Distribution of introduced American mink in the Northern Apennine area (Central Italy)

Abstract

Abstract The American mink Neovison vison is a widespread alien carnivore in Europe due to escapes from fur farms through this continent. Impacts by naturalized mink include competition with native species and predation of crayfish and small vertebrates. Therefore, an updated monitoring of mink distribution is required to design management plans. The American mink has been reported with an established population in North-Eastern Italy, in Sardinia, and two small nuclei respectively in the Central and in the Northern Apennine ridge. Available information for the latter dates back to early 1990s. In this note, we described the range expansion of the American mink population in the Northern Apennine ridge and we estimate the current distribution range and the extent of occurrence by using data collected from 2006 to 2021 through the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP). We compared the current distribution range with that of 1990s. The American mink showed a remarkable range increase since its first escape in the Northern Apennines, thus requiring rapid actions to limit impacts on native biodiversity.