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Santoro S, Aguayo-Adán JA, Rouco C. Comparison of the Impact between Classical and Novel Strains of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease on Wild Rabbit Populations in Spain. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050728. [PMID: 37237540 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The outbreaks of two strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) (GI.1 and GI.2) in the Iberian Peninsula have caused substantial economic losses in commercial rabbitries and have affected the conservation of rabbit-sensitive predators due to the dramatic decline of their natural populations. However, the assessment of the impact of both RHD strains on wild rabbit populations has been limited to a few small-scale studies. Little is known about the overall impact within its native range. In this study, we described and compared the effects of GI.1 and GI.2 countrywide by using time series of hunting bag data widely available across the country and compared their trend during the first eight years after the first outbreak of GI.1 (i.e., 1998) and GI.2 (i.e., 2011), respectively. We used Gaussian generalised additive models (GAM) with the number of hunted rabbits as the response variable and year as the predictor to evaluate the non-linear temporal dynamics of the population at the national and regional community levels. The first GI.1 caused a population decline of around 53%, affecting most Spanish regional communities where the disease occurred. The positive trend observed after GI.1 in Spain ended with the initial outbreak of GI.2, which did not appear to cause a national population decline. In contrast, we found significant variability in the rabbit population trend among regional communities, where some increased, and others decreased. Such a disparity is unlikely to be explained by a single factor; rather, it appears to result from several factors, such as climatic conditions, host resistance improvement, virulence attenuation, or population density. Our study suggests that a national comprehensive hunting bag series could aid in elucidating the differences in the impact of emerging diseases on a large scale. Future research should focus on national longitudinal serological studies to shed light on the immunological status of rabbit populations in different regions to better understand the evolution of RHD strains and the resistance gained by the wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Santoro
- Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Aguayo-Adán
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, 14006 Códoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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2
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Cubas J, Kluge J, Bello-Rodríguez V, del Arco MJ, Cooke B, González-Mancebo JM. Can habitat type predict the abundance of the European rabbits on oceanic islands? COMMUNITY ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42974-021-00039-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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3
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Ziege M, Theodorou P, Jüngling H, Merker S, Plath M, Streit B, Lerp H. Population genetics of the European rabbit along a rural-to-urban gradient. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2448. [PMID: 32051442 PMCID: PMC7015939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is declining in large parts of Europe but populations in some German cities remained so far unaffected by this decline. The question arises of how urbanization affects patterns of population genetic variation and differentiation in German rabbit populations, as urban habitat fragmentation may result in altered meta-population dynamics. To address this question, we used microsatellite markers to genotype rabbit populations occurring along a rural-to-urban gradient in and around the city of Frankfurt, Germany. We found no effect of urbanization on allelic richness. However, the observed heterozygosity was significantly higher in urban than rural populations and also the inbreeding coefficients were lower, most likely reflecting the small population sizes and possibly on-going loss of genetic diversity in structurally impoverished rural areas. Global FST and G'ST-values suggest moderate but significant differentiation between populations. Multiple matrix regression with randomization ascribed this differentiation to isolation-by-environment rather than isolation-by-distance. Analyses of migration rates revealed asymmetrical gene flow, which was higher from rural into urban populations than vice versa and may again reflect intensified agricultural land-use practices in rural areas. We discuss that populations inhabiting urban areas will likely play an important role in the future distribution of European rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madlen Ziege
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Am Mühlenberg 3, D-14476, Potsdam, Golm, Germany.
