Niche opportunity created by land cover change is driving the European hare invasion in the Neotropics

Pasqualotto, Nielson; Bôscolo, Danilo; Versiani, Natália Fraguas; Paolino, Roberta Montanheiro; Rodrigues, Thiago Ferreira; Krepschi, Victor Gasperotto; Chiarello, Adriano Garcia

doi:10.1007/s10530-020-02353-y

Cited by 5 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…sugarcane fields, managed forests, and pastures) in southeastern Brazil(Pasqualotto et al, 2021). Therefore, our findings are more consistent with the spatial niche segregation hypothesis, suggesting that the Brazilian cottontail and the non-native European hare are naturally spatially segregated due to their different habitat preferences(Kamieniarz et al, 2013;Pasqualotto et al, 2021;Petrovan et al, 2013).…”

supporting

confidence: 85%

“…Despite long‐standing calls (de Faria et al., 2015; Grigera & Rapoport, 1983; Novillo & Ojeda, 2008), our study found little evidence of a negative influence of the non‐native European hares on the native cottontail habitat use, as predicted by the competitive exclusion hypothesis. In contrast to the native cottontail habitat use pattern we found, European hares are less likely to use sites predominantly covered by native forest and more likely to use human‐modified habitats (e.g., sugarcane fields, managed forests, and pastures) in southeastern Brazil (Pasqualotto et al., 2021). Therefore, our findings are more consistent with the spatial niche segregation hypothesis, suggesting that the Brazilian cottontail and the non‐native European hare are naturally spatially segregated due to their different habitat preferences (Kamieniarz et al., 2013; Pasqualotto et al., 2021; Petrovan et al., 2013).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

“…ѱ, p 11 = r 11 0.00-90.69 Stream Density (StrD) Native habitat Total length (m) of streams inside each sampled site, divided by the site area ѱ, p 11 = r 11 0.00-26.31 Forest Edge Density (FED)Native habitat Total length (m) of native forest edges inside a sampled site, divided by the site area. The higher the edge density, the higher the native forest fragmentation in each site Mean linear distance (m) from random points (≅46 points, SD = 14) inside each sampled site to the Conditional occupancy probability of the European hare(Pasqualotto et al, 2021) the true positive detection probability linearly increases over time (sampling months). We also considered a squared trend (Sq_T) structure to account for a primary months during the dry season (May-August, "1") from "shoulder months" (April and September, "0") minimum temperature (°C) in each site during the month each site was sampled.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Native forest and proximity to humans are stronger drivers of Brazilian cottontail habitat use than invasive European hare

Pasqualotto,

Bailey,

Chiarello

2024

Biotropica

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Human activities and biological invasions have caused unprecedented biodiversity loss over the past 500 years. Proximity to humans drives the spatial distribution of species toward less disturbed habitats. Invasive species can competitively exclude native species, but species may coexist due to different habitat preferences. Here, we investigated how proximity to farms and the presence of the non‐native European hare (Lepus europaeus) influence the habitat use by the Brazilian cottontail (Sylvilagus minensis) in southeastern Brazil. We found that the probability of cottontail site use increased with native forest cover and decreased with farmhouse proximity, ranging from 0.05 (SE = 0.02) at sites close to farmhouses (≅900 m) with no native forest to 0.70 (SE = 0.15) at sites far from farmhouses (≅2500 m) dominated by native forest. Higher risk of harassment and predation by free‐roaming dogs and cats may explain the negative effect of farmhouse proximity on cottontail habitat use. We found little evidence for competitive exclusion by the European hare. Instead, our results suggest that the two species spatially segregate due to different habitat preferences. While the European hare more likely uses farmland in its native and non‐native range, our results suggest that the Brazilian cottontail is a forest dweller. Although we found only weak evidence of competitive exclusion, we advise caution because invasive species may delay the onset of detrimental effects due to initial low population densities in newly invaded areas as is the case of the European hare in southeastern Brazil.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

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confidence: 85%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

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confidence: 99%

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Native forest and proximity to humans are stronger drivers of Brazilian cottontail habitat use than invasive European hare

Pasqualotto,

Bailey,

Chiarello

2024

Biotropica

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“…Smith et al 2004, Mengoni et al 2018, Mayer et al 2020a); and 2) an introduced mammal threatening native species in other areas (Thulin 2003, Reid 2011, Barbar & Lambertucci, 2018). In both native and introduced ranges, the hare is predicted to expand its geographic range in extent and elevation due to climatic and land‐use changes (Bedson et al 2021, Pasqualotto et al 2021, Schai‐Braun et al 2021). Therefore, plasticity in spatiotemporal behaviour may further help this lagomorph to succeed, providing that landscape heterogeneity is maintained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting spatiotemporal behaviour in the European brown hareLepus europaeus: a meta‐analysis

