PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 144: Predator - Prey Ecology: Terrestrial Habitat and Food Webs
Thursday, August 11, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 524 A, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Interaction between mink and muskrat populations in Canada.

Shier, Catherine^*,1, Boyce, Mark¹, ¹ University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

ABSTRACT- The primary prey for mink (Mustela vison)is presumed to be the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), but the ecology of the interaction between mink and muskrat is not well known. Numerical evaluation of the Hudson's Bay Company fur-return data suggests that mink specialization on muskrat in Canada increases from east to west. Our research aims to test the hypothesis that this gradient in mink-muskrat interactions is the result of increased mink prey diversity in eastern Canada. Mink carcasses have been collected from across Canada and stomach contents analyzed. Preliminary analysis suggests that the diversity of mink prey species follow the geographical pattern hypothesized. By linking predator-prey interactions with geographical changes in species diversity, we hope to enhance our understanding of predator-prey relationships in Canada.

Key words: mink, muskrat, predator-prey dynamics, prey diversity