No abstract

The European mink Mustela lutreola is one of Europe's most endangered carnivores, with few vulnerable populations remaining. Surprisingly, a recent phylogeny placed a single mink specimen within the polecat (M. putorius, M. eversmannii) group, suggesting a recent speciation and/or the effects of hybridization. The analysis has now been extended to a further 51 mink and polecats. As before, phylogenetic methods failed to resolve the relationships between the species. One haplotype (C11) was found in both species, and predominated in European mink from Spain and eastern Europe. The known M. lutreola fossils are of very young date, so either mink arose recently, or else the situation is confused by hybridization and a biased fossil recovery. The study highlights the dangers of using a single genetic marker in defining Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs). Polecats and European mink are clearly distinct in their morphology and ecology, and should still be considered as separate ESUs, but without further data it is difficult to define Management Units. Following the precautionary principle, we recommend that for the moment European mink in eastern Europe (Belarus, Estonia and Russia) and Spain should be managed separately.

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This study assesses the suitability of camera trapping as a method for detecting the European mink and determining its distribution in a region located in southwestern Europe. Using this technique, 98 river stretches were surveyed, resulting in the detection of 11 species of carnivores. A high photographic rate was obtained for the European mink, and we were able to get a picture of its distribution area in the year 2000. No seasonal differences were found in the efficiency of the method used. Camera trapping is an effective technique that provides quick updates of the distribution of the European mink and may be used in programs monitoring this species.