LAUSR

Salt marsh is a unique and biologically productive ecosystem characterized by relatively few endemic terrestrial vertebrates. Salt marsh continues to decline worldwide and the persistence of species restricted to salt marsh may depend on understanding characteristics associated with their use of these ecosystems. Atlantic salt marsh mink (Neovison vison lutensis) were historically found throughout Northeastern Florida (USA) but their numbers and distribution may have declined following coastal development beginning in the 1800s. Information on their current distribution and ecology in Florida is unknown but they are suspected of being restricted to salt marsh. Between 2013 and 2015, we conducted camera surveys for mink in 42.1 km2 units in salt marsh to determine their occupancy, extent of occurrence, and drivers of habitat use. We measured 20 site-specific environmental covariates to model occupancy and detectability. Mink were detected in a 226 km2 area within 14 km of the Atlantic coast between two of the region’s major rivers. We found positive associations in our top overall occupancy model between mink and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) biomass and between detectability and low marsh dominated by cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Our detection data provides further support that mink may be endemic to coastal salt marsh in Florida and that they currently occupy approximately half the northern portion of their historical distribution. We suggest that the long-term persistence of Atlantic salt marsh mink in Florida may depend on the presence of healthy and functional low marsh where aquatic food resources, particularly blue crab, are locally abundant.