Spring and autumn habitat preferences of active European hares (Lepus europaeus) in an agricultural area with low hare density

Abstract

The number of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) has been declining throughout much of Europe since the 1960s. Consequently, many studies have focused on analysing habitat selection of European hares in order to improve the suitability of the habitat for this species. Habitat preferences of European hares are known to be affected by hare density, but most studies have been conducted in agricultural areas where hare densities were medium to high. Finding habitat preferences at high densities is difficult as most available habitats are occupied. In addition, in agricultural areas, field size might influence the hares' habitat selection because it affects the distribution and availability of certain habitat types. However, most studies relate to areas with large field sizes. In this study, we analysed the habitat preferences of European hares in spring and autumn during the activity period, in the early hours of the night, in an agricultural area with low hare density and small average field size using Chesson's electivity index. Moreover, we focused on the question whether two different habitat classifications varying in their specificity might cause contradictory results regarding European hares' habitat preferences. Our results show that in this agricultural area with low hare density, European hares avoided several habitat types which were preferred in other study areas with higher hare densities. Therefore, we assume that hare density has an influence on the species' habitat selection. In contrast, the small average field size of our study area seemed not to have an effect on hare habitat preference. Furthermore, by pooling habitat types into broader groups, substantial information was lost in some categories. Hence, for some categories, e.g. grassland or agricultural crop land, more detail might be needed than for others, such as urban areas, when analysing hares' habitat selection. In conclusion, our results imply that studies on habitat preferences have to be conducted in areas with low hare density to be able to gain knowledge on the species' habitat requirement and hereinafter improve the suitability of the habitat for this species.

Lepus europaeus(Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

“…Since the 1960s populations of Lepus europaeus have been declining in many European countries, a result of multiple factors. A number of publications address possible reasons (e.g., Jennings et al 2006;Reichlin et al 2006;Reid and Montgomery 2007;Jensen 2009;Schai-Braun et al 2013). The primary causes suggested are intensification of agriculture with the loss of crop and landscape diversity (Tapper and Barnes 1986;Smith et al 2005) and disease.…”

Spatial interrelations between raccoons (Procyon lotor), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and ground-nesting birds in a Special Protection Area of Germany

“…Swampland was grouped into carrs, shrub swamps, and reed swamps. To calculate habitat preferences, we used Chesson's electivity index ɛ (Chesson 1983), which is an often used method for calculating habitat preferences (Krebs 1989;Pebsworth et al 2012;Cristescu et al 2013;Schai-Braun et al 2013). We chose this index because it guarantees a comparability of cases with different number of habitat types.…”

Occurrence of invasive mammals in southern Nahuel Huapi National Park

“…Our data suggest that hares exhibit crepuscular and nocturnal behavior which includes foraging, also found for this species in Europe (e.g. Holley 2001;Schai-Braun, Weber, et al 2012). Hares exhibited bimodal diel activity at the beginning and end of the night, and it appears that photoperiod regulates hares' daily activity (SchaiBraun, Rödel, et al 2012).…”