Genetic variability of raccoon dogs and their impacts on the environment in Lithuania

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a prominent example of a pest with a wide distribution in Europe and significant ecological impacts. Alien species may have an effect on various levels of biological organisation: genetic, population, community and habitat/ecosystem. Using basic information on abundance, distribution (Bioinvasion Impact/Biopollution Assessment System (BINPAS) and genetic diversity of raccoon dogs, we identifed their impact on the environment in Lithuania. Genetic variation of 269 individuals of N. procyonoides from Lithuania was analyzed using RAPD and D-loop analysis. RAPD analysis showed that there were 70 polymorphic loci and the number of fragments varied among the primers. The genetic polymorphism was most with ROTH – 180 – 05 and ROTH – 180 – 06 (100%) and least with ROTH – 180 – 10 (25%). Using Rac-1F and Rac-1R primers were amplified D-loop fragments of individuals from different locations in Lithuania. The genetic data suggest that raccoon dogs colonised Lithuania from different neighbouring countries Belarus and Latvia. The raccoon dog impact on native species and communities (C0-C2) were moderately negative for amphibians, mollusks, rodents, birds, insects, and reptiles and for transmission of pathogens.