and after the invasion of the American mink (Neovison vison). Using 11 microsatellite loci and a fragment of the mitochondrial control region we show that levels of diversity changed in the polecat population over 53 generations (over the period 1959–2012) and after the invasion of mink. When compared with other threatened European polecat populations, high levels of diversity are observed in the population in BPF in both periods, as well as in other areas in Poland. Our data shows that genetic structure was not present either before or after the mink invasion in BPF. This would suggest that the polecat population in Poland was not affected by invasive species and other negative factors and would be a potential good source of individuals for captive breeding or genetic rescue conservation management actions in areas where such actions are needed, for example the UK.
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In order to explore the interaction and competitive coexistence mechanism between pest and natural enemy populations, the dynamic temporal pattern, niche breadth and overlap of pest and natural enemy populations in cotton field were systematically investigated by direct observation. The results showed that dominant species of pest and natural enemy were different in different growth duration of spring cotton. The peak period mostly occurred in June and July. The peak periods of Aphis gossypii Glover and Empoasca biguttula were in late May and late September, respectively. Different populations had distinct temporal niches. For pests, niche breadth of cotton mirids was the largest, followed by Helicoverpa armigera, and Empoasca biguttula and Tetranychus cinnatarinus had relatively smaller niche breadth. For natural enemies, niche breadth of arachnid in cotton field was the largest, followed by Orius minutes, and Scymnus hoffmanni had relatively smaller niche breadth. While Scymnus hoffmanni and other coccinellid species had large niche overlap with Aphis gossypii Glover and Tetranychus cinnatarinus. Thus, it was deduced that coccinellid species could be applied to control Aphis gossypii Glover and Tetranychus cinnatarinus, and natural enemies such as spiders should be protected and exploited. Helicoverpa armigera and cotton mirids should be the key species to be controlled in direct-seeding spring cotton fields in southwest Anhui Province. 基金项目: 转基因生物新品种培育重大专项 "转基因棉花环境安全评价技术" (2016ZX08011-002)。
Article
As a result of our long-term research (1978–2013), the spatial structure patterns of American mink (Neovison vison Schreber, 1777) populations, their nutrition, and daily and seasonal activity in the floodplain and right-bank ecosystems of the Volgograd water reservoir have been revealed. The average size of the home ranges of the mink is 22.4 ha for females and 34.7 ha for males on the islands. On the right shore of the reservoir, they are significantly larger, namely, 51.3 and 75.5 ha, respectively. The diet of the mink is based on three forage groups: mammals (primarily mouselike rodents) (18.8–42.7% BIO), fish (5.6–39.1% BIO), and amphibians (17.1–51.7% BIO). Other food is significant only in certain seasons. On the floodplain islands, the mink is the most active in spring and fall, while its summer activity decreases, and in winter the daily rhythm clearly has two peaks, the morning and evening ones. On the right bank, due to the food scarcity in some seasons, the activity peaks are smooth.
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The American mink (Neovison vison) is a species that experienced unprecedented ecological success in the 20th century, which can be seen in both the dynamic increase in its zoogeographical range, and in its effective adaptation to ecological niches in new areas. The driving forces of this phenomenon include intensification and globalization of mink farming, which is accompanied by introduction and rapid spread of the species outside its natural range. The first observations of mink in the wild in Poland took place in the middle of the last century. Within 60 years, American mink colonized almost entire country and the process of invasion and colonization is still ongoing. The high rate of invasion and ecological success achieved by the populations from the introduction is possible due to the high ecological plasticity of American mink, its high reproductive potential, the availability of free ecological niche left by European mink (Mustela lutreola), extinct in many areas, and the frequent lack of natural enemies on the occupied territories. Dynamic geographical spread of allochthonous American mink is associated with a number of very serious ecological problems, primarily through predation, competition and aggression against indigenous fauna, as well as transmission of Aleutian mink disease virus. This results in fact that American mink is regarded as one of most dangerous invasive species in the world. In the absence of practical possibilities of its permanent eradication from Poland, local eradication programs on vulnerable areas (e.g. waterbirds breeding sites), as well as large−scale population size control, promotion of natural enemies and competitors, and improvement of living conditions of its prey−species are most recommended. The most important in monitoring and control programs of alien populations is limitation of farm−animals escapes and recognition of methods for their simple and unambiguous identification. Indisputable determination of the free−ranging animals origin would allow for taking the appropriate actions against owners of the unsafe farms. At the same time, implementation of a holistic and systemic approach to solve the problem of the presence of American mink in the natural environment would help to fulfil Polish obligations resulting from ratified international conventions and EU law.
