Effects of Population Declines on Habitat Segregation and Activity Patterns of Rabbits and Hares in Doñana National Park, Spain

Juan F. Beltrán, Jaime R. Rau, Ramón C. Soriguer, Maura B. Kufner, Miguel Delibes and Francisco Carro
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Juan F. Beltrán: Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
Jaime R. Rau: Laboratorio de Ecología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad Los Lagos, Campus Osorno, Osorno 5290000, Chile
Ramón C. Soriguer: Departamento de Etología y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain
Maura B. Kufner: Center Dr. Ricardo Luti of Ecology and Renewable Natural Resources Research (CERNAR), National University of Córdoba, Córdoba X5000GYA, Argentina
Miguel Delibes: Departamento de Biología de la Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain
Francisco Carro: Departamento de Etología y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Competition, predation, and diseases are key factors shaping animal communities. In recent decades, lagomorphs in Europe have been impacted by virus-borne diseases that have caused substantial declines in their populations and, subsequently, in many of their predators. We examined activity and habitat-use patterns of sympatric European rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) and Iberian hares ( Lepus granatensis R.) in Doñana National Park, Spain, (DNP) during two periods of disease outbreak. In the first period (1984–1985), fecal pellet counts and roadside counts indicated that lagomorph species were segregated, with rabbits occurring in scrublands and hares in marshlands. Both species also occupied rush and fern belt ecotones. Roadside counts at sunrise, midday, sunset, and midnight revealed that rabbits and hares had the same activity patterns (crepuscular and nocturnal) in the zone of sympatry. During the second period (2005–2016), roadside counts showed that rabbits and hares were mainly nocturnal in scrublands and border marshlands. Hares occupied scrublands; a habitat previously occupied only by rabbits. These results are interpreted in light of the competition theory and predation pressure. The disease-caused decline of rabbits has likely favored hares that moved into scrublands, a vegetation type previously occupied exclusively by rabbits. The decline of rabbits in DNP has also caused the almost disappearance of this area of the Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ), a rabbit specialist, thus enabling generalist predators to increase. Generalist predators have subsequently increased predation pressure on both rabbits and hares, causing them to switch to nocturnal activity.

Keywords: activity patterns; Lepus granatensis; population decline; niche; Oryctolagus cuniculus; roadside census; predator–prey relationships; spatio-temporal behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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