Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E84
Höfundar / Authors: Menja von Schmalensee (1,2), David W. Macdonald (3), Snæbjörn Pálsson (2), Anders Angerbjörn (4) & Róbert A. Stefánsson (1)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. West Iceland Nature Research Centre, Stykkishólmur. 2. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland. 3. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Biology, University of Oxford. 4. Department of Zoology, Stockholm University
Kynnir / Presenter: Menja von Schmalensee
In a rapidly changing world, understanding the factors that shape animal mating systems and their evolution is essential for predicting how species respond to environmental pressures, as mating systems play a pivotal role in determining reproductive success, genetic diversity, and population resilience. Large datasets on American mink (Neogale vison) in Iceland, combined with the island’s relatively simple ecosystem, offer a unique opportunity to decipher the mating system of this small, opportunistic, and widely invasive carnivore, as well as the factors influencing behaviour during the critical reproductive window in each individual’s life. Data on testis size of male mink throughout the year revealed the onset, peak, and end of the mating season of mink in Iceland, and location data from live-captured tagged individuals inhabiting various areas revealed two main mating season behavioural strategies in male American mink. Mating season behaviour is strongly influenced by habitat quality and thus by extension local female density. This documented behavioural plasticity in the American mink mating system has not previously been described to this degree for this species and can offer valuable insight into the evolution of carnivore reproductive strategies and aid in their conservation. Additionally, our findings may support mink management efforts in invaded countries.