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There are only three remaining populations of European mink Mustela lutreola (Linnaeus, 1761) in Europe: the Western (Spain and France), the Romanian (Danube Delta) and the Russian population (divided into several subpopulations). The current Spanish population is composed of less than 500 individuals, distributed along 2300 kilometres of watercourses. The presence and the ecological competition with the American mink, the lost of available habitat, water pollution, the isolation and the small size of the population, a high human-induced mortality and the prevalence of the Aleutian mink disease are the main threats faced by the European mink in Spain and other European countries. The National Conservation Strategy aims to ensure the viability of Spanish European mink population by increasing its population size and distribution. However, there first urge is to control the American mink and improve the riparian habitat. Otherwise, European mink could be displaced by the American mink in few years.
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Predation, one of the most dramatic interactions in animals' lives, has long fascinated ecologists. This volume presents carnivores, raptors and their prey in the complicated net of interrelationships, and shows them against the background of their biotic and abiotic settings. It is based on long-term research conducted in the best preserved woodland of Europe's temperate zone. The role of predation, whether limiting or regulating prey (ungulate, rodent, shrew, bird, and amphibian) populations, is quantified and compared to parts played by other factors: climate, food resources for prey, and availability of other potential resources for predators.
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Five native terrestrial mustelids are found in Great Britain. Only three of these occur in Ireland. Farmed American mink have recently established feral populations on both islands. We studied inter- and intraspecific size relationships, sexual size dimorphism, and morphological variation among these mustelids. We viewed each size as a separate morphospecies, skull length as a measure of body size, and the upper canine tooth as the organ used to kill prey. Geographic variation was low in both islands, so we considered the mustelid population of each island a single unit. Community-wide character displacement (evidence by equal size ratios) was found among British mustelids for canine diameter. For skull length it was seen only when the largely vermivorous badger was excluded. When we added feral mink the regular pattern disappeared, but when we substituted the mink for the polecat, which is now restricted to parts of Wales and adjacent England, community-wide character displacement was manifest. For Irish mustelids size ratios were not equal, but the pattern for canines was more regular than for skull lengths. Adding the local feral mink did not result in a regular pattern, but addition of the mink and exclusion of the badger yielded equal ratios for skull length but not for canines. These patterns plus published empirical data support a hypothesis of prey size partitioning. The significant differences in size between some of the British and Irish populations of the same morphospecies suggest the possibility of ecological release among Irish mustelids, whose populations originally derived from British ones. In particular, canine sexual size dimorphism is greater for Irish pine martens, stoats, and mink, as would be expected if there were fewer competitors. For the marten and the stoat, Irish females have evolved to be strikingly smaller than their British counterparts, in each case approximating the size of the male of a missing species (polecat for the marten, weasel for the stoat). For skull length there is no consistent patterns. Finally, morphological variation is greater in Ireland for five or six morphospecies, as predicted by the niche-variation hypothesis.
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In 1986-1997, diet composition of the native riparian mustelids: the otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758), the European mink Mustela lutreola (Linnaeus, 1761), the polecat M. putorius (Linnaeus, 1758), and the naturalized one, the American mink M. vison (Schreber, 1777) was studied in relation to seasonal changes of the habitats (the Lovat river, NE Belarus). Amphibians, fish, crayfish, small mammals, and birds appeared the essential prey resources supporting the guild of riparian mustelids. In the river valleys, the two mink species and polecat were characterized by opportunistic feeding habits, whereas the otters specialised on fish. In spring and autumn, frogs were important prey to all mustelids studied. The trophic niches of the two mink species were wider than those of the otter and the polecat. In the seasonally changing environmental conditions, the American mink appeared a more opportunistic predator than the European mink. Food niches of the three native mustelids overlapped notably less with each other (Pianka's α from 0.24 to 0.70) than with the American mink (α from 0.60 to 0.89). The obtained data suggest that in river valley habitats the naturalized American mink may he a strong competitor for prey with the native riparian mustelids, especially the European mink and the polecat.
