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<p>Weasel <i>Mustela nivalis</i> and stoat <i>Mustela erminea</i> are important specialist predators whose populations are suspected to be declining across Europe. Predominantly hunting rodents, they play a key role in shaping the population dynamics of small herbivorous mammals. Despite their ecological significance, these species have remained relatively understudied due to their elusive nature, and many questions regarding their ecology and conservation remain unanswered. In recent years, these small predators have attracted growing attention, supported by new methodologies that allow more effective research. In June 2025, a group of European researchers convened at the first ‘European Small Mustelid Meeting’ to assess the current state of small mustelid research, with a focus on weasels and stoats, and identify priorities for the future. Here, we synthesize the current research on weasels and stoats across Europe and propose six key directions for future small mustelid research: (1) the optimisation of monitoring techniques and data collection protocols; (2) the upscaling of species distribution models to a continental level; (3) the ecological role of small mustelids in the food web; (4) the influence of climate change on their moulting phenology; (5) the impact of environmental contaminants on small mustelids; and (6) the gathering of genetic material to analyze genetic diversity across Europe. We hope these will enable a robust assessment of the conservation status of weasels and stoats across Europe. We invite researchers working on or interested in these fascinating small predators to join our collaborative effort to advance research and conservation of small mustelids in Europe.</p>

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Too small to matter? a call to action for european small mustelid research

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月9日

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  • Pieter J. Otte,
  • Stephen P. Carter,
  • Andrin C. Dürst,
  • Marco Granata,
  • Jeroen Mos,
  • Salvador Salvador,
  • Vasco Valdez,
  • Karol Zub,
  • Tim R. Hofmeester

摘要

Weasel Mustela nivalis and stoat Mustela erminea are important specialist predators whose populations are suspected to be declining across Europe. Predominantly hunting rodents, they play a key role in shaping the population dynamics of small herbivorous mammals. Despite their ecological significance, these species have remained relatively understudied due to their elusive nature, and many questions regarding their ecology and conservation remain unanswered. In recent years, these small predators have attracted growing attention, supported by new methodologies that allow more effective research. In June 2025, a group of European researchers convened at the first ‘European Small Mustelid Meeting’ to assess the current state of small mustelid research, with a focus on weasels and stoats, and identify priorities for the future. Here, we synthesize the current research on weasels and stoats across Europe and propose six key directions for future small mustelid research: (1) the optimisation of monitoring techniques and data collection protocols; (2) the upscaling of species distribution models to a continental level; (3) the ecological role of small mustelids in the food web; (4) the influence of climate change on their moulting phenology; (5) the impact of environmental contaminants on small mustelids; and (6) the gathering of genetic material to analyze genetic diversity across Europe. We hope these will enable a robust assessment of the conservation status of weasels and stoats across Europe. We invite researchers working on or interested in these fascinating small predators to join our collaborative effort to advance research and conservation of small mustelids in Europe.