Patterns of genetic variation in the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola L., 1761)

Abstract

BackgroundThe European mink (Mustela lutreola, L. 1761) is a critically endangered mustelid, which inhabits several main river drainages in Europe. Here, we assess the genetic variation of existing populations of this species, including new sampling sites and additional molecular markers (newly developed microsatellite loci specific to European mink) as compared to previous studies. Probabilistic analyses were used to examine genetic structure within and between existing populations, and to infer phylogeographic processes and past demography.ResultsAccording to both mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite markers, Northeastern (Russia, Estonia and Belarus) and Southeastern (Romania) European populations showed the highest intraspecific diversity. In contrast, Western European (France and Spain) populations were the least polymorphic, featuring a unique mitochondrial DNA haplotype. The high differentiation values detected between Eastern and Western European populations could be the result of genetic drift in the latter due to population isolation and reduction. Genetic differences among populations were further supported by Bayesian clustering and two main groups were confirmed (Eastern vs. Western Europe) along with two contained subgroups at a more local scale (Northeastern vs. Southeastern Europe; France vs. Spain).ConclusionsGenetic data and performed analyses support a historical scenario of stable European mink populations, not affected by Quaternary climate oscillations in the Late Pleistocene, and posterior expansion events following river connections in both North- and Southeastern European populations. This suggests an eastern refuge during glacial maxima (as already proposed for boreal and continental species). In contrast, Western Europe was colonised more recently following either natural expansions or putative human introductions. Low levels of genetic diversity observed within each studied population suggest recent bottleneck events and stress the urgent need for conservation measures to counteract the demographic decline experienced by the European mink.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0427-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Founder events, isolation, and inbreeding: Intercontinental genetic structure of the domestic ferret

“…This research highlights the need for politicians, coat‐oriented breeders, and laboratory‐stock breeders to reassess their policies. Given the close relatedness among domestic ferrets, European polecats, Steppe polecats, black‐footed ferrets, American mink, and European mink (Cabria et al., ; Kurose et al., ; Lodé et al., ; Williams et al., ), the conservation genetics approach used in this study has practical applications for conserving the genetic diversity of related wild species that could face reduction in genetic diversity when hybridized with feral ferrets (Bonesi & Palazon, ; Cabria et al., ; Šálek et al., ; Wisely, Buskirk, Fleming, McDonald, & Ostrander, ) and for the identification and management of feral ferret source populations causing ecosystem damage (Bodey, Bearhop, & McDonald, ; Byrom, Caley, Paterson, & Nugent, ; O'Donnell et al., ; Wells, ).…”

Raising awareness of the plight of the critically endangered European mink in Spain is not miscommunication: a response to Melero

“…However, anthropogenic introduction is only one explanation -others (equally likely) are natural migration from Central Europe, and/or recent bottleneck events (Cabria et al 2015). Additional information supports natural migration (Zuberogoitia et al 2016), and low genetic diversity at range margins is consistent with range expansion in other species (Excoffier et al 2009).…”

“…Melero refers to speculation by Clavero (2014) that European mink in France and Spain may not be native (and thus not warrant conservation), based on their appearance in Spain in 1951, and France in 1839, and an incomplete interpretation of genetic analyses by Michaux et al (2005) -an idea opposed by Díez-León et al 2015and Zuberogoitia et al (2016). French and Spanish European mink lack genetic variation, and likely arose from a small number of founders (Cabria et al 2015).…”

Misleading interpretation of shifting baseline syndrome in the conservation of European mink

“…Therefore, whereas results of genetic analyses are inconclusive about the origin of the SW population (Cabria et al 2015), the hypothesis of natural expansion is supported by other available sources of information and can be shaped in an ecologically coherent theory. On contrast, the introduction hypothesis has some pitfalls.…”

“…Some documentation of the journey and the international import of a number of mink could also be expected. Furthermore, there are no historical data about captive-breeding in XIX century: a few data about domesticated European mink in Germany (Brehm et al 1895) and the first breeding record from Moscow Zoo in 1933 (Rubetskaja et al 1933). Thus, the human introduction hypothesis has several open issues regarding genetic, historical and ecological evidences and can hardly stand as a plausible scenario by itself.…”