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This study describes the diet of European mink (Mustela lutreola) in Northern Spain. The diet was analysed from 105 European mink samples. Moreover, we collected other 37 faeces from a radiotracked European mink male. The European mink diet was based on small mammals (relative frequency of occurrences 36,9%), fish (30,6%) and birds (17,8%). The Levins index of trophic-niche width was 3,76. Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus was the most consumed small mammal and Cyprinids -mainly Barbus sp. was the most consumed fish. The average size and weight of consumed fish were 13,5 cm and 31,5 g, respectively and males consumed larger and heavier fish than females.
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We measured daily movements and use of home ranges for 14 radio-collared pine martens (Martes martes) in Bialowieza National Park (eastern Poland) in 1991-1996. Data were collected during 70 continuous sessions of 24-h radio-tracking with locations taken at 15-min intervals. Daily movement distance (DMD, sum of straight-line distances between consecutive locations) averaged 5.1 km(.)d(-1) (min-max: 0.4-12.6) in females and 5.8 km(.)d(-1) (min-max: 0.7-12.7) in males. The mean speed of martens was 0.6 km(.)h(-1) (min-max: 0.2-1.4). Daily ranges (DR) used by martens averaged 49 ha. (min-max: 1-149) in females and 54 ha (min-max: 1-182) in males and constituted 0.3% to 88% (mean 26% and 29%, respectively) of annual home ranges held by martens. Indices of penetration of daily ranges (IPDR, in metres of route per hectare of DR) showed whether the daily routes of martens were densely packed and concentrated or loosely distributed. IPDR averaged 220 m(.)ha(-1) in females and 139 m(.)ha(-1) in males. Ambient temperature, abundance of forest rodents (martens' main prey resource), sex, and reproductive activity of an animal were crucial factors shaping the variation in all parameters. DMD, DR, and speed were positively correlated with ambient temperature (from -17 degreesC to 26 degreesC). With increasing temperature, martens moved faster, covered longer distances, and used larger daily ranges. Mobility and home range use were affected by breeding activity. In spring, females rearing cubs had longer DMD and moved faster than non-breeding females. In summer, males covered larger daily ranges during the mating period than outside it. We reviewed the available data on pine martens' wintertime DMD in Europe. In locations ranging from 41degrees to 69degrees N, the average and maximum recorded DMD of martens increased from south to north. We propose that pine martens have to cover longer routes to fulfil their food requirements in the conditions of declining ecosystem productivity and shrinking prey resources found along the south-north gradient.
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The abundance, diet, and prey relationships of American mink Mustela vison were studied in the Slonsk Reserve (W Poland) on two plots: shore and reservoir. Estimated mink number within the Reserve was 69 in autumn-winter 1998/1999 and 50 during spring 1999. The diet of American mink consisted mainly of mammals, birds and fish. In autumn-winter, birds formed 4-16%, whereas mammals constituted up to 56% and fish up to 62% of the biomass consumed, depending on the plot. In spring and summer, however, birds formed 45-60% of the biomass consumed in the reservoir and 35-46% of the biomass taken by mink on the shore. The European coot Fulica atra was the most frequently consumed prey. In spring, mink removed 7.8% (N=278 killed birds) of coots nesting in the Reserve, 1.8% (N=9) of breeding grebes Podiceps spp. and 11.2% of ducks (N=93 taken birds). On straw platforms only 13.6% of greylag geese Anser anser broods were successful. From 35 to 77% of the nests on straw platforms were destroyed by mink. In wooden boxes 46.4% of mallard Anas platyrhynchos and 33.3% of shelduck Tadorna tadorna nests were successful. American mink destroyed 22-40% of the nests in boxes. However, the arrival of American mink to the Slonsk Reserve has not resulted in a noteworthy decrease in waterfowl populations.
