Ecological Niche of Mustelidae

Mustelids are of the order Carnivora in the class of Mammalia that is classified under the phylum Chordata. The mustelids can be divided into four subfamilies. These four subfamilies are Mustelinae (weasels, ferrets, minks), Mellivorinae (the honey badger), Melinae (eight species of badger), and Lutrinae (19 species of otter). The subfamilies can be further divided into 24 genera, including eight that are monotypic. The family is composed of a little over 50 species in total (Parker 1982). All mustelids share the common characteristic of having five claws per foot. These claws are usually blunt but will be specialized depending on the species and how these claws are utilized. All mustelids are carnivorous with 34-38 teeth specialized for the consumption of meat (Coues 1970). They are all fur bearing mammals that usually having longer, bushier tails and legs relatively low to the ground. Members of this family have an elongated body shape; with the exception of the wolverine and American badger that have more muscular builds (Yahner 2001). Members of Mustelidae can be found across the globe with the exception of Australia, Madagascar, the Phillipines and the Antarctic. They have adapted to a wide variety of habitats with a majority of species being terrestrial in deserts, grasslands, and the tundra. Species of martens are arboreal, while river otters are almost entirely aquatic. They are widespread across the northern continental United States, Canada, and Alaska (Gilbert 1970). The diet of mustelids varies between species, but they are predominantly carnivorous. Some species, such as the marten, may also consume fruit and insects because these are abundant in the arboreal habitat that they prefer. A unique feature of some mustelids is their ability to prey on animals significantly larger than themselves. The wolverine, for example, will prey upon caribou that weigh about seven times more and are more than three times its height. Mustelids have high metabolic rates and expend a large amount of energy when catching their prey. For this reason there is a high ratio of food consumption in comparison to their body size. The Least Weasel is the smallest carnivore in North America and has to consume at least its body weight in food every day (Kays and Wilson 2002). Despite the similar size and diet of mustelids there is little competition amongst them for food. Both river otters and martens eat fish and may be found in similar areas but martens prefer smaller fish while river otters eat larger fish and crayfish (Hall and Kelson 1959). There can also be a difference in diet between males and females of species. For example, as with most mustelids, ermine females are smaller than males. Due to their smaller size they are able to fit into runways and tunnels made by voles to find prey that males can not. This reduces competition between the sexes and keeps food supplies higher (Yahner 2001). Due to their thick fur, mustelids are well suited for cooler climates. They are, however, adapted to seasonal climates as well. A number of species will have a winter coat that is thick and dark which will be shed in the summer for one that is lighter in color and traps less heat. This fur is also useful to river otters because it is water repellent and keeps them insulated in cooler rivers and streams. The

American Badger has the adaptation of sleeping through the majority of the winter, becoming active again with warmer weather. A number of terrestrial mustelids have adapted to transitional environments to have adequate moisture in their environment. The mink, for example, is semi aquatic and arboreal. Minks are not as aquatic as river otters, but they have excellent skills for catching fish as well as climbing trees on land. Other species, such as the black-footed ferret, are nocturnal and are active in grasslands and deserts when it is cooler (Kays and Wilson 2002). Mustelids are predominantly solitary animals, though the river otter is slightly more social. Aside from mating season, isolation is very common amongst this family. Females usually raise young alone. This way of isolated living is beneficial to mustelids because there is less competition for food sources and because they live in relatively small populations there is decreased predation. Extreme sexual dimorphism is a characteristic shared by all mustelids with males being larger than the females. There are a few different reasons why this could have developed. One theory is that increased size in males corresponds to an increase in the ability to mate. Many species begin to mate with the male grabbing the female by the neck and wrapping his forepaws around her, which is easier to do when the male is larger (Yahner 2001). It has been theorized that increased size allows organisms to be more protective of their territory. In mustelids, however, the males do not play any role in the lives of their young or the females they have subsequently mated with. Protection is not a logical line of reasoning as to why this sexual dimorphism exists, especially since they are solitary creatures that do move around frequently. Smaller females do not have to expend as much energy as male sized females, requiring 20% less energy at the end of lactation than a large female would. Since females alone raise their litters, being of a smaller and more agile size would allow her to catch prey more efficiently and better provide for her offspring (Moors 1980). Mustelids appear to have an ability to learn and develop skills to increase their success in the environment. For example, the fisher is one of the only animals that can kill and consume a porcupine as a staple of its diet. They do this through frontal attacks (Kays and Wilson 2002). The assumption being that at one time the fisher came into contact with spines of the porcupine and learned that the most effective way to prey upon it would be to attack from the front where there are a minimal number of spines and then consume from the underside of the porcupine where there are few spines. Another example is the black-footed ferret, which depends almost entirely on prairie dogs for its diet. Not only does it eat the prairie dogs, but it will then also move into their burrows for shelter. In order for mustelids to prey upon larger animals it is logical that over time they have evolved skills and strategies to make this type of predation possible. Mustelids have a successful rate of reproduction. One adaptation that some species in this family have is delayed implantation. After a male and female have mated, the fertilized egg may not attach to the uterine wall to begin development if the environmental conditions are not right. In river otters, this period can be up to 7 months long. When the environmental conditions to successfully give birth to young are available, such as increased day length that triggers the production of more progesterone, the egg will then implant and go through its gestation (Yahner 2001).

