Distribution of American mink in Karelia
Citation
Tirronen K, Panchenko D, Danilov P, Bedoreva I (2021). Distribution of American mink in Karelia. Version 1.3. Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ec2twx accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-08-24.Description
The American mink is a member of the Mustelidae family – the largest one in the Carnivora order. The American mink first appeared in the north of European Russia through an intentional introduction in 1934 (45 animals were released near Petrozavodsk). More animals were released in the following years, but studies in Karelia (Данилов, 1964; 1969; 1972; 1992; 2005) and the neighbouring Murmansk (Захаров, 1969) and Leningrad (Новиков, 1970; Туманов, 1972; 1996; 2003а; Иванов, Туманов, 1974) Regions have demonstrated that the main sources for the introductions of this species have been fur farms. At present, the American mink has become more of less naturalized in the Republic of Karelia. The species has occupied a solid position in waterside communities, having displaced the native European mink. The mains foods for the American mink in Karelia are fish, amphibians, and birds. It has been reported (Альтшуль, 1970; Новиков, 1970) that this predator often attacks another invasive species – the muskrat, severely affecting the rodent’s populations at waterbodies. Finnish zoologists have observed that the American mink has turned into the principal enemy for waterfowl in skerries (Tenovuo, 1963; Каuhala, 1996). The species is locally quite abundant, posing a major threat to prey in waterside areas. Some North European countries permit killing American mink in all seasons. Data are reported on the encounters and track densities of the American mink in the Republic of Karelia.Sampling Description
Study Extent
Sampling was done by Winter Track Counts (WTC) in 2017-2018, yielding data on the encounters and track densities of the American mink in the Republic of Karelia.Sampling
The data were gathered through Winter Track Counts. This is the chief method for tallying game animals in Russia (Юргенсон, 1965, Приклонский, 1972), based on counting animal tracks in snow along transects.Quality Control
After the census activities are over, an authorized body will run the rejection procedure, and process the transect and tracking record cards.Method steps
- The WTC technique is based on counting the track lines crossing a transect. The number of tracks belonging to the species in question is directly proportionate to the species’ population density. Doing track counts. An action takes two days. First day (day for wiping out tracks). The surveyor skies (or walks, if snow depth allows) the transect and wipes out all the cross-running game animal tracks, so that only “fresh”, newly left tracks would be recorded the next day. Second day (day for counting tracks). The surveyor skies/walks the transect and records all the day’s tracks crossing the transect, and the animal species to which the tracks belong. The counts should be timed to days with the conditions average (ordinary) for the season, without heavy snowfall, strong wind or very low temperature.
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
The American mink is unevenly distributed across northern parts of European Russia due to variation in the natural environment. Thus, according to a specialized mink census in Karelia, the species numbers in the north of the republic are 1.5 to 3 animals per 10 km of shoreline. The numbers in the south are almost twice higher – 4-6 animals.
The animals’ typical habitats are forest creeks and small streams with non-freezing stretches – rapids and riffles, with relatively low, but dry and littered banks. They rarely settle at larger rivers, where they mostly choose the confluence sites of small tributaries, creeks or drainage ditches.
The American mink does not shun, but even prefers settling at lakes, unlike the native species. Another habitat preference that differentiates the new species from the European mink is that the former often settles not far from human dwellings. This behaviour may be a consequence of the species’ domestication, which has lasted for over 100 years now (Данилов, 1974).
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Konstantin Tirronenoriginator
position: Head of the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: kostja.t@mail.ru
homepage: http://ib.krc.karelia.ru/member.php?id=662&plang=e
userId: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/Z-4566-2019
Danila Panchenko
originator
position: Senior researcher of the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: danja@inbox.ru
homepage: http://ib.krc.karelia.ru/member.php?id=654&plang=e
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1955-4196
Pjotr Danilov
originator
position: Leading researcher of the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: pjotr.danilov@mail.ru
homepage: http://ib.krc.karelia.ru/member.php?id=169&plang=e
userId: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-9605-2014
Irina Bedoreva
metadata author
position: Leading Mathematician
KarRS RAS
email: irina_ivb@list.ru
Konstantin Tirronen
author
position: Head of the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: kostja.t@mail.ru
homepage: http://ib.krc.karelia.ru/member.php?id=662&plang=e
userId: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/Z-4566-2019
Danila Panchenko
administrative point of contact
position: Senior researcher in the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: danja@inbox.ru
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1955-4196
Konstantin Tirronen
administrative point of contact
position: Head of the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: kostja.t@mail.ru
homepage: http://ib.krc.karelia.ru/member.php?id=662&plang=e
userId: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/Z-4566-2019
Danila Panchenko
administrative point of contact
position: Senior researcher of the Laboratory of Zoology
Institute of Biology of KarRS RAS
Pushkinskaya st., 11
Petrozavodsk
185910
Karelia
RU
Telephone: +7(8142)769810
email: danja@inbox.ru
homepage: http://ib.krc.karelia.ru/member.php?id=654&plang=e
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1955-4196