Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Invasive Mustelids

Invasive mustelid species such as the American mink (Neovison vison), feral ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) and various polecat taxa have become established beyond their native ranges, often following deliberate introductions or accidental escapes. The success of these invasions is closely linked to levels of genetic diversity and the emergent population structure that shapes adaptive potential, dispersal dynamics and resilience to control measures. Founder effects and population bottlenecks common in initial colonisation events can reduce genetic variation, yet multiple introductions or admixture between distinct lineages may restore or even elevate diversity, facilitating rapid adaptation to novel environments. Contemporary genomic tools reveal fine-scale structuring within invasive ranges, uncovering barriers to gene flow, routes of secondary spread and the prevalence of introgression between sympatric species or management units. Understanding these patterns is crucial for designing effective control programmes, predicting expansion trajectories and mitigating ecological impacts on native fauna. Moreover, insights into effective population size and heterozygosity inform the likelihood of inbreeding depression or local adaptation, guiding both eradication campaigns and conservation of non-target populations. As global trade and environmental change continue to favour the establishment of non-native mustelids, integrative population genomics and genetic monitoring have become indispensable for evidence-based management and policy development.

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Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Invasive Mustelids publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic diversity and population structure in invasive mustelids across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Genetic diversity: The total variation in genes within and between populations, influencing adaptive capacity and resilience.

Population structure: The organisation of genetic variation across space or social units, reflecting gene flow and demographic history.

Founder effect: A reduction in genetic variation that occurs when a small number of individuals establish a new population.

Genetic bottleneck: A sharp decline in population size that decreases genetic diversity and may amplify inbreeding.

Introgression: The transfer of genetic material between species or distinct populations through hybridisation and backcrossing.

Microsatellite: A short, tandemly repeated DNA sequence used as a genetic marker to assess diversity and relatedness.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A variation at a single base pair in DNA, widely employed for fine-scale population genetic analyses.

References

1. Reduced Genetic Diversity and Increased Structure in American Mink on the Swedish Coast following Invasive Species Control. PLOS ONE (2016).
2. High Genetic Diversity of an Invasive Alien Species: Comparison between Fur-Farmed and Feral American Mink (Neovison vison) in China. Animals (2021).
3. A comparison of microsatellites and genome‐wide SNPs for the detection of admixture brings the first molecular evidence for hybridization between Mustela eversmanii and M. putorius (Mustelidae, Carnivora). Evolutionary Applications (2021).