Abstract
Studies of the effects and population dynamics of invasive species typically cover only short time periods. However, populations of invasive species interact with native species, and these interactions may have strong effects on invaders’ populations and effects over time. We present and analyze long-term data on invasive American mink (Neovison vison), native red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and mountain hare (Lepus timidus) in Sweden. The mink’s population dynamics followed a pattern of logistic growth from the late 1930s to the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, however, the population tripled, then declined sharply. We suggest that the mink’s population tripling was caused by a drastic decline in red fox populations, which caused terrestrial prey to increase. Later recovery of the fox population reversed the trend and caused the mink population’s recent decline. Our study shows that species interactions between native and invasive species, and therefore biotic resistance, can change dramatically over time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahola M, Nordström M, Banks PB et al (2006) Alien mink predation induces prolonged declines in archipelago amphibians. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 273:1261–1265. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3455
Arim M, Marquet PA (2004) Intraguild predation: a widespread interaction related to species biology. Ecol Lett 7:557–564. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00613.x
Banks PB, Norrdahl K, Nordström M et al (2004) Dynamic impacts of feral mink predation on vole metapopulations in the outer archipelago of the Baltic Sea. Oikos 105:79–88. doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12855.x
Bininda-Emonds ORP (1998) Towards comprehensive phylogenies: examples within the Carnivora (Mammalia). Dissertation, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Bisther M, Roos A (2006) Uttern i Sverige 2006. Världsnaturfonden WWF, Solna
Bonesi L, Macdonald DW (2004) Differential habitat use promotes sustainable coexistence between the specialist otter and the generalist mink. Oikos 106:509–519. doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13034.x
Bonesi L, Palazon S (2007) The American mink in Europe: status, impacts, and control. Biol Conserv 134:470–483. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.09.006
Bonesi L, Chanin P, Macdonald DW (2004) Competition between Eurasian otter Lutra lutra and American mink Mustela vison probed by a niche shift. Oikos 106:19–26. doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12763.x
Bonesi L, Strachan R, Macdonald DW (2006) Why are there fewer signs of mink in England? Considering multiple hypotheses. Biol Conserv 130:268–277. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.12.021
Carlsson NOL, Sarnelle O, Strayer DL (2009) Native predators and exotic prey—an acquired taste? Front Ecol Environ 7. doi: 10.1890/070089
Cattadori IM, Haydon DT, Thirgood SJ et al (2003) Are indirect measures of abundance a useful index of population density? The case of red grouse harvesting. Oikos 100:439–446. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12072.x
Caut S, Angulo E, Courchamp F (2008) Dietary shift of an invasive predator: rats, seabirds and sea turtles. J Appl Ecol 45:428–437. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01438.x
Chapron G, Andrén H, Liberg O (2008) Conserving top predators in ecosystems. Science 320:47. doi:10.1126/science.320.5872.47a
Doucett RR, Marks JC, Blinn DW et al (2007) Measuring subsidies to aquatic food webs using stable isotopes of hydrogen. Ecology 88:1587–1592. doi:10.1890/06-1184
Elton CS (1958) The ecology of invasions by animals and plants. Methuen, London
Erlinge S (1969) Food habits of the otter Lutra lutra L. and the mink Mustela vison Schreber in a trout water in southern Sweden. Oikos 20:1–7. doi:10.2307/3543739
Ferreras P, Macdonald DW (1999) The impact of American Mink Mustela vison on water birds in the upper Thames. J Appl Ecol 36:701–708. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2664.1999.00431.x
Gerell R (1967) Food selection in relation to habitats in mink (Mustela vison Schreber) in Sweden. Oikos 18:233–246. doi:10.2307/3565101
Glen AS, Dickman CR (2005) Complex interactions among mammalian carnivores in Australia, and their implications for wildlife management. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 80:387–401. doi:10.1017/S1464793105006718
Groombridge B (1992) Global biodiversity: status of the earth’s living resources. Chapman and Hall, London
Jarnemo A, Liberg O (2005) Red fox removal and roe deer fawn survival—a 14 year study. J Wildl Manag 69:1090–1098. doi:10.2193/0022-541X(2005)069[1090:RFRARD]2.0.CO;2
Jędrzejewska B, Sidorovich VE, Pikulik MM et al (2001) Feeding habits of the otter and the American mink in Białowieża primeval forest (Poland) compared to other Eurasian populations. Ecography 24:165–180. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0587.2001.240207.x
Jeschke JM (2008) Across islands and continents, mammals are more successful invaders than birds. Divers Distrib 14:913–916. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2008.00488.x
