Landscape ecology and wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) habitat modeling in the Mediterranean region

Landscape modification is one of the reasons for the decrease in rabbit populations. The objective of this study was to model wild rabbit habitat using landscape ecology to create a diagnosis method able to assess habitat quality at a large scale. Rabbit presence/absence was recorded on 536 plots of...

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Published inAnimal biodiversity and conservation Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 277 - 283
Main Authors Narce, M., Meloni, R., Beroud, T., Pléney, A., Ricci, J. C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona 01.01.2012
Subjects
Biodiversity and Ecology
Ecology, environment
Environmental Sciences
Habitat modeling
Landscape pattern
Life Sciences
Mediterranean region
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Remote sensing
Symbiosis
Wild rabbit
Europe, Mediterranean Region
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
REMOTE SENSING
FAUNA
HABITAT
FAUNE
WILD FAUNA
HABITATS
ECOLOGIE DU PAYSAGE
TELEDETECTION
FAUNE SAUVAGE
LAPIN
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Summary:Landscape modification is one of the reasons for the decrease in rabbit populations. The objective of this study was to model wild rabbit habitat using landscape ecology to create a diagnosis method able to assess habitat quality at a large scale. Rabbit presence/absence was recorded on 536 plots of 1 ha. Spotlight transect counts indicated a low relative abundance (KIA = 2.3 rabbits/km). We produced a land use map with metric precision using remote sensing. Water, bare soil, herbaceous, shrubs and trees were identified. Landscape structure and diversity were evaluated using variables available in FRAGSTATS. A logistic regression was performed to assess the link between rabbit presence/absence and landscape structure. Our results indicate that a suitable habitat has a high diversity, a medium number of patches and a small proportion of shrubs. These results could be used to diagnose the landscape prior to any management action to enhance rabbit populations and conversely be helpful as a tool of integrated control in the cases of local outbreaks with agricultural damages.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1578-665X
2014-928X
DOI:10.32800/abc.2012.35.0277