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In the years 1989-95, feral North American Mink caused widespread whole-colony breeding failures of Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls and Common Terns at colonies on small islands in a study area along 1000 km of mainland coast in west Scotland. After one or more years of such failure, most of the affected breeding sites held no birds or greatly reduced numbers. In some cases movement to new or existing colonies was detected; birds sometimes found mink-free islands and bred successfully. By 1996, mink had had two distinct long-term effects on breeding numbers and distribution of these species. (1) In 1987 the study area contained 1839 breeding pairs of Common Terns (one-eighth of the British Isles total). By 1996 they had decreased by 36% to 1179 pairs. Between 1989 and 1996, Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls decreased by 52% and 30%. There was no evidence that birds had left the area and, subject to certain assumptions, these decreases were largely accounted for by known predation of eggs and chicks by mink. (2) Discrete areas such as archipelagoes, sea lochs, firths and sounds lost all or nearly all breeding seabirds as a result of such movements from affected islands. Mink predation is widespread but difficult to detect and should be considered as a possible cause when seabird colonies near the mainland decline and disappear.
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Diet composition, niche measures, and prey consumption of three sympatric species of carnivores, one non-native and introduced, the American minkNeovison vison Schreber, 1777, and two native, the spotted genetGenetta genetta Linnaeus, 1758 and the Eurasian otterLutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758, were studied in a Spanish Mediterranean area. The study was based on the analysis of prey remains in the faeces of the predators. Faeces of mink (n = 444), genet (n = 310), and otter (n = 108) were collected all year round for four years along the Llobregat (21 km) and Gavarresa rivers (12 km). Simultaneously, and in the same area, prey species density and weight were estimated by means of trapping. The diet of mink and genet was dominated by the American crayfishProcambarus clarkii, while the otter fed almost exclusively on fish. Compared to the mink, the genet seemed to specialise more on small mammals while the mink specialised more on aquatic birds, especially in autumn-winter. Niche overlap was higher between mink and genet than between either of them and the otter. Key wordsdiet-American crayfish-niche width-niche overlap-competition
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We examined the distribution patterns of native animals on Amami-Oshima Island, southern Japan, along a historical gradient of mongoose establishment and estimated the effects of mongoose on the native fauna. To assess the relative abundance of various ground-dwelling animals, we used the following four methods; sensor cameras for exotic mammals, nighttime driving census for nocturnal native vertebrates, line census for ground-dwelling lizards, and adhesive traps for arthropods. The results indicated that seven species with larger body size, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, were rarely observed in mongoose-infested area. By contrast, medium-sized animals showed neutral relationships with mongoose establishment. Interestingly, the densities of smaller-sized animals were higher in mongoose-infested area. It could be interpreted that smaller species have increased in abundance through top-down cascades, i.e., decreases in native predators such as frogs and lizards caused by the mongoose have resulted in increases in the abundance of smaller animals. Predation pressures by mongoose and native predators may be canceled out for medium-sized animals, causing neutral responses to mongoose by these animals. This study appears to be the first example that shows the influence of mongoose on a wide variety of native animals. In addition, our findings indicate the importance of considering the food web structure of a recipient ecosystem and contribute to the prediction and assessment of ecological risks caused not only by mongoose, but also by other invasive top predators.
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We examine the distribution of American mink Mustela vison in 28 European countries, and we review the impacts of this invasive species and the efforts made so far in controlling it. Our study reveals that, although mink farms are mostly concentrated in northern countries, mink are widely distributed across Europe, and that in some countries mink are apparently declining, although in most cases the causes are unknown. Countries for which the impact of mink on native species has been studied show that mink can have a significant effect on ground-nesting birds, rodents, amphibians and mustelids. The overall economic impact of feral mink seems to be relatively small but can be significant in specific regions. Recently, a number of eradication and local control projects have been carried out throughout Europe, indicating that these actions could be effective to protect native species. A consistent body of knowledge is starting to accumulate on issues concerning the American mink as an invasive alien species, but, as this review highlights, for most European countries there is currently a limited knowledge about its distribution or impacts. Taking all these observations together, we present some of the actions that have recently emerged as effective for dealing with this species and discuss which considerations may further encourage competent European authorities to take action to prevent and mitigate impacts of American mink.
