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Background: A major impact of invasive Myocastor coypus in their introduction range is the collapse of riverbanks and nearby infrastructure, such as railway lines, due to the species' burrowing activities. Because widespread implementation of preventive measures along watercourses is unfeasible, identifying susceptible areas is key to guide targeted management actions. This study used species-habitat models to: (i) identify local environmental features of the railway line/watercourse intersections (RLWIs) that make them particularly susceptible to coypu damage, and (ii) predict species occurrence probability over a wide lowland-hilly area of northern Italy (Lombardy) to identify priority areas for monitoring., Results: Local-scale models identified that the RLWIs most susceptible to burrowing were those surrounded by arable land with interspersed hedgerows locally characterized by high herbaceous vegetation and clay soil. In urbanized areas and areas of intensive agriculture, coypu dens were generally located significantly closer to the railway, increasing the risk of collapse. A landscape-scale species distribution model showed that lowland areas along major rivers and lake shores, and also agricultural areas with a dense minor hydrographic network, particularly in the southeast of the study area, are more likely to be occupied by coypu., Conclusion: Local-scale models showed that specific environmental characteristics increase the risk of burrowing near RLWIs. The landscape-scale model allowed us to predict which areas require thorough monitoring of RLWIs to search for such local characteristics to implement preventive management measures. The proposed model-based framework can be applied to any geographical context to predict and prevent coypu damage. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

This study evaluated the chemical, physical and sensory properties of canned beaver and nutria. These animals are currently hunted not for their meat, but to reduce their numbers in the wild. The situation is complicated by the fact that both species are on the relevant lists. However, while the beaver is a protected animal, the nutria is an invasive species. This leads to complications in the application of the relevant legislation. Hunters are therefore limited in what they can do with the meat of these species. The chemical composition of the products did not differ (p > 0.05). Canned beaver was the darkest (p < 0.05) product and canned nutria the softest (p < 0.05). Both meat products were sensory acceptable and no off-odour or off-flavour was perceived. Canning meat is something that hunters can easily do at home, and the resulting product meets all the requirements for food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutria, or coypu (Myocastor coypus), are invasive semi‐aquatic rodents present across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Despite successful eradication efforts in certain areas, nutria have resurged in the mid‐Atlantic USA, underscoring the need for advanced monitoring tools. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a promising technique for species detection and monitoring. Here, an eDNA assay for nutria using qPCR was field‐validated in Virginia, USA, showcasing its potential as a tool for post‐eradication monitoring. The findings reveal an association between water levels and detection of nutria eDNA, highlighting the importance of water levels in nutria behavior. A painted turtle assay was introduced to confirm nutria absence and demonstrate the potential of passive sampling. The study showcases the sensitivity and efficiency of eDNA assays, emphasizing their value for monitoring and verifying invasive species eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The coypu is a semiaquatic rodent, native to South America and introduced to many parts of the world, mainly due to fur farming and as zoo animal. Nowadays, it is widely distributed in Europe, forming many invasive populations; thus, the species is listed as being of European Union concern according to the EU invasive alien species regulation. Here, we provide an update on the known status and distribution of the coypu in Austria since Spitzenberger (2001), presenting known occurrence records and additionally hunting bag data from the federal state of Styria. We derived 197 spatially explicit records, ranging from 1930 to 2021 and covering all nine federal states of Austria. Currently, the coypu is established in at least three federal states (Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria) and probably also in Vorarlberg, with its main distribution in the lowlands of eastern to south-eastern Austria. We show a significant relationship between annual fluctuations in hunting bag data and the preceding winter temperatures suggesting that harsh winters might have a regulatory effect on Austrian coypu populations. Further, we emphasize the importance of monitoring and field surveys, not only for a detailed assessment of its distribution, but also to clarify potential metapopulation dynamics with occurrences in neighbouring countries. This is essential for future management, especially in the light of its declaration as invasive alien species of European Union concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coypu, Myocastor coypus, has been introduced worldwide for fur farming and is widely recognized as one of the most invasive alien mammals of the world, affecting natural ecosystems, crops and possibly human health. Here we present a comprehensive up-to-date review of its distribution and status in Asia and Africa. Using a multi-source approach, we collected occurrences from published literature as well as from online biodiversity platforms (e.g. GBIF, iNaturalist), video sharing platforms, and local experts. Additionally, we used an ensemble modelling approach to predict the climatic suitability across Africa and Asia. We present an updated distribution map, including a total of 1506 spatially explicit records from 1973 to 2021, covering 1 African and 16 Asian countries. We find evidence for current populations in Kenya and five new countries since the last review of (Carter and Leonard, Wildl Soc Bull 30:162–175, 2002): Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, and identify main clusters of coypu occurrence in Western (including Transcaucasia) and East Asia. We show that warm temperate and Mediterranean areas on both continents are predicted to be climatically suitable for the coypu and highlight not only areas of possible spread, but also potential data gaps, i.e. with high suitability and low availability of concrete information (e.g. China, Southern Russia). We emphasize the importance of citizen involvement and the urgency for coypu-targeted studies in data-poor regions to obtain a clear picture of the geographical distribution and to better address management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