et al. 2022

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1. The European brown hare Lepus europaeus is the most widely distributed hare species of the world, being naturally present throughout Eurasia and introduced as a game species in most continents. Despite the importance of this lagomorph for both management and conservation, a quantitative summary of its spatiotemporal behaviour is still lacking. 2. Taking advantage of 51 selected studies conducted throughout the native range of the hare and spanning the last 40 years, we used meta-analytic approaches in order to: 1) investigate home range size in relation to ecological factors; 2) test preference across major habitat types; and 3) provide a quantitative synthesis of hare activity patterns. 3. Temporally adjusted home range size of hare populations decreased with increasing cropland cover (cereal and non-cereal crops), suggesting that home range size gets smaller with increasing food availability, and predicting that hare populations living in absence of crops would double their mean home range size compared to those inhabiting areas covered entirely by cropland.Hare populations where more males were sampled showed larger home ranges, in line with the polygynous mating system of this species. 4. Hares preferred cropland and grassland over other habitats for foraging, thus selecting the two habitats characterised by the majority of trophic resources for this species. Yet, habitat types were used proportionally to their availability overall, except for the general avoidance of human settlements. Hares were mainly nocturnal, with the lowest activity during daytime, when activity was about one third of that at night, and showed moonlight avoidance, probably to limit encounters with nocturnal predators. Our work emphasises the importance of open habitats and especially croplandfor this lagomorph, but also suggests some plasticity in the use of space and time by hares. Such plasticity may help this mammal to cope with future environmental changes, providing that landscape heterogeneity is maintained.

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“…There has been a common misunderstanding that most of the mammal species that we see in agricultural landscapes are exotic species such as livestock (cow, horse, pigs) or invasive species, such as European hares (Lepus europaeus; Pasqualotto et al 2021) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa; Pedrosa et al 2015). Recent evidence has shown that even largely human-modified landscapes dominated by agriculture and pastures hold a considerable diversity of native mammals (Magioli et al 2016).…”

Section: How Do Mammals Survive In a Human-modified Landscape?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammals in São Paulo State: diversity, distribution, ecology, and conservation

et al. 2022

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Mammals are charismatic organisms that play a fundamental role in ecological functions and ecosystem services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and pest control. The state of São Paulo represents only 3% of the Brazilian territory but holds 33% of its mammalian diversity. Most of its territory is dominated by agriculture, pastures, and urban areas which directly affect the diversity and persistence of mammals in the landscape. In addition, São Paulo has the largest port in Latin America and the largest offshore oil reservoir in Brazil, with a 600 km stretch of coastline with several marine mammal species. These human-made infrastructures affect the diversity, distribution, ecology, and the future of mammals in the state. Here, we answer five main questions: 1) What is the diversity of wild mammals in São Paulo state? 2) Where are they? 3) What is their positive and negative impact on human well-being? 4) How do mammals thrive in human-modified landscapes? 5) What is the future of mammals in the state? The state of São Paulo holds 255 species of native mammals, with four endemic species, two of them globally endangered. At least six species (two marsupials, Giant otter, Pampas deer, Brazilian dwarf brocket deer, and Giant armadillo) were extirpated from the state due to hunting and habitat loss. The intense human land use in the state forced many mammalian species to change their diet to cope with the intense fragmentation and agriculture. Large-scale monoculture has facilitated the invasion of exotic species such as wild boars (javali) and the European hare. Several “savanna-dwelling” species are expanding their ranges (Maned wolf, Brocket deer) over deforested areas and probably reflect changes towards a drier climate. Because the state has the largest road system, about 40,000 mammals from 33 species are killed per year in collisions causing an economic loss of 12 million dollars/year. The diversity of mammals is concentrated in the largest forest remnants of Serra do Mar and in the interior of the State, mainly in the regions of Ribeirão Preto and Jundiaí. Sampling gaps are concentrated throughout the interior of the state, particularly in the northwest region. Wild mammals play a fundamental role in many ecosystem services, but they can also be a concern in bringing new emergent diseases to humans. Although the taxonomy of mammals seems to be well known, we show that new species are continuously being discovered in the state. Therefore, continuous surveys using traditional and new technologies (eDNA, iDNA, drones), long-term population monitoring, investigation of the interface of human-wildlife conflict, and understanding of the unique ecosystem role played by mammals are future avenues for promoting sustainable green landscapes allied to human well-being in the state. The planting of forest or savanna corridors, particularly along with major river systems, in the plateau, controlling illegal hunting in the coastal areas, managing fire regimes in the Cerrado, and mitigating roadkill must be prioritized to protect this outstanding mammal diversity.

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Niche opportunity created by land cover change is driving the European hare invasion in the Neotropics

Cited by 5 publications

References 90 publications

Native forest and proximity to humans are stronger drivers of Brazilian cottontail habitat use than invasive European hare

Native forest and proximity to humans are stronger drivers of Brazilian cottontail habitat use than invasive European hare

Factors affecting spatiotemporal behaviour in the European brown hareLepus europaeus: a meta‐analysis

Mammals in São Paulo State: diversity, distribution, ecology, and conservation

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