American mink Neovison vison is a semi-aquatic mustelid that has been introduced throughout Europe. Several attempts to eradicate this invasive species have been carried out since its spread. In the Iberian Peninsula, an eradication program has started since 2001, as part of the national action plan for the conservation of European mink Mustela lutreola. Proper detection is crucial for management, both for monitoring variation in mink abundance and prevent the recolonization of cleared areas. Mink scats can be confounded with those of several same-sized mustelids, and with the spraints of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra, which also occur along watercourses. However, these difficulties can be overcome by non-invasive genetic methods. With the aim of providing a cost-effective and reliable technique for differentiating mink scats from those of the largest possible number of species with morphologically similar scats, we tested the effectiveness of an already available faecal mtDNA-based PCR–RFLP method for distinguishing mink- and otter faeces. We then applied the method for analysing scats collected and identified in the field by trained surveyors for monitoring the success of mink control operations. The PCR–RFLP method clearly differentiated mink scats from those of otters, as restriction enzymes produced well-defined different patterns. Eighty-five percent of 94 faecal samples could be assigned to a mustelid species. Only three out of seven putative mink samples were confirmed, suggesting that the accuracy of the visual identification of scats is questionable and genetic methods are needed for the reliable assessment of the success of eradication programs.

美国水貂Neovison vison是一种半水生芥末，已在整个欧洲引入。自从其扩散以来，已经进行了许多根除这种入侵物种的尝试。在伊比利亚半岛，从2001年开始实施根除计划，这是保护欧洲水貂鼬水貂的国家行动计划的一部分。正确的检测对于管理至关重要，既要监控水貂丰度的变化，又要防止清理区域的重新定殖。貂皮的粪便可能与数个相同大小的鼬类的粪便以及欧亚水獭Lutra lutra的扭伤混为一谈，这也发生在水道上。但是，这些困难可以通过非侵入性遗传方法克服。为了提供一种经济有效且可靠的技术，以将水貂粪便与形态上相似的最大数量的水貂粪便区分开，我们测试了基于粪便基于mtDNA的PCR-RFLP方法区分水貂的有效性。和水獭的粪便。然后，我们应用了该方法来分析由训练有素的测量员在野外收集和识别的粪便，以监测貂皮控制操作的成功。PCR-RFLP方法将水獭的粪便与水獭的粪便区别开来，因为限制性内切酶产生了明确的不同模式。94个粪便样本中有百分之八十五可归类为一种鼬类。