Scientific Publications – Page 6 – The Vincent Wildlife Trust

Davison, A. et al (2001). Mitochondrial phylogeography and population history of pine martens compared with polecats

The flora and fauna of Europe are linked by a common biogeographic history, most recently the Pleistocene glaciations that restricted the range of most, if not all, species to southern refugial populations. Changes in population size and migration, as well as selection, all left a signature on the genetic differentiation that is present today.

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Davison, A. et al. (1999). Hybridization and the phylogenetic relationship between polecats and domestic ferrets in Britain

Ferrets were domesticated from polecats more than 2000 years ago. Following their introduction to Britain, they escaped and hybridized with native European polecats. Native polecats declined to the point of near extinction prior to World War I but have recently begun to expand from a Welsh refugium. Concern has arisen as to the extent of polecat/ferret introgression, and in particular, whether the expanding population is of mainly hybrid origin.

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