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Interspecific killing is a key determinant of the abundances and distributions of carnivores, their prey, and nonprey community members. Similarity of body size has been proposed to lead competitors to seek similar prey, which increases the likelihood of interference encounters, including lethal ones. We explored the influence of body size, diet, predatory habits, and taxonomic relatedness on interspecific killing. The frequency of attacks depends on differences in body size: at small and large differences, attacks are less likely to occur; at intermediate differences, killing interactions are frequent and related to diet overlap. Further, the importance of interspecific killing as a mortality factor in the victim population increases with an increase in body size differences between killers and victims. Carnivores highly adapted to kill vertebrate prey are more prone to killing interactions, usually with animals of similar predatory habits. Family-level taxonomy influences killing interactions; carnivores tend to interact more with species in the same family than with species in different families. We conclude that although resource exploitation (diet), predatory habits, and taxonomy are influential in predisposing carnivores to attack each other, relative body size of the participants is overwhelmingly important. We discuss the implications of interspecific killing for body size and the dynamics of geographic ranges.
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Alien predators are widely considered to be more harmful to prey populations than native predators. To evaluate this expectation, we conducted a meta-analysis of the responses of vertebrate prey in 45 replicated and 35 unreplicated field experiments in which the population densities of mammalian and avian predators had been manipulated. Our results showed that predator origin (native versus alien) had a highly significant effect on prey responses, with alien predators having an impact double that of native predators. Also the interaction between location (mainland versus island) and predator origin was significant, revealing the strongest effects with alien predators in mainland areas. Although both these results were mainly influenced by the huge impact of alien predators on the Australian mainland compared with their impact elsewhere, the results demonstrate that introduced predators can impose more intense suppression on remnant populations of native species and hold them further from their predator-free densities than do native predators preying upon coexisting prey.
Article
Mink Mustela vison appeared in the inner part of the Stockholm Archipelago in 1972 and reached the outer island groups ten years later. During the period there were relatively large population changes: eider Somateria mollissima, greylag goose Anser anser and great black-backed gull Larus marinus increased markedly in numbers while lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus, razorbill Alca torda and black guillemot Cepphus grylle decreased dramatically. The increases as well as the decrease of lesser black-backed gull were consistent with general trends in the Baltic. The temporal and spatial pattern of the decrease of razorbill and black guillemot, both specialised hole-nesters strongly support the conclusion that predation by mink is the main reason. For the marked distribution shift noted for eider and herring gull Larus argentatus, mink predation is also suspected. -from English summary
Article
Individual feeding behaviour of the European mink Mustela lutreola and American mink M. vison inhabiting the upper reaches of the Lovat river, NE Belarus was investigated. Three out of the nine individual European minks studied were specialists on frogs (mainly common frog Rana temporaria). The majority (77-97%) of their scats contained frog remains, and frogs constituted 62-88% of food biomass consumed. One European mink fed mostly on crayfish (Astacus astacus); 62% of its scats contained crayfish remains, and crayfish constituted about 61% of the food biomass consumed. The other five European minks studied were generalist predators at watersides. Three out of the ten individual American minks studied were micromammalian specialists; 86-92% of their scats contained remains of small mammals (mostly water vole Arvicola terrestris and microtines), and small mammals constituted 83-88% of food biomass consumed. The other seven American minks were generalist predators. No correlation was found between the proportion of small mammals in the diets (expressed in percentage of food biomass consumed) and their abundance in the habitats. Hence, those American minks mostly feeding on small mammals demonstrated an individual feeding specificity. In contrast, the proportions of crayfish and frogs in the diets of individual American minks was positively correlated with the abundance of these alternative prey in the habitats. This suggests an opportunistic feature in consuming of crayfish and frogs by the naturalized mink. For the European mink there was a positive correlation between the proportion of frogs and crayfish in the individual diets and the abundance of these prey in the habitats, but there was no such correlation with abundance of small mammals. The results suggest that the native mink is reluctant to prey small mammals and its opportunistic feature of feeding on crayfish and frogs. Interspecific and intraspecific food niche overlaps in minks at an individual level was estimated. Fairly large variation of the dietary similarity between the individual minks was revealed. Resource competition between the European mink and the naturalized American mink on population and individual levels is discussed.