is a large semi-aquatic rodent ranked as one of the 100 most invasive species in the world. In Brazil, few ecological studies have been proposed to understand the relationship of this species with the environment. To date, drivers that facilitate its establishment in new areas remain unknown. However, it is generally accepted that the natural distribution of this species is limited to far southern Brazil. The present study aimed to understand the geographic distribution of M. coypus and indicate areas of greater risk of establishment based on bioclimatic predictors and a surveillance map. We observed that M. coypus suitability and risk assessment areas are restricted to the southeastern and southern regions of Brazil and that anthropogenic landscape modifications are an adequate variable to explain the occurrence of the species. Due to the environmental impacts caused by this species, monitoring in environments where it has been introduced is required. The model used herein presented efficient applicability and fit for Brazil. Preventive actions and the management of M. coypus in predicted regions prior to its establishment are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the most invasive species, the Coypu ( Myocastor coypus) best exemplifies the widespread effect of alien species on ecosystems. Among the impacts, the induced erosion in riverbanks has an increasing economic and social importance. Despite its significance, this type of erosion is rarely quantified, and the available information is limited to local knowledge, grey literature, and maintenance reports. This research shows the potential of freely and instantly available Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry to obtain crowdsourced information based on smartphone images. The results highlight how it is possible to provide a rough estimate of the damages with relatively low or null cost of application, and limited expert knowledge and expenditure of time, depending on the scale of analysis. The proposed technique provides a fresh approach to a known long-standing issue, offering a new source of information for farmers, researchers, wildlife managers, as well as for land managers and planners. The potential applications of such a technique and its unprecedented ease of use and very low cost offer effective tools for management plans and scientific research, providing a basis to relate eroded volumes to the functioning of the drainage system and the connected agroecosystem. The method would also enable the opportunity of participatory and opportunistic crowdsourced sensing. Further scientific research on the crowd-based data on erosion should encourage standardisation of data gathering and accessibility, together with a public involvement in information exchange, to generate a better understanding and awareness of erosion problems also for other fields of research. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species provide a unique opportunity to evaluate factors controlling biogeographic distributions; we can consider introduction success as an experiment testing suitability of environmental conditions. Predicting potential distributions of spreading species is not easy, and forecasting potential distributions with changing climate is even more difficult. Using the globally invasive coypu (Myocastor coypus [Molina, 1782]), we evaluate and compare the utility of a simplistic ecophysiological based model and a correlative model to predict current and future distribution. The ecophysiological model was based on winter temperature relationships with nutria survival. We developed correlative statistical models using the Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling and biologically relevant climate data with a global extent. We applied the ecophysiological based model to several global circulation model (GCM) predictions for mid-century. We used global coypu introduction data to evaluate these models and to explore a hypothesized physiological limitation, finding general agreement with known coypu distribution locally and globally and support for an upper thermal tolerance threshold. Global circulation model based model results showed variability in coypu predicted distribution among GCMs, but had general agreement of increasing suitable area in the USA. Our methods highlighted the dynamic nature of the edges of the coypu distribution due to climate non-equilibrium, and uncertainty associated with forecasting future distributions. Areas deemed suitable habitat, especially those on the edge of the current known range, could be used for early detection of the spread of coypu populations for management purposes. Combining approaches can be beneficial to predicting potential distributions of invasive species now and in the future and in exploring hypotheses of factors controlling distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest management requires the development of robust monitoring tools. In Italy, coypu M yocastor coypus (nutria) have been controlled since the early 1990s, but the effectiveness of these measures has never been tested. With the aim of developing a reliable and volunteer-based method for the long-term monitoring of coypu abundance in agricultural landscapes, we calibrated an index based on surveys for coypu paths against density estimates obtained through a standardized