- University of Frankfurt, Department of Ecology & Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Panagiotis Theodorou
- Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology, General Zoology, Hoher Weg 8, D-06120, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - Hannah Jüngling
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Clamecystraße 12, D-63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Stefan Merker
- State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Department of Zoology, Rosenstein 1, D-70191, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Martin Plath
- Northwest A&F University, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Bruno Streit
- University of Frankfurt, Department of Ecology & Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hannes Lerp
- Museum Wiesbaden, Natural History Collections, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2, D-65185, Wiesbaden, Germany
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Guerrero-Casado J, Ström H, Hilström L, Prada LM, Carpio AJ, Tortosa FS. Assessment of the suitability of latrine counts as an indirect method by which to estimate the abundance of European rabbit populations at high and low abundance. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1349-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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5
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Machado R, Santos P. Does wild rabbit population size affect connectivity? WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2019.12068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
<p>Wild rabbit is a relevant species in the Iberian Peninsula due to its ecological and economic roles. Conservationists and game managers therefore have a shared interest in assuring the existence of resilient and sustainable populations. Although management principles and guidelines are mostly known and understood, often the results are not as good as expected. Local abundance can vary significantly even in short periods, while the colonisation of adjacent territories is uncommon, probably due to the territorial behaviour of the species. Aware that the foundation of nuclei requires interaction among individuals, we hypothesised that rabbit abundance plays a significant part in population connectivity. In order to find out whether the population size affects nuclei connectivity, we conducted a graph theory-based connectivity analysis. The results confirm that connectivity grows with rabbit abundance, but only to a certain degree, and there is a spatial separation of the nuclei regardless of the population size. These outcomes suggest that a comprehensive wild rabbit population increment plan should address both the abundance and spatial distribution, but should not aim at achieving a continuous distribution of wild rabbit with constant or similar abundance. Regarding specific management actions, we argue that in restocking operations new nuclei should be located within dispersal range from the existing ones to promote inter-nuclei connectivity, but not too close, as the nuclei segregation tendency is likely to persist due to the species’ territoriality.</p>
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Encarnação C, Medinas D, Alves PC, Mira A. Does short‐term habitat management for the European rabbit (
Oryctolagus cuniculus
) have lasting effects? Ecol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.1064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Encarnação
- Unidade de Biologia da Conservação, Departamento de BiologiaUniversidade de Évora Évora Portugal
- CIBIO/UE—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO, Polo de ÉvoraUniversidade de Évora Évora Portugal
| | - Denis Medinas
- Unidade de Biologia da Conservação, Departamento de BiologiaUniversidade de Évora Évora Portugal
- CIBIO/UE—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO, Polo de ÉvoraUniversidade de Évora Évora Portugal
| | - Paulo Célio Alves
- Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências do Porto and CIBIO—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIOUniversidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
| | - António Mira
- Unidade de Biologia da Conservação, Departamento de BiologiaUniversidade de Évora Évora Portugal
- CIBIO/UE—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO, Polo de ÉvoraUniversidade de Évora Évora Portugal
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7
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Verwijmeren M, Smit C, Bautista S, Wassen MJ, Rietkerk M. Combined Grazing and Drought Stress Alter the Outcome of Nurse: Beneficiary Interactions in a Semi-arid Ecosystem. Ecosystems 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-019-00336-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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8
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Adaptive diversification between the classic rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and the RHDVa isolates: A genome-wide perspective. Microb Pathog 2017; 110:527-532. [PMID: 28743597 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a highly infectious pathogen that causes high mortality in wild and domestic rabbits. RHDV could be divided into two subtypes, classic RHDV and RHDVa, which present clear genetic, antigenic, and epidemiological differences. To further understand the nature of the diversity, we performed a genome-wide evolutionary study on the classic RHDV and RHDVa isolates. The results show that RHDV had experienced adaptive diversification with the dividing process of these subtypes. Furthermore, amino acid changes relevant to the adaptive diversification mainly cluster in viral capsid protein VP60. These results might be beneficial for a further understanding the function of VP60 and provide helpful hints for the genetic basis of RHDV emergence and re-emergence.
