Habitat management as a generalized tool to boost European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus populations in the Iberian Peninsula: a cost‐effectiveness analysis

Abstract

The European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus was designated as a protected species in Spain and Portugal following sharp declines in many populations. The ongoing decline highlights the need to implement cost‐effective management strategies for this staple prey and important small game species of Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems. Habitat management is one strategy in general use, though little is known about its true influence on rabbit populations. The main goal of this study was to assess the frequency of use and cost‐effectiveness of habitat management techniques for European rabbit populations in the Iberian Peninsula. We conducted a thorough literature review and used this information to: (i) estimate the frequency of use of habitat management techniques; (ii) evaluate the relative and absolute effectiveness of habitat management; and (iii) assess the economic implications of its application. At least one habitat management technique was used on over 60% of hunting estates. The relative effectiveness (measured as the % population change before and after management) of habitat management techniques is high, although we found no relationship between high relative effectiveness and rabbit densities considered biologically and/or economically meaningful (e.g. densities able to support a breeding population of endangered predators or medium to high rabbit harvest yields). We did not find any clear relationship between the cost and the effectiveness of the habitat management techniques applied, as the most costly techniques were not the most successful ones. We conclude that rabbit management strategies in the Iberian Peninsula should include improved and upscaled protocols for habitat management, in order to mitigate threats and promote the recovery of rabbit populations.

Grain sowing aimed at wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus L. enhancement in Mediterranean environments

“…Studies validating the efficacy of rabbit management are scarce (San Miguel, 2006;Delibes-Mateos et al 2008;Ferreira et al 2013). Our results offer the first support for the use of cereal sowing to obtain a positively selected environment for wild rabbits, as has previously only been suggested (Martins et al 2002;García 2005;San Miguel 2006;Ferreira et al 2013). Our study evidences the positive influence of shelters and types of A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t Page 7 of 13 habitat on the level of selection.…”

“…According to this results, we might conclude that habitat plays a major role. We have considered this aspect as a necessity of different treatments in each habitat to reach an ideal rabbit habitat (Lombardi et al 2003;Fernández, 2005;Ferreira et al 2013). So there might be more adequate treatments for the different habitats (i.e.…”

Efectos de los cambios en los usos del suelo en las especies cinegéticas en el sur de España: repercusiones para la gestión

“…Entre las medidas de gestión destaca el manejo del hábitat (Ferreira et al 2013) con el que se trata de recuperar los paisajes agrícolas tradicionales con el fin de favorecer fundamentalmente a perdices y conejos. Los resultados del presente trabajo sugieren que este tipo de medidas de gestión del há-bitat deben de fomentarse sobre todo en zonas de media montaña para recuperar las poblaciones de estas especies, de modo que su aprovechamiento cinegético sea sostenible.…”

“…Para que la gestión del hábitat sea exitosa (i.e. ayude a incrementar los rendimientos cinegéticos o la densidad de depredadores dependientes de las especies de caza menor), se debe de llevar a cabo idealmente a una escala espacial amplia y mantenerse a largo del tiempo, ya que las pequeñas intervenciones que se realizan habitualmente resultan insuficientes (Ferreira et al 2013) Las especies de caza mayor se han expandido notablemente en las últimas décadas, y todo parece indicar que los cambios ambientales que se producirán en los próximos años seguirán favoreciendo esta expansión (Acevedo et al 2011). Por ello, y dada la escasez de depredadores naturales que puedan regular el tamaño de sus poblaciones, la gestión cinegética y las enfermedades son las únicas fuerzas reguladoras posibles (Pérez et al 1997).…”

Post-weaning growth of endemic Iberian wild rabbit subspecies, Orycto lagus cuniculus algirus, kept in a semi-extensive enclosure : implications for management and conservation

“…myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease), but also as a consequence of habitat loss and fragmentation and from incorrect game practices (Delibes-Mateos et al, 2009). Hunters and conservationists strive to restore previous population stocks, by habitat management and restoration measures that decrease the deleterious impact of disease on populations, as well as local rabbit breeding and reintroduction programs (Delibes-Mateos et al, 2009;Ferreira et al, 2013). Their efforts have unfortunately not been followed by an increase in rabbit population numbers, perhaps as a consequence of lack of funds to maintain habitat management, rise of mortality through new disease outbreaks and poor knowledge of the most suitable places to introduce and establish farmed animals (Ward, 2005;Dalton et al, 2012;Ferreira, 2012;Guerrero-Casado et al, 2013).…”