Article
Changes in spatial structure of the native riparian mustelid guild including the European mink Mustela lutreola, otter Lutra lutra, polecat M. putorius and stoat M. erminea in connection with the expansion of the American mink M. vison were analysed on the basis of a radiotracking and snowtracking study in the upper reaches of the Lovat river, NE Belarus. Four main questions were investigated: (1) how does habitat selection differ between the native mustelids in the absence of American mink? (2) does habitat use change following the arrival of American mink and, if so, how? (3) does habitat selection differ between the two mink species? (4) how does European mink density before American mink arrival compare with American mink densities after the disappearance of European mink? Before American mink naturalization, European mink density was highest at small rivers and brooks, otter density was highest at larger rivers, polecats were found to inhabit all types of river banks and shores at a similar density. No changes in otter habitat use were found after the American mink expansion. Gradually, during four years of the American mink expansion, European mink became rare at small rivers. However, at brooks used less frequently by American mink there was little change in European mink density. Radiotracking data showed that American mink drive European mink away from rivers. European mink are still found at brooks, however, such small streams are used more frequently by European mink males than by females, because there is not enough food to rear a litter. Following the American mink expansion, the polecat population along the banks and shores was reduced by approximately half. In riparian habitats American mink seems to be a more competitive species than the polecat and as a result, polecat populations tend to decline there. Furthermore, as with European mink, polecat females are at an even greater competitive disadvantage due to their smaller body size. The most important difference in habitat selection of the native mink and naturalized mink is that the European mink inhabited banks and shores and usually stayed close to aquatic ecosystems, whereas the American mink fairly frequently inhabited marshes, pools and even dry forest.
Article
Body sizes of European mink (Mustela lutreola L.), polecat (M. putorius L.) and American mink (M. vison Schreber) were studied over a 10-year period in an area of north-eastern Belarus, before and after the invasion by American mink, and data are presented on interspecific interactions. On arrival in the study area American mink males were larger than males of European mink and polecat, and American mink females were larger than females of the other species. After arrival of the American mink its mean body size decreased, whilst the resident male and female European mink and female polecat increased as measured in absolute mass, length and relative mass. The observations suggest a strong character convergence most plausibly explained as a response to the invading exotic by the residents as well as in the invading species itself, whilst a divergence had been expected. There was no evidence to show whether these differences were genetically based. The body size data are consistent with the hypothesis that European mink, and to a lesser extent polecat, are responding to direct aggression from American mink (rather than merely competing for resources), with the smaller individual European mink being more likely to disappear first. We provide direct evidence for the aggressive nature of inter-specific relations from observations using radio-tracking: all observed inter-specific interactions were aggressive, significantly more so than intraspecific encounters, causing the European mink to flee, and several left the study area altogether. Implications for niche theory and for conservation management are discussed.
Chapter
Many mammals, such as otters, live in close association with rivers and streams, feeding in them, or using them as a place of safety or means of escape from predators. The distinct adaptations that riparian mammals have evolved in order to live in these environments also handicap them for living elsewhere. They are therefore threatened by alterations to their environment. In recent years our rivers have become highly polluted, and with bankside modifications for agriculture and forestry, enhanced or decreased water flow, and use for recreation, they become less and less suitable for these highly specialized animals. This 1998 book looks at the habitat utilization, adaptation, feeding ecology and conservation status of a range of riparian mammals, and will give insights into the problems facing these fascinating animals, and how they might be overcome.
Article
During a period in the 1980s when both European mink Mustela lutreola and American mink M. vison were present in Estonia, their food was significantly different. European mink ate a greater proportion of fish and crustaceans, whereas American mink took relatively more mammals and frogs. This was probably related to a difference in habitat selection. After the disappearance of the European mink, the diet of the American mink in our main study area was similar to that of the European in the same area previously. Two alternative hypotheses are presented for the mechanisms which led to the replacement of European mink by the American species: (i) the two species have a different niche, and the American mink could replace the European mink after the latter had disappeared for unrelated reasons, or (ii) the American mink aggressively ousted the European mink, a process starting in the American mink's preferred habitat (slow flowing rivers). At present there are insufficient data to reject either of these scenarios.
