Invasion and potential impacts of the first alien carnivore in China: American minks (Neovison vison) in Altai region, Xinjiang

Abstract

American minks (Neovison vison), which cause great impacts on local small and median sized animals through direct predation and diseases tramission, had been characterized as an invasive species worldwide. As well-known fur animals, American minks were introduced to Europe in early 20th century, and to China in mid-20th century. American minks spread nearly entire Europe soon after escaping from fur farms in European countries, and they had already established naturalized population in northern Altai Mountain in Russia for years. Northern Altai Mountain is one of the main distribution areas of American minks in Russia. In recent years, American minks were reported in southern Altai mountains (Altai region, or Chinese Altai) in Xinjiang, China. American minks occurred in forest parks and national nature reserves in Altai region. Earlier records in China were misidentified as European minks or both of them. Based on field survey and photo identification, we confirmed that all these records were belong to American minks. Although American minks had been imported to China for over half a century, now they were found in wild in north-western China instead of eastern China, where had more mink farms. Thus American minks found in Chinese Altai may be border-crossing invaders. Through field survey and investigation, American minks were not rare in the forest parks and nature reserves of Chinese Altai region, thus we suggested that American mink had already established populations in China. We discussed the potential impacts of American minks invasion in China through habitat simulation, potential prey and competing species, and wildlife diseases. We discussed the current status of otters in China, which had similar niches to minks. Using MaxEnt model for habitats simulation at global scales, we predicted climate-suitable areas for American minks. We find that coastal regions of North America, south tip of South America, Europe, Eastern Asia, North Africa, South Eastern Australia and New Zealand harbor highly suitable habitats of American minks. All these coastal areas should be exceptionally precautious for live minks transport. In addition, mountains of Central Asia are the only inland highly suitable habitats of American minks. Central Asia harbors plentiful endemic fishes, and should be precautious for American minks invasion. In China, Chinese Altai and middle to lower reaches of Yangtze River are highly suitable habitats for American minks, where otters are almost disappeared. As China's first alien carnivore, American minks will impose great predation pressures on endemic waterfowls and fishes, and will have impact on China's endangered otters and other mustelids. All three major minks epidemic diseases: canine distemper, Aleutian disease and mink viral enteritis had already have outbreak records in Chinese mink farms, and theses diseases had been proven to transmit to wildlife. In addition, China the has largest mink farming industry of the world. Therefore, besides controlling border-crossing invasion, eco-security assessments should be strengthened in domestic mink farms.