Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Relative abundance of culled and not culled American mink populations in northeast Spain and their potential distribution: are culling campaigns effective?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effectiveness of culling campaigns to eradicate or limit populations of the alien, invasive American mink in Catalonia was studied by comparing the annual relative abundance of culled versus non-culled populations. We selected three populations that were culled under government campaigns and a fourth that served as a control and hence was left undisturbed (not culled). The study took place between 2002 and 2006 and annual relative abundances were estimated from trapping with bankside traps. The abundance of all four populations remained relatively stable throughout the study period. However, the annual relative abundance of the culled populations was lower than that of the non-culled population, which indicates that culling may have lowered the densities of mink, although eradication was not achieved. We also determined the potential distribution of the American mink in Catalonia by means of a habitat suitability model. The final aim was to assist in planning this species’ management. Almost all watercourses in Catalonia were identified as suitable for the American mink, with preferred areas located in the northeast. We recommend that the government and administrations promote culling campaigns focused on limiting the spread of the American mink as eradication is likely to be difficult to be achieved under the current situation. Target areas should be located on the edges of the American mink’s range and should be prioritized to limit the spread of this species to areas in which there are endangered native species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The mammals of Canada. University Toronto Press, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Barreto GR, Rushton SP, Strachan R, Macdonald DW (1998) The role of habitat and mink predation in determining the status and distribution of water voles in England. Anim Conserv 1:129–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birks JDS, Linn IJ (1982) Studies of the home range of the feral mink, Mustela vison. Symp Zool Soc Lond 49:231–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonesi L, Palazón S (2007) The American Mink in Europe: status, impacts, and control. Biol Conserv 134:470–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonesi L, Strachan R, Macdonald DW (2006) Why are there fewer signs of mink in England? Considering multiple hypotheses. Biol Conserv 130:268–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bravo C (2007) Neovison vison Schreber, 1777. Atlas y libro rojo de los mamìferos terrestres de Espana. Direccion General para la Biodiversidad-SECEM-SECEMU, pp 299–301

  • Craik JCA (1999) Long-term effects on North American mink Mustela vison on seabirds in western Scotland. Bird Study 44:303–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delibes M, Amor F (1978) On the distribution and status of Spanish carnivores. Abstr. II Congr. Theriol. Intl, 146. Brno, CSSR

  • Dunstone N (1993) The mink. Poyser Natural History, London

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genovesi P (2005) Eradications of invasive alien species in Europe: a review Council of Europe. Biol Invasions 7:127–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerell R (1970) Home ranges and movements of the mink Mustela vison Schreber in southern Sweden. Oikos 21:160–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gosling LM, Baker SJ (1989) The eradications of muskrats and coypus from Britain. Biol J Linn Soc 38:39–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrington L, Harrington AL, Moorhouse T, Gelling M, Bonesi L, Macdonald DW (2009) American mink control on inland rivers in southern England: an experimental test of a model strategy. Biol Conserv 142:839–849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King C (1983) Factors regulating mustelid populations. Acta Zool Fenn 174:217–220

    Google Scholar 

  • King CM, McDonald RM, Martin RD, Dennis T (2009) Why is eradication of invasive mustelids so difficult? Biol Conserv 142:806–816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linn I, Birks JDS (1989) Mink (Mammalia; Carnivora; Mustelidae): correction of a widely quoted error. Mammal Rev 19:175–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linscombe G, Kinler N, Aulerich RJ (1982) Mink Mustela vison. In: Chapman JA, Feldhamer JA (eds) Wild mammals of Norteamérica: biology. Management and Fisheries, Los Angeles, pp 629–643

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotka AJ (1925) Elements of physical biology. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Loukmas JL, Halbrook RS (2001) A test of the mink habitat suitability index model for riverine systems. Wildl Soc Bull 29:821–826

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald DW, Harrington LA (2003) The American mink: the triumph and tragedy of adaptation out of context. N Z J Zool 30:421–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald RA, Strachan R (1999) The mink and the watervole: analyses for conservation. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Environment Agency, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald DW, Tattersall FH, Johnson PJ, Carbone C, Reynolds J, Langbein J, Rushton SP, Shirley M (2000) Managing British mammals: case studies from the hunting database. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald DW, Sidorovich VE, Maran T, Kruuk H (2002) The Darwin initiative—European mink Mustela lutreola: analyses for conservation. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Mañas S, Ceña JC, Ruiz-Olmo J, Palazón S, Domingo M, Wolfinbarger JB, Bloom ME (2001) Aleutian mink disease parvovirus in wild riparian carnivores in Spain. J Wildl Dis 37:138–144

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maran T, Robinson P (1996) European mink captive breeding and husbandry protocol. European mink Conservation and Breeding Committee, Tallin Zoo

