A STUDY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF MUSTELIDS (CARNIVORA, MUSTELIDAE) IN THE MIDDLE URALS USING DNA ANALYSIS OF FECES

摘要

We provide an overview of the main results of a 4-year long study of the present distribution of furbearer mustelid species in the Middle Urals, Sverdlovsk Region. We applied a new non-invasive genetic method based by PCR analysis of DNA extracted from animal excrements. Altogether, 151 samples were involved in the analysis, species identities established for 135 samples. Among the latter, 80% belonged to the American mink, 14.1% to the otter, 2.2% to the pine marten, and 3.7% to the sable, while the European mink seems to be absent from the study area. A species dominating the near-floodplain habitats in the Middle Urals is the American mink, followed by the otter.