Jeschke JM, Strayer DL (2005) Invasion success of vertebrates in Europe and North America. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:7198–7202. doi:10.1073/pnas.0501271102
Jeschke JM, Strayer DL (2006) Determinants of vertebrate invasion success in Europe and North America. Glob Change Biol 12:1608–1619. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01213.x
Levine JM, D’Antonio CM (1999) Elton revisited: a review of evidence linking diversity and invasibility. Oikos 87:15–26. doi:10.2307/3546992
Lindström ER, Mörner T (1985) The spreading of sarcoptic mange among Swedish red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) in relation to fox population dynamics. Rev Ecol 40:211–216
Lindström ER, Andrén H, Angelstam P et al (1994) Disease reveals the predator: sarcoptic mange, red fox predation, and prey population. Ecology 75:1042–1049. doi:10.2307/1939428
Lindström ER, Brainerd SM, Helldin JO et al (1995) Pine marten—red fox interactions: a case of intraguild predation? Ann Zool Fenn 32:123–130
Linell JDC, Strand O (2000) Interference interactions, co-existence and conservation of mammalian carnivores. Divers Distrib 6:169–176. doi:10.1046/j.1472-4642.2000.00069.x
Lockwood JL, Hoopes MF, Marchetti MP (2007) Invasion ecology. Blackwell, Malden
Long JL (2003) Introduced mammals of the world: their history, distribution and influence. CABI Publishing, Oxon
MacDonald DW, Harrington LA (2003) The American mink: the triumph and tragedy of adaptation out of context. NZ J Zool 30:421–441
MacDonald RA, O’Hara K, Morrish DJ (2007) Decline of invasive alien mink (Mustela vison) is concurrent with recovery of native otters (Lutra lutra). Divers Distrib 13:92–98
Mack RN, Simberloff D, Lonsdale WM et al (2000) Biotic invasions: causes, epidemiology, global consequences, and control. Ecol Appl 10:689–710. doi:10.1890/1051-0761(2000)010[0689:BICEGC]2.0.CO;2
MacPhee RDE, Flemming C (1999) Requiem aeternam: the last five hundred years of mammalian species extinctions. In: MacPhee RDE (ed) Extinctions in near time: causes, contexts, and consequences. Kluwer, New York
Nordström M, Korpimäki E (2004) Effects of island isolation and feral mink removal on bird communities on small islands in the Baltic Sea. J Anim Ecol 73:424–433. doi:10.1111/j.0021-8790.2004.00816.x
Nordström M, Högmander J, Nummelin J et al (2002) Variable responses of waterfowl breeding populations to long-term removal of introduced American mink. Ecography 25:385–394. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0587.2002.250401.x
Nordström M, Högmander J, Laine J et al (2003) Effects of feral mink removal on seabirds, waders and passerines on small islands in the Baltic Sea. Biol Conserv 109:359–368. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00162-3
Palomares F, Caro TM (1999) Interspecific killing among mammalian carnivores. Am Nat 153:492–508. doi:10.1086/303189
Polis GA, Myers CA, Holt RD (1989) The ecology and evolution of intraguild predation: potential competitors that eat each other. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 20:297–330. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.20.110189.001501
Ranta E, Lindström J, Lindén H et al (2008) How reliable are harvesting data for analyses of spatio-temporal population dynamics? Oikos 117:1461–1468. doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2008.16879.x
Salo P, Korpimäki E, Banks PB et al (2007) Alien predators are more dangerous than native predators to prey populations. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 274:1237–1243. doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.0444
Sidorovich V, Kruuk H, Macdonald DW (1999) Body size, and interactions between European and American mink (Mustela lutreola and M. vison) in Eastern Europe. J Zool 248:521–527. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb01051.x
Storch I, Lindström E, de Jounge J (1990) Diet and habitat selection of the pine marten in relation to competition with the red fox. Acta Theriol 35:311–320
Strayer DL, Eviner VT, Jeschke JM et al (2006) Understanding the long-term effects of species invasions. Trends Ecol Evol 21:645–651. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2006.07.007
Tannerfeldt M, Elmhagen B, Angerbjörn A (2002) Exclusion by interference competition? The relationship between red and arctic foxes. Oecologia 132:213–220. doi:10.1007/s00442-002-0967-8
Wilson DE, Reeder DM (2005) Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
Winterhalder BP (1980) Canadian fur bearer cycles and Cree-Ojibwa hunting and trapping practices. Am Nat 115:870–879. doi:10.1086/283605
Acknowledgments
We appreciate helpful discussions with Michael Pace and David Strayer, and valuable comments from Owen Jones and Elke Schüttler. We also received valuable comments from two anonymous reviewers. Financial supported was provided by the Swedish Research Council FORMAS (217-2006-497) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (JE 288/2-1).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carlsson, N.O.L., Jeschke, J.M., Holmqvist, N. et al. Long-term data on invaders: when the fox is away, the mink will play. Biol Invasions 12, 633–641 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-009-9470-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-009-9470-z