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The Impacts of Non-native Species American Mink (Neovison vison) on Native Fauna
Moucha, Pavel ; Vrabec, Vladimír (advisor) ; Jan, Jan (referee)
The American mink is among the weaselly (Mustelidae) carnivore native to North America. It is a food opportunist living semiaquatic lifestyle. He is very well adapted to the new environment. And he was introduced by humans as a furry animal to many areas of Europe, Asia, South America and other areas. Secondarily often he escaped or were released into the wild, where he managed very well prosper and continue to reproduce. To the Czech Republic came as a furry animal in 20. to 30. years of the last century, in the wild he was then observed since the 60s.
This study examines the impact of American mink on our fauna, especially in view of the food spectrum. The research was conducted in the middle of the river Berounka in Křivoklát from December 2014 to December 2015. The aim of the study was to capture the largest possible number of minks during the summer and in winter. Another aim was whether mink dangerous for the local population of reptiles.
Trapping took place during the 552 trapping night. a total of 20 were trapped mink. This means that the average captured 1 mink to 28 trapping night. Of these 20 individuals were 5 females and 15 males. It caught up to 8 mink in the winter and 12 in the summer. Based on the analyzes were 7 mink (35 %) excluded from the analysis because of an empty stomach. The largest component of food mink accounted for 76.16 % mammals for example order: Rodentia eg. vole (Microtus arvalis), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). Other food components formed on the same level with a share of 7.69 % reptile grass snake (Natrix Natrix), birds (order: Passeriformes) and fish (class: Actinopterygii). The last component of food occurring in the samples was 0.77 % of the insects (orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera). In the analysis wasn´t detected representative of the class of amphibians (Amphibia). The food spectrum in the winter and summer season was no different. At-risk populations reptile shows finding snakes in the stomach mink. An important outcome of this study is also alert to legislative issues concerning the mink in the Czech Republic and the possible effects on the otter (Lutra Lutra).
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