The use of chemical markers for the identification of farm escapees in feral mink populations

Brzeziński, Marcin; Zalewski, Andrzej; Niemczynowicz, Agnieszka; Jarzyna, Ingeborga; Suska‐Malawska, Małgorzata

doi:10.1007/s10646-014-1213-y

Cited by 17 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In a Polish study, chemical markers such as Hg and Cu were used for the identification of first generation mink farm escapees [21]. Analyses of the accumulation of 13 chemical elements in liver and kidney samples from farmed and wild mink showed significant differences in the levels of Hg and Cu between the two groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methods for the identification of farm escapees in feral mink (Neovison vison) populations

et al. 2019

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In Denmark, American mink (Neovison vison) have been bred for their fur since the mid-1920s. Mink escaping from farms may supply the feral population. Often, it is of biological and management interest to separate the population of feral mink (i.e. mink caught in the wild) in two groups: 1) mink born on farms i.e., escapees, and 2) mink born in the wild. In this study, two methods were used for separating feral mink into the two groups: a) Comparison of body length of farmed mink and feral mink, and b) Presence of a biomarker (tetracycline: an oral antibiotic used on mink farms). A total of 367 wild caught mink (from the mainland of Denmark and the island of Bornholm), and 147 mink from farms, collected during the period 2014–2018, were used for the analysis of body length. For the testing of tetracycline (TC) as a biomarker, 78 mink from farms where there was knowledge about TC treatment (with or without) were examined for fluorescent markings in the canine teeth. Results from both univariate analyses and Gaussian mixture model analysis demonstrated clear divisions between the mean body length (mean ± S.E., range) of farmed males (52.1 cm ± 0.4, 48–68) and farmed females (mean 44.0 ± 0.2, 40–50), and between farmed mink and wild caught mink. Mixture analysis identified two groups within each sex of the wild caught mink, one assigned to farmed mink (born in captivity) and another group of smaller mink suspected of being born in the wild. On Bornholm, the mean (±SD, range) length of males born in the wild was 43.7cm (± 0.3, 36–57) and for females 37.5cm (± 0.3, 32–45). The mean length (±SD, range) of males born in the wild in the mainland of Denmark was 42.5cm (± 2.3, 36–46) and for females 36.1cm (± 1.0, 34–37). Among the feral mink from mainland Denmark, 28.4% of males and 21.6% of females were identified as escapees, while 0% of the males and 1% of the females were identified as escapees among the wild caught mink on Bornholm. Eight percent of mink from farms using tetracycline were false negatives, while no false positives were found among mink from farms not using TC. TC fluorescence was found in five of 217 mink caught in the wild equivalent to 22% escapees in mainland Denmark. No TC markings were found in mink caught in the wild on Bornholm. In conclusion, both methods a) the body length of mink, and b) fluorescent biomarkers in canine teeth are considered as useful tools to identifing mink that have escaped from farms.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyses of the accumulation of 13 chemical elements in liver and kidney samples from farmed and wild mink showed significant differences in the levels of Hg and Cu between the two groups. The total Hg levels were up to 15-fold higher in the kidney, and up to 7-fold higher in the liver of wild mink compared to farmed mink [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for the identification of farm escapees in feral mink (Neovison vison) populations

et al. 2019

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“…It is interesting to compare the concentration of nickel in American mink in Iceland with the results obtained by other authors. Brzeziński et al (2014) reported an average content of this element in kidneys and livers of N. vison from Poland (Drawa National Park) of 0.29 and 0.27 mg × kg −1 dry weight, respectively. Ni concentration in livers of animals from the vicinity of Sudbury (Canada), home to the world's largest nickel smelting operation, ranges from 0.43 to 0.7 mg × kg −1 , while in kidneys it ranges from 0.5 to 0.74 mg × kg −1 (all values for wet weight; Wren et al 1988;von Schmalensee 2010;Parker & Capodagli 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of invasive alien top predator as a biomonitor of nickel deposition – the case of American mink in Iceland

Skorupski

Śmietana

Stefánsson

et al. 2021

The European Zoological Journal

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American mink Neovison vison is one of the most harmful non-indigenous species in Iceland and has been proven to be a useful indirect bioindicator and biomonitor for numerous environmental pollutants. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to determine the total nickel concentration in the spleen of 35 females and 30 males obtained from Brokey archipelago and the south coast of Hvammsfjörður (Dalabyggð, Iceland) using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. We also assessed the correlation between nickel concentration and selected anatomical and morphological parameters, hypothesising that invasive alien N. vison is a promising candidate species for biomonitoring the deposition of this trace element. The results indicated a substantial variation in nickel concentration in the spleen tissue of examined animals. For males, the maximum concentration exceeded the average level by more than 16 times, and for females by more than 7 times. The correlation coefficient between morphometric features and the level of nickel concentration in the spleen did not show a significant relationship in any of the tested combinations, for all tested animals or for each sex separately. In conclusion, American mink in Iceland can be considered a promising species for qualitative and quantitative assessment of ecosystems in terms of nickel pollution.

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Predictive meta‐regressions relating mercury tissue concentrations of freshwater piscivorous mammals

Eccles

Thomas

Chan

2017

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Mercury (Hg) is a pollutant of global concern. Sentinel species such as river otter (Lontra canadensis) and mink (Neovison vison) are often used to monitor environmental concentrations in freshwater ecosystems. Tissue total Hg (THg) concentrations are frequently used as biomarkers of exposure. However, there is no comprehensive model relating Hg tissue concentrations in different tissues, making interstudy comparisons challenging. Our objective was to establish conversion factors relating fur, brain, liver, kidney, and muscle THg concentrations using mean concentrations and standard errors reported in the literature. We used data from more than 6000 samples, pooled across 16 studies and 96 sampling sites in North America and Europe. Sixteen regressions were derived for the river otter and mink models, which were statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval and yielded high explained variances. The models were validated using an external data set of individually measured THg tissue concentrations. The validated conversions were used to evaluate the current fur Hg screening guidelines of 20 µg/g and 30 µg/g. At both of these fur concentrations, brain concentrations are of concern for altering brain neurochemistry. We suggest a more conservative fur Hg screening guideline of 15 µg/g to protect sensitive furbearers. The conversion factors can be used to predict internal organ THg concentrations from fur measurements, eliminating the need for invasive tissue sampling. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2377-2384. © 2017 SETAC.

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The use of chemical markers for the identification of farm escapees in feral mink populations

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Methods for the identification of farm escapees in feral mink (Neovison vison) populations

Methods for the identification of farm escapees in feral mink (Neovison vison) populations

Potential of invasive alien top predator as a biomonitor of nickel deposition – the case of American mink in Iceland

Predictive meta‐regressions relating mercury tissue concentrations of freshwater piscivorous mammals

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