Can Foxes Regulate Rabbit Populations?

Banks, Peter B.

doi:10.2307/3803238

Cited by 48 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In addition, because the predation pressure on rabbits from generalist carnivores and raptors is higher than that from specialist predators (Villafuerte 1994), rabbit abundance is expected to remain low and decline slowly. If the rabbit population is trapped in the 'predation pit', recovery to pre-RHD abundance levels is unlikely (Banks 2000;Marchandeau et al 2000). In these circumstances only exceptionally high rabbit recruitment or artificially reduced predation may enable rabbits to escape predator regulation (Pech et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Ayala

Quintero

et al. 2007

Wildl. Res.

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Abstract. The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a species native to the Iberian Peninsula, where it was once extremely abundant. It is considered the most important prey item for the peninsula's assemblage of Mediterranean vertebrate predators, which includes two endangered specialist rabbit feeders, the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). However, rabbit population trends in Spain have not been accurately documented. In the present study, we analysed trends in a population of European rabbits monitored over 23 years in the Doñana National Park, home to one of the most diverse and densest predator communities in Europe. Rabbit abundance and population trends were estimated using roadside counts. Results show that the rabbit population declined sharply by ~60% during the first wave of epizootic rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in 1990. Since then, rabbit numbers have declined at a relatively constant rate and the species has become progressively scarcer in the area. The current population is less than 10% of that before the arrival of RHD. However, after the RHD epizootic we observed increasing intra-annual population recruitment. We hypothesise that density-dependent factors caused by enzootic viral diseases (myxomatosis, RHD) and higher predation of rabbits are the main factors preventing recovery of rabbit numbers. The effects of a decline in the prey species on the ecology of sympatric rabbit predators are discussed, and measures to improve ongoing rabbit conservation efforts are suggested.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Ayala

Quintero

et al. 2007

Wildl. Res.

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“…However, rabbit populations are seriously depleted in result of several factors, largely habitat destruction, overhunting and diseases, such as, myxomatosis and more recently RVH (rabbit viral haemorrhagic) disease (Blanco and Villafuerte 1993). In some depleted populations, generalist predators may exert a regulating influence on rabbits retarding their recovery (Trout and Tittensor 1989, Pech et al 1992, Banks et al 1998, Banks 2000. The investigation of which habitat factors influence rabbit distribution and abundance are crucial for management and recovery plans for its populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal

Carvalho

Gomes

2004

Acta Theriol

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P. 2004. Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal. Acta Theriologica 49: 63-74.The European wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) populations in the Iberian Peninsula has suffered a serious decline. Therefore, the knowledge about the factors that influence rabbit distribution and abundance is of major interest for conservation and management programmes. Rabbit relative abundance was evaluated by pellet counting in relation to herbaceous ground cover, shelter availability (tall scrub cover and gaps in rocks) and land cover structure in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PGNP), NW Portugal. Rabbit abundance was higher at intermediate levels of herbaceous cover, but no significant statistical differences were detected. A strong association between the abundance index and tall scrub cover was verified, and when this cover was rare, an association with gaps in rocks was observed. At the land cover level, rabbit abundance was associated with high interspersion sites of rocks with matorral and high interspersion sites of tall scrubland. Evidence from this study highlighted the importance of shelter and the interspersion of open/shelter habitats for rabbits. This pattern could be interpreted as an anti-predator strategy. Therefore, management actions should favour the growing and establishing of tall scrub patches and the selective cutting in highly continuous areas of tall scrub vegetation.

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“…In general, interannual variations of rabbits are related to various factors, such as the incidence of myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease (RHD) (Villafuerte et al 1995), the availability of food (Villafuerte et al 1997;Gibb & Fitzgerald 1998), periods of drought (Myers & Parker 1975) or the greater or lesser presence of predators (Pech et al 1992;Banks 2000). In the study area, a progressive increase in rabbit abundance was observed during the years under analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Main ecological gradients and landscape matrix affect wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus(Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Leporidae) abundance in a coastal region (South-East Spain)

Arques

Belda

Peiro

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Landscape analysis with transects, in the Marina Baja area (province of Alicante, Spain), has contributed to establish the influence of different landscape matrices and some environmental gradients on wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Leporidae) abundance (kilometric abundance index, KAI). Transects (n = 396) were developed to estimate the abundance of this species in the study area from 2006 to 2008. Our analysis shows that rabbits have preferences for a specific land use matrix (irrigated: KAI = 3.47 ± 1.14 rabbits/km). They prefer the coastal area (KAI = 3.82 ± 1.71 rabbits/km), which coincides with thermo-Mediterranean (a bioclimatic belt with a tempered winter and a hot and dry summer with high human density), as opposed to areas in the interior (continental climate with lower human occupation). Their preference for the southern area of the region was also noted (KAI = 8.22 ± 3.90 rabbits/km), which coincides with the upper semi-arid area, as opposed to the northern and intermediate areas (the north of the region coinciding with the upper dry and the intermediate area with the lower dry). On the other hand, we found that the number of rabbits increased during the 3-year study period, with the highest abundance (KAI = 2.71 ± 1.30 rabbits/km) in May. Thus, this study will enable more precise knowledge of the ecological factors (habitat variables) that intervene in the distribution of wild rabbit populations in a poorly studied area.

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Can Foxes Regulate Rabbit Populations?

Cited by 48 publications

References 26 publications

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Long-term decline of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in south-western Spain

Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal

Main ecological gradients and landscape matrix affect wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus(Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Leporidae) abundance in a coastal region (South-East Spain)

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