Some mustelids that live in tundra conditions with consistent spring snow cover will cache food in the late spring and summer in order to keep reproductive rates high. This caching of resources allows females to keep lactation levels up and avoid early litter loss when food would otherwise be unavailable. This is the case with wolverines (Inman, Magoun, Mattisson, and Persson 2012). Based upon all of the research conducted on this family, mustelids are relatively broad niche animals. They are generalists who live in varied climates and habitats that exploit a variety of food sources. While they breed during certain times of the year, some species are able to birth young when survival rates will be most successful with delayed implantation. In comparison to other carnivores, mustelids are able to exploit their niche more thoroughly. Their habitat ranges from terrestrial to arboreal to aquatic, which allows for maximum utilization of the habitat and its food sources. This use of multiple habitats aids in successful reproduction. This is the case with polecats, which are found in both marsh and deciduous woods. During the time of mating until the female gives birth, she will utilize the cover and protection of the deciduous forests. After mating season, she will then go back to using the marsh as well (Lod 2011). While wolves, foxes, and other canids may appear to be more threatening and capable carnivores, mustelids are much more efficient. They are able to supplement their diet with fruit and nuts when necessary, but they are extremely successful predators. This supplementation provides them with extra nutrition that canids may not get. Not only can mustelids prey on animals smaller than themselves, but ones significantly larger which keeps their food sources vast and varied. Canids are restricted to ground dwelling while some mustelids are arboreal and semi aquatic. This transition from one habitat to another allows them to decrease the size of their home range and limit the amount of energy they need to expend when searching for food. Mustelids are one of the most widespread families in the modern world. They do well in their environment and successfully reproduce. They are, however, susceptible to impacts. One species of mustelid, the sea mink, went extinct in the 1860s due to trapping and the fur trade (Kays and Wilson 2002). Mink is still a prominent fur that is highly valued. Due to global climate change, the habitat of the wolverine is being drastically affected. They live in habitats with spring snow cover and as the global average temperature rises, their habitats decrease. Human activity, however, is not entirely detrimental to mustelids. The black-footed ferret is on the endangered species list. They are surviving in captivity, but their numbers in the wild have decreased significantly (Coues 1970). Humans have been attempting to reintroduce black-footed ferrets in the western United States and so far have achieved moderate success.

Ecological Niche of Mustelidae References

Coues, Elliott. 1970. The Fur-Bearing Animals of North America. New York Museum of Natural History Library: Arno Press. Gilbert, B. 1970. The Weasels: A Sensible Look at a Family of Predators. New York: Pantheon Books. Hall, E.R. and K.R. Kelson. 1959. The Mammals of North America: Volume II. New York: The Ronald Press Company. Inman, R.M., A.J Magoun, J. Mattisson, and J. Persson. 2012. The wolverine's niche: linking reproductive chronology, caching, competition, and climate. Journal of Mammology 93(3): 634-644. Doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1644/11-MAMM-A-319.1 Kays, R.W. and D.E. Wilson. 2002. Mammals of North America. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Lod, Thierry. 2011. Habitat Selection and Mating Success in a Mustelid, International Journal of Zoology. Vol(2011): doi:10.1155/2011/159462 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijz/2011/159462/ Moors, P. J. 1980. Sexual Dimorphism in the Body Size of Mustelids (Carnivora): The Roles of Food Habits and Breeding Systems. Oikos 34(2): 147-158. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3544175 Parker, S.P. (Editor). 1982. Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. Texas: McGraw-Hill Inc. Yahner, R.H. 2001. Fascinating Mammals: Conservation and Ecology in the Mid-Eastern States. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Extra Credit Summary of: The wolverines niche: linking reproductive chronology, caching, competition, and climate Robert M. Inman, Audrey J. Magoun, Jens Persson, and Jenny Mattisson This journal article was not an experiment performed by the authors but rather a review they did of numerous studies in order to better understand some of the reproductive behaviors exhibited by wolverines. The authors analyzed a number of small studies to hypothesize when important reproductive events would occur in wolverines and what factors influenced the timing of these events. The strategy of caching food for winter months was found to be paramount in the reproductive cycle of wolverines. Their study found that during the winter months, wolverines depend on food caches they collected during the months of May to August when food is plentiful and varied, in order to survive. Should this cache not be sufficient, early litter loss will take place. This cache is also important because it limits the energy expenditure female wolverines must put into finding food and allows young to not be left alone for extended periods of time. The location of these caches is also important so they are protected from birds and large mammals, as well as insects and bacteria. Overall, caching is very important in the reproductive success of wolverines.