mark-recapture technique. Two trapping sessions were performed in winter for each of 12 1-km long stretches of irrigation canals and watercourses using 15 baited cage traps. Trapping sessions lasted 7 days each, with a 10-day break between sessions. Population size was assessed using three methods: Peterson- Lincoln's formula, capwire estimators and accumulation curves. Active coypu paths and five habitat variables were recorded by walking on the edge of both banks. The variables were then related to population size ( y) by means of multi-regressive models, testing for the predictive power of the selected models by leave-one-out cross-validation. Multi-regressive models included only the number of coypu paths with the best performances achieved by the model based on Peterson- Lincoln formula, supporting path count as an effective method to assess the abundance of the coypu in agricultural landscapes. Concurrently, to assess the field suitability of the indirect method, surveys for coypu paths were carried out on 122 randomly chosen 3-km long stretches of irrigation canals and watercourses in the central part of the River Po valley ( c. 15 000 km2; N Italy). The highest (>8/100 m) mean number of paths was recorded in the central part of the study area. According to the regression models, the overall number of coypu is predicted to range between 350 000 and 1 100 000, raising doubts about the effectiveness of current control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and invasive species are often treated as important, but independent, issues. Nevertheless, they have strong connections: changes in climate and societal responses to climate change may exacerbate the impacts of invasive species, whereas invasive species may affect the magnitude, rate, and impact of climate change. We argue that the design and implementation of climate-change policy in the United States should specifically consider the implications for invasive species; conversely, invasive-species policy should address consequences for climate change. The development of such policies should be based on (1) characterization of interactions between invasive species and climate change, (2) identification of areas where climate-change policies could negatively affect invasive-species management, and (3) identification of areas where policies could benefit from synergies between climate change and invasive-species management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutria or coypu, Myocastor coypus, is a large semi-aquatic rodent that superficially resembles an overgrown muskrat or a stunted beaver. They were introduced into Oregon from about 1930 to the 1950's. At one time Oregon had more than 600 fur farmers raising these animals for fur; now there are none. Some animals escaped and many others were released into the wild when it became apparent that pelt values were nonexistent and production costs greatly exceeded profits. Being prolific and quite mobile, the nutria quickly spread through much of western Oregon. By the 1960's damage to agricultural crops was common to severe in western Oregon. Crops damaged included seed, grain, forage, hay and trees. Burrowing damage to stream banks, field borders, and farm ponds was reported in many areas. Growth and reproduction data for Oregon nutria are included. Methods for controlling feral nutria including the use of prolin, red squill, strychnine alkaloid, and zinc phosphide are reported. Fur trapping and adverse weather as factors in population reduction are discussed.

Nutria, which have increasingly been brought into California to be ranched for fur within the past decade, have know to have escaped, with the first known wild population seen in 1948. Initial attempts at control by use of carrot or sweet potato baits using zinc phosphide or strychnine were unsatisfactory. A trapping program begun in 1951 by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (USFWS) is now considered the most effective control method. Use of No. 3 steel traps is described, as are the merits of shooting either during nighttime on feeding grounds, or in daytime.

Simple Summary: Nutrias (Myocastor coypus) are large semiaquatic rodents native to subtropical and temperate South America. Nutrias have been introduced on all continents, except Oceania and Antarctica, and have become invasive in many countries. This study carried out a survey of nutrias in South Korea under the Nutria Eradication Project from January 2013 to August 2015. Out of 1509 habitat traces, 1497 tracks were observed in the Nakdong River basin. Based on the ecological field data, we identified concentrated areas of nutria populations. Tissue samples were collected from captured nutria for genetic analysis. According to the microsatellite marker analysis, the estimated genetic diversity of the nutria populations was low, which suggests that nutrias in South Korea originate from a single population. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive alien species that have had major adverse effects on biodiversity and the agricultural economy in wetland habitats. Since 2014, the Ministry of Environment in South Korea has been carrying out the Nutria Eradication Project, and we investigated nutria distribution and genetic diversity of nutria populations in South Korea. We estimated that 99.2% of nutria habitats are in the mid-lower Nakdong River regions. To further analyze the genetic diversity in eight major nutria populations, we performed a genetic analysis using microsatellite markers. Genetic diversity levels of the eight nutria populations in South Korea were relatively lower than those in other countries. The probability of migration direction among nutria populations was predicted from genetic distance analysis. Genetic structure analysis showed little difference among the nutria populations in South Korea. These results suggest that nutrias in South Korea originated from a single population. Our results provide important data for establishing management strategies for the successful eradication of nutria populations in South Korea, as well as in other countries with alien invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]