The American mink Neovison vison Schreber, 1777 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the floodplain and right-shore ecosystems of the Volgograd water reservoir: Seasonal changes in its spatial structure, feeding, and temporal activity

Abstract

As a result of our long-term research (1978–2013), the spatial structure patterns of American mink (Neovison vison Schreber, 1777) populations, their nutrition, and daily and seasonal activity in the floodplain and right-bank ecosystems of the Volgograd water reservoir have been revealed. The average size of the home ranges of the mink is 22.4 ha for females and 34.7 ha for males on the islands. On the right shore of the reservoir, they are significantly larger, namely, 51.3 and 75.5 ha, respectively. The diet of the mink is based on three forage groups: mammals (primarily mouselike rodents) (18.8–42.7% BIO), fish (5.6–39.1% BIO), and amphibians (17.1–51.7% BIO). Other food is significant only in certain seasons. On the floodplain islands, the mink is the most active in spring and fall, while its summer activity decreases, and in winter the daily rhythm clearly has two peaks, the morning and evening ones. On the right bank, due to the food scarcity in some seasons, the activity peaks are smooth.