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason C, Macdonald SM (1983) Some factors influencing the distribution of mink (Mustela vison). J Zool 200:281–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melero Y, Palazón S, Bonesi L, Gosàlbez J (2008a) Feeding habits of three sympatric mammals in NE Spain: the American mink, the spotted genet, and the Eurasian otter. Acta Theriol 53:263–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Melero Y, Palazón S, Revilla E, Martello J, Gosàlbez J (2008b) Space use and habitat preferences of the invasive American mink in a Mediterranean area. Eur J Wildl Res 54:609–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore NP, Roy SS, Helyar A (2003) Mink (Mustela vison) eradication to protect ground-nesting birds in the Western Isles, Scotland, United Kingdom. N Z J Zool 30:443–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris WF, Doak DF (2002) Quantitative conservation biology theory and practice of population viability analysis. Sinauer, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom M, Hogmander J, Laine J, Nummelin J, Laanetu N, Korpimaki E (2003) Effects of feral mink removal on seabirds, waders and passerines on small islands in the Baltic Sea. Biol Conserv 109:359–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nosdström 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palazón S (2006) Control de visón americano (Mustela vison) en Catalunya. Generalitat de Catalunya-DMAH

  • Palazón S, Ruiz-Olmo J (1998) El visón europeo (Mustela lutreola) y el visón americano (Mustela vison) en España. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales. Madrid, 133 pp (in Spanish)

  • Palazón S, Ruiz-Olmo J, Gosàlbez J, Gómez-Gayubo A, Ceña JC, Ceña A (2003) Trends in distribution of the European mink (Mustela lutreola L., 1761) in Spain: 1950–1999. Mammalia 67:473–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Palomo J, Gisbert J (2002) Atlas de los Mamíferos terrestres de España. Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales. DGCNA_MIMAM, Madrid, Spain (in Spanish)

  • Previtali A, Cassini MH, Macdonald DW (1998) Habitat use and diet of the American mink (Mustela vison) in Argentinian Patagonia. J Zool 246:482–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds JC, Short MJ, Leigh RJ (2004) Development of population control strategies for mink Mustela vison, using floating rafts as monitors and trap sites. Biol Conserv 120:533–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy SS (2006) Mink control to protect important birds in SPAs in the Western Isles. Final Report to EU LIFE III—Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Edinburgh

  • Ruiz-Olmo J, Palazón S, Bueno F, Bravo C, Munilla J, Romero R (1997) Distribution, status and colonization process of the American mink Mustela vison in Spain. J Wildl Res 2:30–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Sidorovich VE, Macdonald DW (2001) Density dynamics and changes in habitat use by the European mink and other native mustelids in connection with the American mink expansion in Belarus. Neth J Zool 51:107–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Strachan R, Holmes-Ling P (2003) Restoring water voles and other biodiversity to the wider countryside. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University

  • Strachan R, Jefferies DJ (1993) The water vole Arvicola terrestris in Britain 1989–1990: its distribution and changing status. Vincent Wildlife Trust, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi N, Rushton S, Macdonald DW (2003) Habitat preferences of feral American mink in the upper Thames. J Mammal 84:1356–1373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabala J, Zuberogoitia I, Gonzalez-Oreja JA (2010) Estimating costs and outcomes of invasive American mink (Neovison vison) management in continental areas: a framework for evidence based control and eradication. Biol Invasions 1–14

  • Zuberogoitia I, Zabala J (2003) Data on the distribution of the American mink in Biscay. Galemys 15:29–35

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank “Universitat de Barcelona”, “Generalitat de Catalunya” and 02MNAT/8604 Life Project for funding this study. Y.M. is supported by a FPU Fellowship granted by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología” (AP 2002-2653). The Catalonian eradication program is funded under the aegis of five European LIFE Projects and the Spanish Ministry. We are grateful to the Department of Environment and Housing, Catalonian Government, to the “Agentes Rurales” and Fish Keepers for carrying on the Catalonian culling campaigns and providing field and data material for this study. We also thank Albert Roura, Berto Minobis, Teresa Montras and Joana Martelo for their collaboration in taking samples in the field, and Arnau Roma and David Silva for the English correction. We are really grateful to Francesca Jordan, Irene Ortolan, Katja Mignozzi, and all the staff of the Life sciences Department, University of Trieste, Italy for their teaching and help in carrying on the GIS analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biology (Vertebrates), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Yolanda Melero, Santiago Palazón & Joaquim Gosàlbez

  2. Department of Environment and Hausing, Generalitat de Catalunya, Doctor Roux, 80, Barcelona, Spain

    Santiago Palazón

  3. 73 Riverside Place, Cambridge, CB5 8JF, UK

    Laura Bonesi

Authors
  1. Yolanda Melero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Santiago Palazón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laura Bonesi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joaquim Gosàlbez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yolanda Melero.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Melero, Y., Palazón, S., Bonesi, L. et al. Relative abundance of culled and not culled American mink populations in northeast Spain and their potential distribution: are culling campaigns effective?. Biol Invasions 12, 3877–3885 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9778-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9778-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation