Skip to main content
Log in

Effect of vegetation type and environmental factors on European wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus counts in a southern Portuguese montado

  • Published:
Acta Theriologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study assesses the effect of vegetation and variables related to weather and light conditions on the efficacy of rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) counts carried out in the south of Portugal. Counts were carried out in two years using driven line transects, and correlated with vegetation type and the variables using generalised linear models. The offset was a surveyed area estimated using Distance Sampling Theory as a means of correcting for detectability bias. More rabbits were observed in dense vegetation during day-time counts and in crops during night-time counts. In 1998, day-time counts were higher with higher average daily temperatures, whilst the night-time counts were higher with higher minimum daily temperatures. In 1999, day-time counts decreased with the amount of rainfall in the previous month, and the night-time counts decreased with the accumulated rainfall in the previous two months and with the higher wind speeds. In order to increase efficacy, counts should be carried out either at dawn or at dusk during the post-breeding season, and with greater intensity in dense scrub or open vegetation with high tree cover. During the breeding season and winter, counts should be carried out after dusk and with greater intensity in arable crops.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alves P. C. and Moreno S. 1996. Study of the reproduction of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Portugal. Revista Florestal 91: 149–166. [In Portuguese]

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell A. C., Byrne P. M. and Watson S. 1999. The effect of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) grazing damage on the growth, botanical composition and yield of a ryegrass re-seed. Annals of Applied Biology 1351: 417–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Béltran J. F. 1991. Temporal abundance pattern of the wild rabbit in Donna, SW Spain. Mammalia 554: 591–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckland S. T. 1985. Perpendicular distance models for line transect sampling. Biometrics 41: 177–195.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buckland S. T., Anderson D. R., Burnham K. P. and Laake J. L. 1993. Distance sampling. Estimating abundance of biological populations. Chapman and Hall, London: 1–446.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugalho J. F. F. and Cipriano R. 1999. The assessment of the importance of hunting in Portugal through a query to hunters. Expresso (Dossiers promocionais) 1408: 6–7. [In Portuguese]

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnham K. P. and Anderson D. R. 1998. Model selection and inference. A practical information--theoretic approach. Springer-Verlag, Berlin: 1–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho J. C. S. and Bugalho J. F. F. 1986. Dégats du lapin de garenne au Portugal. [In: Proceedings of the Symposium International «Le lapin dans la chasse, l’agriculture et la sylviculture»]. Conseil International de la Chasse et de la Conservation du Gibier, Montpellier: 45–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapuis J. L. 1986. Preferences alimentaires du lapin de garenne,Oryctolagus cuniculus, dans diferents types d’habitats. [In: Proceedings of the Symposium International «Le lapin dans la chasse, l’agriculture et la sylviculture»]. Conseil International de la Chasse et de la Conservation du Gibier, Montpellier: 94–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser K. W. 1992. Emergence behaviour of rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus, in Central Otago, New Zealand. Journal of Zoology, London 228: 615–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullagar P. J. 1981. Methods for studying the behaviour of rabbits in a 33 ha enclosure at Camberra and under natural conditions at Calindary, N.S.W. [In: Proceedings of the World Lagomorph Conference, Guelph, University of Guelph, 1979. K. Myers and C. D. MacInnes, eds]. University of Guelph, Ontario: 240–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gates C. E. 1979. Line transect and related issues. [In: Sampling biological populations. R. M. Cormack, G. P. Patil and D. S. Robson, eds]. International Co-operative Publishing House, Fairland: 71–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genstat 5 Committee 1993. Genstat 5 Reference Manual. Claredon Press, Oxford: 1–796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibb J. A., Ward C. P. and Ward G. D. 1978. Natural control of a population of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) for ten years in the Kourdrau exclosure. DSRI Bulletin 223: 1–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibb J. A. 1993. Sociality, time and space in a sparse population of rabbitsOryctolagus cuniculus. Journal of Zoology, London 229: 581–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurlbert S. T. 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecological Monographs 542: 187–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iborra O., Arthur C. P. and Bayle P. 1990. Importance trophique du lapin de garenne pour les grandes rapaces provençaux. Vie Milieu 402: 177–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaksic F. M. and Fuentes E. R. 1980. Why are native herbs in the Chilean matorral more abundant beneath bushes: microclimate or grazing? Journal of Ecology 68: 665–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaksic F. M. and Soriguer R. C. 1981. Predation upon the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Mediterrranean habitats of Chile and Spain: a comparative analysis. Journal of Animal Ecology 50: 269–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King D. R. and Wheeler S. H. 1981. Ecology of the rabbit in western Australia. [In: Proceedings of the World Lagomorph Conference, Guelph, University of Guelph, 1979. K. Myers and C. D. MacInnes, eds]. University of Guelph, Ontario: 858–869.

    Google Scholar 

  • King D. R., Wheeler S. H. and Schmidt G. L. 1983. Population fluctuations and reproduction of rabbits in a pastoral area on the coast north of Carnarvon, W.A. Wildlife Research 10: 97–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kline P. D. 1965. Factors influencing roadside counts of cottontails. The Journal of Wildlife Management 294: 665–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb H. H. 1992. The effect of moonlight on activity in the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of Zoology, London 228: 661–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Künkele J. and von Holst D. 1996. Natal dispersal in the European wild rabbit. Animal Behaviour 51: 1047–1059.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins H., Milne J. A. and Rego F. 2002. Seasonal and spatial variation in the diet of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) in Portugal. Journal of Zoology, London: 258: 395–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCullagh P. and Nelder J. A. 1991. Generalized linear models. Monographs on Statistics and Applied Probability 37. Chapman and Hall, Cambridge: 1–511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moller H., Newton K. and McKinlay B. 1996. Day-time transect counts to measure abundance of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of Zoology, London 239: 406–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno S. and Villafuerte R. 1995. Traditional management of scrubland for the conservation of rabbit and their predators in Doana National Park Spain. Biological Conservation 731: 81–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno S., Villafuerte R. and Delibes M. 1996. Cover is safe during the day but dangerous at night: the use of vegetation by European wild rabbits. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1656–1660.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers K. and Poole W. E. 1961. A study of the biology of the wild rabbit,Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in confined populations. II. The effects of season and population increase in behaviour. Wildlife Research 6: 1–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organizatier National de la Chasse 1984. Méthode d’inventaire des dégâts de lapin sur cultures agricoles. Bulletin Mensuel 86(20): 1–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontiveros D. and Pleguezuelos J. M. 2000. Influence of prey densities in the distribution and breeding success of Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus): management implications. Biological Conservation 931: 19–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orueta J. F., Aranda Y., Gomez T. and Tapia G. G. 1995. Evolución annual de las densidades de una población de conejo (Oryctolagus cuniculus) en ambiente semiárido. [In: Proceedings of the II Jornadas Españolas de Conservación y Estudio de Mamíferos, Zaragoza, 1994]. SECEM, Saragoza: 1–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palomares F. and Delibes M. 1991. Alimentation del meloncillo (Herpestes ichneumon) y de la gineta (Genetta genetta) en la reserva biologia de Doana, SO de la Peninsula Ibérica. Doana, Acta Vertebrata 181: 5–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palomares F., Calzada J. and Revilla E. 1996. El manejo del habitat y la abundancia de conejos: diferencias entre dos areas potencialmente identicas. Revista Florestal 91: 201–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palomares F. and Delibes M. 1997. Predation upon European rabbits and their use of open and closed patches in Mediterranean habitats. Oikos 802: 407–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers P. M. 1981. Ecology of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) in Mediterranean habitats. II. Distribution in the landscape of the Camargue, S. France. Journal of Applied Ecology 18: 355–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosário L., Marques A., Bugalho M. F. and Lopes F. 1983. Management plan for Tapada Pequena de Vila Viçosa. Ministério da Agricultura Comércio e Pescas — Direcç⩝ Geral das Florestas, Lisbon: 1–67. [In Portuguese]

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley I. 1957. Observations on evening rabbit activity in relation to weather and sunset. Wildlife Research 2: 168–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soriguer R. C. and Rogers P. M. 1981. The European wild rabbit in Mediterranean Spain. [In: Proceedings of the World Lagomorph Conference, University of Guelph, Guelph, 1979. K. Myers and C. D. MacInnes, eds]. University of Guelph, Ontario: 600–613.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southern H. N. 1940. The ecology and the population dynamics of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Annals of Applied Biology 27: 509–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens W. F. and Weisbrod A. R. 1981. The biology of the European rabbit on San Juan Island, Washington, U.S.A. [In: Proceedings of the World Lagomorph Conference, Guelph, University of Guelph, 1979. K. Myers and C. D. MacInnes eds]. University of Guelph, Ontario: 870–879.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas L., Laake J. L., Derry J. F., Buckland S. T., Borchers D. L., Anderson D. R., Burnham K. P., Strindberg S., Hedley S. L., Bust M. L., Marques F., Pollard J. H. and Fewster R. M. 1998. Distance 3.5. Research Unit for wildlife population assessment. University of St. Andrews, UK: 1–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson H.V. 1994. The rabbit in Britain. [In: The European rabbit. The history and biology of a successful colonizer. H. V. Thompson and C. M. King, eds]. Oxford University Press, London: 83–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Villafuerte R., Kufner M. B., Delibes M. and Moreno S. 1993. Environmental factors influencing the seasonal daily activity of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a Mediterranean area. Mammalia 573: 341–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villafuerte R. and Moreno S. 1997. Predation risk, cover type, and group size in European rabbits in Doana, SW Spain. Acta Theriologica 422: 225–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallage-Drees J. M. 1989. A field study on seasonal changes in the circadian activity of rabbits. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 54: 22–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler S. H. and King D. R. 1985. The European rabbit in south-western Australia. II. Reproduction. Wildlife Research 12: 197–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood D. H. 1980. The demography of a rabbit population in an arid region of New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Animal Ecology 49: 55–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helena Martins.

Additional information

Associate Editor was Leszek Rychlik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martins, H., Barbosa, H., Hodgson, M. et al. Effect of vegetation type and environmental factors on European wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus counts in a southern Portuguese montado. Acta Theriol 48, 385–398 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03194177

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03194177

Key words

Navigation