Mitochondrial DNA and palaeontological evidence for the origins of endangered European mink, Mustela lutreola

Davison, Angus; Griffiths, Huw I.; Brookes, Rachael C.; Maran, Tiit; Macdonald, David W.; Sidorovich, Vadim E.; Kitchener, Andrew C.; Irizar, Iñaki; Villate, Idoia; González‐Esteban, Jorge; Ceña, Juan Carlos; Ceña, Alfonso; Moya, Iván; Miñano, Santiago Palazón

doi:10.1017/s1367943000001062

Cited by 17 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The polecat is also known to hybridise with the European mink (Davison et al 2000) and, thus, the test proposed by Ló-pez-Giráldez et al (2005), which relies on differential restriction digestion of a nuclear microsatellite locus to distinguish them, could be run in parallel for areas where the two species are sympatric. We used the Qiagen stool kit for DNA extraction from faecal samples because it is, like the use of a hot-start Taq polymerase for PCR amplification, currently the ''gold standard'' in molecular scatology (Waits and Paetkau 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species-specific mitochondrial DNA markers for identification of non-invasive samples from sympatric carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Genetic species identification of non-invasively collected samples has become an important tool in ecological research, management and conservation and wildlife forensics. This is especially true for carnivores, due to their elusive nature, and is crucial when several ecologically and phylogenetically close species, with similar faeces, hairs, bones and/or pelts, occur in sympatry. This is the case of the Iberian Peninsula, a region with a carnivore community of 16 species-about two-thirds of the European carnivore fauna. Here we present a simple, efficient and reliable PCR-based protocol, using a novel set of species-specific primers, for the unambiguous identification to species of non-invasively collected samples or forensic materials from Iberian carnivores. For each species, from the consensus of all cytochrome b haplotypes, found here and previously reported, we designed speciesspecific primer pairs for short fragments, the most likely to persist in low-quantity and degraded DNA samples. The predicted specificity of each primer pair was assessed through PCR of positive DNA extracts from the carnivore species, from an exhaustive array of potential prey and from humans. The robustness of PCR amplification for non-invasively sampled DNA was tested with scat samples. The primers did not produce false positives and correctly identified all carnivore samples to the species level. In comparison with sequencing and PCR-RFLP assays, our method is, respectively, cost-and time-effective, and is especially suited for monitoring surveys targeting multiple populations/species. It also introduces an approach that works for a whole community of carnivores living sympatrically over a large geographic area.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species-specific mitochondrial DNA markers for identification of non-invasive samples from sympatric carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Genetic studies based on mitochondrial DNA sequences have been conducted to identify mustelid species by analysis of DNA extracted from faecal samples (Hansen and Jacobsen 1999;GomezMoliner et al 2004), and to highlight the phylogeography of the European mink (Davison et al 2000), while microsatellite genotyping has been used to survey genetic diversity and population history of M. lutreola populations (Peltier and Lodé 2003;Michaux et al 2004Michaux et al , 2005, of other mustelidae species (M. nigripes, M. eversmanni, M. putorius: Wisely et al 2002) and to investigate variability in captive M. vison (Belliveau et al 1999). A rich library of microsatellite loci exists on M. vison (O'Connell et al 1996;Brusgaard et al 1998a-c, Davis andStrobeck 1998;Fleming et al 1999;Vincent et al 2003;Anistoroaei et al 2006), although not all loci have proved to be polymorphic and informative or have been tested on populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure and distribution of introduced American mink (Mustela vison) in Spain, based on microsatellite variation

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The population genetic structure of an invasive species in Spain, the American mink (Mustela vison), was investigated using microsatellite DNA markers. This semiaquatic carnivore, originating from North America, was imported into Europe for fur farming since the beginning of the 20th century. Due to massive escapes, farm damages, deliberate releases and/or accidents, feral mink populations were established in the aquatic ecosystems of many European countries, including Spain. We genotyped 155 American mink originating from the Spanish regions Basque Country, Catalonia, Castilla-Leon, Aragon, Valencia and Galicia using 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci to highlight population genetic structure, distribution and dispersal. M. vison populations in Spain appear differentiated and not yet connected by gene flow. Bayesian clustering analyses and spatial analyses of molecular variance detected four inferred clusters, overall coinciding with the sampled geographical localities. Preliminary testing shows moderate to large estimated effective population sizes. Molecular analyses result useful to provide baseline data for further research on the evolution of invasive mink populations, as well as support local management strategies and indirectly benefit the conservation of threatened species in Spain, such as the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola), and the polecat (Mustela putorius), which share the habitat with the American mink.

show abstract

“…1982). The genetic relationship was confirmed by mitochondrial DNA sequencing (Davison et al 2000b, Michaux et al 2004) and the existence of hybrids (Granqvist 1981, Tumanov and Zverjev 1986, Davison et al 2000a, Sidorovich 2001, Tumanov and Abramov 2002, Lodé et al 2005, which can be back-crossed with polecats (Maran and Henttonen 1995).…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Habitat utilization by sympatric European minkMustela lutreola and polecatsMustela putorius in south-western France

Fournier¹,

Maizeret²,

Jiménez

et al. 2007

Acta Theriol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The European mink Mustela lutreola Linnaeus, 1761 and the European polecat Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758 have a very similar morphology and are closely related genetically. Their cranial measurements and their karyotypes exhibit more similarities than they have with the American mink Mustela vison Schreber, [1] Acta Theriologica 52 (1): 1-12, 2007. . Habitat utilization by sympatric European mink Mustela lutreola and polecats Mustela putorius in south-western France. Acta Theriologica 52: 1-12.The European mink Mustela lutreola Linnaeus, 1761 and the European polecat Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758 are related species sympatric in southwestern France. The European mink is rapidly disappearing whereas the polecat maintains good populations. Seasonal habitat use of both species was compared in the Landes de Gascogne region to identify if some vulnerability factors of the European mink were associated with habitats occupied by this mustelid. Potential habitats were mapped using a satellite picture and 12 main types of habitats were defined. Animal locations were recorded by radiotracking 9 European mink and 14 polecats from March 1996 to August 1999. Resting animals were located by triangulation, and, when possible, resting places were described. Animals in activity were tracked by continuous monitoring. Data collected revealed a strong preference of European mink for flooded habitats, particularly open marshes, flooded woodlands and moorlands. They seldom left the corridor of the riparian forest and their resting places were mainly in flooded environments, above ground (under herbs or bushes) or in cavities between tree roots. European polecats were less tightly linked to wetlands. Most of their locations were in the pine forests outside the valleys and their resting places were mainly in burrows. The strong specialisation of European mink in aquatic habitats is probably one of the main reasons for its decline because wetlands suffer drastic damages throughout all of its range. Maintaining adequate water levels is crucial for satisfying habitat requirements of mink.

show abstract

Mitochondrial DNA and palaeontological evidence for the origins of endangered European mink, Mustela lutreola

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Species-specific mitochondrial DNA markers for identification of non-invasive samples from sympatric carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula

Species-specific mitochondrial DNA markers for identification of non-invasive samples from sympatric carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula

Population genetic structure and distribution of introduced American mink (Mustela vison) in Spain, based on microsatellite variation

Habitat utilization by sympatric European minkMustela lutreola and polecatsMustela putorius in south-western France

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About