@article{NorgaardMikkelsenElmerosetal.2017,
  author    = {Norgaard, Louise Solveig and Mikkelsen, Dorthe Marlene Gotz and Elmeros, Morten and Chriel, Mariann and Madsen, Aksel Bo and Nielsen, Jeppe Lund and Pertoldi, Cino and Randi, Ettore and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Slaska, Brygida and Ruiz-Gonzalez, Aritz},
  title     = {Population genomics of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Denmark: insights into invasion history and population development},
  series = {Biological invasions : unique international journal uniting scientists in the broad field of biological invasions},
  volume    = {19},
  journal   = {Biological invasions : unique international journal uniting scientists in the broad field of biological invasions},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Dordrecht},
  issn      = {1387-3547},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10530-017-1385-5},
  pages     = {1637 -- 1652},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) has a wide distribution in Europe and is a prominent example of a highly adaptable alien species. It has been recorded sporadically in Denmark since 1980 but observations since 2008 suggested that the species had established a free-ranging, self-sustaining population. To elucidate the origin and genetic patterns of Danish raccoon dogs, we studied the population genomics of 190 individuals collected in Denmark (n = 141) together with reference captive individuals from Poland (n = 21) and feral individuals from different European localities (Germany, Poland, Estonia and Finland, n = 28). We used a novel genotyping-by-sequencing approach simultaneously identifying and genotyping a large panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (n = 4526). Overall, there was significant indication for contemporary genetic structuring of the analysed raccoon dog populations, into at least four different clusters, in spite of the existence of long distance gene flow and secondary admixture from different population sources. The Danish population was characterized by a high level of genetic admixture with neighbouring feral European ancestries and the presence of private clusters, non-retrieved in any other feral or captive populations sampled. These results suggested that the raccoon dog population in Denmark was founded by escapees from genetically unidentified Danish captive stocks, followed by a recent admixture with individuals migrating from neighbouring Germany.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{DammhahnRandriamoriaGoodman2017,
  author    = {Dammhahn, Melanie and Randriamoria, Toky M. and Goodman, Steven M.},
  title     = {Broad and flexible stable isotope niches in invasive non-native Rattus spp. in anthropogenic and natural habitats of central eastern Madagascar},
  series = {BMC ecology},
  volume    = {17},
  journal   = {BMC ecology},
  publisher = {BioMed Central},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1472-6785},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12898-017-0125-0},
  pages     = {13},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Background: Rodents of the genus Rattus are among the most pervasive and successful invasive species, causing major vicissitudes in native ecological communities. A broad and flexible generalist diet has been suggested as key to the invasion success of Rattus spp. Here, we use an indirect approach to better understand foraging niche width, plasticity, and overlap within and between introduced Rattus spp. in anthropogenic habitats and natural humid forests of Madagascar. Results: Based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values measured in hair samples of 589 individual rodents, we found that Rattus rattus had an extremely wide foraging niche, encompassing the isotopic space covered by a complete endemic forest-dwelling Malagasy small mammal community. Comparisons of Bayesian standard ellipses, as well as (multivariate) mixed-modeling analyses, revealed that the stable isotope niche of R. rattus tended to change seasonally and differed between natural forests and anthropogenic habitats, indicating plasticity in feeding niches. In co-occurrence, R. rattus and Rattus norvegicus partitioned feeding niches. Isotopic mismatch of signatures of individual R. rattus and the habitat in which they were captured, indicate frequent dispersal movements for this species between natural forest and anthropogenic habitats. Conclusions: Since R. rattus are known to transmit a number of zoonoses, potentially affecting communities of endemic small mammals, as well as humans, these movements presumably increase transmission potential. Our results suggest that due to their generalist diet and potential movement between natural forest and anthropogenic habitats, Rattus spp. might affect native forest-dependent Malagasy rodents as competitors, predators, and disease vectors. The combination of these effects helps explain the invasion success of Rattus spp. and the detrimental effects of this genus on the endemic Malagasy rodent fauna.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{DrygalaZoller2013,
  author    = {Drygala, Frank and Zoller, Hinrich},
  title     = {Spatial use and interaction of the invasive raccoon dog and the native red fox in Central Europe - competition or coexistence?},
  series = {European journal of wildlife research},
  volume    = {59},
  journal   = {European journal of wildlife research},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {1612-4642},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10344-013-0722-y},
  pages     = {683 -- 691},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {The main objective was to discover extent of interference and/or exploitative competition between the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the introduced, invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereues proconoides) in the intensively used, agricultural landscape of northeast Germany (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) using very high frequency (VHF) radio telemetry. We recorded location data for 12 foxes and 16 raccoon dogs between July 2004 and December 2006. Species had similar average home range sizes estimated in each season (K95). Home ranges of adjacent raccoon dogs and foxes overlapped from 0.5 to 74.5 \% with a mean of 26.4 \%. We found a significantly different home range overlap index between the species showing that raccoon dog ranges shifted between seasons to a greater extent than red fox ranges. The raccoon dog differed significantly from the red fox in its use of habitat types, preferring dense vegetation cover and avoiding open areas. The red fox displayed less preference for or avoidance of specific habitat types. Moreover, an almost neutral inter-specific interaction index ranging from -0.12 to 0.12 indicates that raccoon dogs and red foxes ignored each other. It is concluded that widespread and available resources and differences in spatial use patterns prevent competition between red foxes and raccoon dogs in the agricultural landscape of northeast Germany.},
  language  = {en}
}