Article
Changes in spatial structure of the native riparian mustelid guild including the European mink Mustela lutreola, otter Lutra lutra, polecat M. putorius and stoat M. erminea in connection with the expansion of the American mink M. vison were analysed on the basis of a radiotracking and snowtracking study in the upper reaches of the Lovat river, NE Belarus. Four main questions were investigated: (1) how does habitat selection differ between the native mustelids in the absence of American mink? (2) does habitat use change following the arrival of American mink and, if so, how? (3) does habitat selection differ between the two mink species? (4) how does European mink density before American mink arrival compare with American mink densities after the disappearance of European mink? Before American mink naturalization, European mink density was highest at small rivers and brooks, otter density was highest at larger rivers, polecats were found to inhabit all types of river banks and shores at a similar density. No changes in otter habitat use were found after the American mink expansion. Gradually, during four years of the American mink expansion, European mink became rare at small rivers. However, at brooks used less frequently by American mink there was little change in European mink density. Radiotracking data showed that American mink drive European mink away from rivers. European mink are still found at brooks, however, such small streams arc used more frequently by European mink males than by females, because there is not enough food to rear a litter. Following the American mink expansion, the polecat population along the banks and shores was reduced by approximately half. In riparian habitats American mink seems to be a more competitive species than the polecat and as a result, polecat populations tend to decline there. Furthermore, as with European mink, polecat females are at an even greater competitive disadvantage due to their smaller body size. The most important difference in habitat selection of the native mink and naturalized mink is that the European mink inhabited banks and shores and usually stayed close to aquatic ecosystems, whereas the American mink fairly frequently inhabited marshes, pools and even dry forest.
Article
During a period in the 1980s when both European mink Mustela lutreola and American mink M. vison were present in Estonia, their food was significantly different. European mink ate a greater proportion of fish and crustaceans, whereas American mink took relatively more mammals and frogs. This was probably related to a difference in habitat selection. After the disappearance of the European mink, the diet of the American mink in our main study area was similar to that of the European in the same area previously. Two alternative hypotheses are presented for the mechanisms which led to the replacement of European mink by the American species: (i) the two species have a different niche, and the American mink could replace the European mink after the latter had disappeared for unrelated reasons, or (ii) the American mink aggressively ousted the European mink, a process starting in the American mink's preferred habitat (slow flowing rivers). At present there are insufficient data to reject either of these scenarios.
Article
Body sizes of European mink (Mustela lutreola L.), polecat (M. putorius L.) and American mink (M. vison Schreber) were studied over a 10-year period in an area of north-eastern Belarus, before and after the invasion by American mink, and data are presented on interspecific interactions. On arrival in the study area American mink males were larger than males of European mink and polecat, and American mink females were larger than females of the other species. After arrival of the American mink its mean body size decreased, whilst the resident male and female European mink and female polecat increased as measured in absolute mass, length and relative mass. The observations suggest a strong character convergence most plausibly explained as a response to the invading exotic by the residents as well as in the invading species itself, whilst a divergence had been expected. There was no evidence to show whether these differences were genetically based. The body size data are consistent with the hypothesis that European mink, and to a lesser extent polecat, are responding to direct aggression from American mink (rather than merely competing for resources), with the smaller individual European mink being more likely to disappear first. We provide direct evidence for the aggressive nature of inter-specific relations from observations using radio-tracking: all observed inter-specific interactions were aggressive, significantly more so than intraspecific encounters, causing the European mink to flee, and several left the study area altogether. Implications for niche theory and for conservation management are discussed.
Article
In the U.K. the impact of introduced American mink Mustela vison, on water voles Arvicola terrestris, may be exacerbated by habitat loss and fragmentation. Pristine wetlands in Belarus, which American mink invaded in the early 1990s, provide a three-pronged opportunity to test this hypothesis. First, we examine the evidence that, even in the unmanaged wetlands of our Belarussian study site, American mink have reduced water vole populations. Second, we ask whether habitat size, type and isolation mitigate the impact of American mink predation. Thirdly, we explore whether water voles are at greater risk of predation from American than European mink because of their patterns of habitat use. Following the invasion of American mink, water voles were most abundant in small, still-water sites, far from river banks, while American mink were most active in large, running-water sites. Small mammal remains were found in a higher percentage of American than European mink scats, and of these, more were water vole in American mink scats. The occurrence of water voles in scats of both mink species declined after the American mink invaded and established. Our results provide at least circumstantial evidence that American mink limit water vole populations even in unmanaged wetland eco-systems, and that they have a greater impact than their European congener at least partly because they make greater use of isolated marshes. Although by no means providing complete protection, the configuration and dispersion of available habitat mitigated the impact of American mink on water voles. This raises the possibility that habitat restoration, especially through the establishment of isolated enclaves, could help reduce the effect of American mink in the U.K. These observations are of broader interest in the context of assessing the effect of multiple pressures on vulnerable species.
Article
It is suspected that feral American mink, an introduced predator in Europe, have seriously affected local densities of birds breeding in archipelagos and coastal areas. We studied the effects of mink removal on breeding densities of waterfowl in two manipulation and two control areas in the outer archipelago of SW Finland, Baltic Sea. The study was conducted in two phases: during 1992–2001 a total of 98 mink was removed from 60 islands and islets (total area 72 km2) whereas on 37 islands and islets (35 km2) mink was not removed. Additional mink removal and control areas were established during 1998–2001 to replicate the experiment. The breeding densities of the shelduck, tufted duck and the velvet scoter increased as a response to mink removal, while in the control areas their populations remained unchanged. The breeding densities of mallards increased during the first 7 yr of mink removal, but a steep decrease in the last study year resulted in a statistically non-significant overall increase. The species with low breeding densities (the gadwall, northern shoveler, pintail and the red-breasted merganser) increased as well. In contrast, the populations of large waterfowl species, the mute swan, greylag goose, common eider and the goosander, did not show obvious increases in breeding densities after mink removal. We conclude that feral mink may locally limit the breeding densities of some smaller waterfowl species and thus reduce the diversity of the waterfowl community in the outer archipelago.
Article
The duration of activity bouts by pine martens Martes martes was studied in the pristine deciduous forests in Białowieża National Park (north-eastern Poland). From 1991 to 1996, 14 martens were monitored by radio-tracking throughout 5823 h. On average, male martens were active for 9 h/day and females for 8.5 h/day. The duration of the martens' diel activity varied greatly among bimonthly periods (from 2.8 h/day in February–March to 12 h/day in June–July). Martens decreased their activity from 13 h/day on warm days to 2.5 h/day on cooler days. In the winter months, when martens curtailed their activity, they often hunted larger prey or scavenged ungulate carcasses. On average, 69% of the martens' active time was during the night. The number of activity bouts per day varied from one to six (mean 2.6) and increased with growing ambient temperature. Activity bouts of males were significantly longer (4 h, on average) than those of females (3 h) and were not related to ambient temperature. The duration of short inactive bouts increased in the cold season and inactivity lasted longer in females than in males.
Article
1. The effect of mink predation on water birds during the breeding season was studied between March and September 1996 in a 33-km long stretch of the upper Thames river, England. 2. Mink presence significantly affected the density of breeding coots and the number of chicks hatched per pair of coots, as well as the average number of nests per pair of moorhens and the percentage of moorhen clutches hatched. 3. Mink diet during the birds’ breeding season (March–September) was studied through scat analysis. Ralliformes (coots or moorhens) represented 10% of the ingested biomass and were the fourth prey in importance after rabbits (45%), fish (25%) and small mammals (14%). Mink obtained 11% of their energy requirements from coots and moorhens. 4. Impact of predation by mink during the bird breeding season was moderate to high for moorhens (16–27% of adults and 46–79% of broods) and high for coots (30–51% of adults and 50–86% of broods). 5. Although moorhens seem well adapted to withstand predation by mink, nesting behaviour by coots make them very vulnerable to mink predation. We hypothesize that the persistence of coot populations in areas with high mink density requires immigration from surrounding populations with lower mink impact.
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An idea that took a century to be born has implications in ecology, economics, and genetics.