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Rocha G, Alda F, Pagés A, Merchán T. Experimental transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) from rabbit to wild mice (Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus) under laboratory conditions. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 47:94-98. [PMID: 27871816 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly lethal and contagious viral disease that produces haemorrhagic lesions in liver and lungs of domestic and wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). This study investigates the transmission of RHDV from infected rabbits to mice, based on the detection of viral RNA. Sixteen wild mice (Mus spretus, n=12 and Apodemus sylvaticus, n=4) were put in contact with nine rabbits inoculated with RHDV. No mice died following exposure to RHDV-infected rabbits or developed macroscopic haemorrhagic lesions. On the fourth day of contact, RHDV was detected by RT-PCR in the faeces of three of the four mice killed and in the livers of two of them. Three days after contact period with the inoculated rabbits (7th day of the experiment), RHDV was detected by RT-PCR in 100% (n=4) of the faeces and 50% (n=2) of the livers of euthanized animals. Ten days after contact period (14th day of the experiment), RHDV was not detected in the faeces or liver from any of the mice euthanized. However, 64days after contact period, RHDV was detected in the faeces of one mouse (1 of 4). We demonstrate cross-species transmission of RHDV-RNA from rabbit to rodent and the capability of RHDV-RNA to persist in mice for at least 10days after contact, and potentially up to two months, although viral replication within the rodent and/or infectivity was not evaluated in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Rocha
- Agroforestry Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - Fernando Alda
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; Louisiana State University, Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Albert Pagés
- Laboratorios Hipra S.A., La Selva, 135, 17170 Amer, Girona, Spain; Plaza del Mercado, 10, 17853 Tortella, Girona, Spain
| | - Tomás Merchán
- Agroforestry Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres, Spain
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10
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Monterroso P, Garrote G, Serronha A, Santos E, Delibes-Mateos M, Abrantes J, Perez de Ayala R, Silvestre F, Carvalho J, Vasco I, Lopes AM, Maio E, Magalhães MJ, Mills LS, Esteves PJ, Simón MÁ, Alves PC. Disease-mediated bottom-up regulation: An emergent virus affects a keystone prey, and alters the dynamics of trophic webs. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36072. [PMID: 27796353 PMCID: PMC5086860 DOI: 10.1038/srep36072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergent diseases may alter the structure and functioning of ecosystems by creating new biotic interactions and modifying existing ones, producing cascading processes along trophic webs. Recently, a new variant of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2 or RHDVb) arguably caused widespread declines in a keystone prey in Mediterranean ecosystems - the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We quantitatively assess the impact of RHDV2 on natural rabbit populations and in two endangered apex predator populations: the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the Spanish Imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). We found 60–70% declines in rabbit populations, followed by decreases of 65.7% in Iberian lynx and 45.5% in Spanish Imperial eagle fecundities. A revision of the web of trophic interactions among rabbits and their dependent predators suggests that RHDV2 acts as a keystone species, and may steer Mediterranean ecosystems to management-dependent alternative states, dominated by simplified mesopredator communities. This model system stresses the importance of diseases as functional players in the dynamics of trophic webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Monterroso
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Germán Garrote
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/Johan G. Gutenberg. 1, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Serronha
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Emídio Santos
- Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, Av. da República, 161050-191, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel Delibes-Mateos
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,IESA-CSIC, Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados, Plz Campo Santo de los Mártires. 7, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Fernando Silvestre
- Fundación CBD-Habitat, C/ Gustavo Fernández Balbuena 2, Entreplanta, Oficina A, 28002, Madrid, Spain
| | - João Carvalho
- ANPC, Associação Nacional Proprietários Rurais, Gestão Cinegética e Biodiversidade, R. Mestre Lima de Freitas, 1-5°, 1549-012, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Vasco
- Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, Av. da República, 161050-191, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisa Maio
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Maria J Magalhães
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - L Scott Mills
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Ángel Simón
- Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía, C/ Doctor Eduardo García-Triviño López 15, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Paulo C Alves
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.,Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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Guerrero-Casado J, Carpio AJ, Tortosa FS. Recent negative trends of wild rabbit populations in southern Spain after the arrival of the new variant of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus RHDV2. Mamm Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Carpio AJ, Guerrero-Casado J, Ruiz-Aizpurua L, Vicente J, Tortosa FS. The high abundance of wild ungulates in a Mediterranean region: is this compatible with the European rabbit? WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.13113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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13
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Santoro S, Pacios I, Moreno S, Bertó-Moran A, Rouco C. Multi-event capture-recapture modeling of host-pathogen dynamics among European rabbit populations exposed to myxoma and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Viruses: common and heterogeneous patterns. Vet Res 2014; 45:39. [PMID: 24708296 PMCID: PMC4021418 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-45-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Host-pathogen epidemiological processes are often unclear due both to their complexity and over-simplistic approaches used to quantify them. We applied a multi-event capture-recapture procedure on two years of data from three rabbit populations to test hypotheses about the effects on survival of, and the dynamics of host immunity to, both myxoma virus and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (MV and RHDV). Although the populations shared the same climatic and management conditions, MV and RHDV dynamics varied greatly among them; MV and RHDV seroprevalences were positively related to density in one population, but RHDV seroprevalence was negatively related to density in another. In addition, (i) juvenile survival was most often negatively related to seropositivity, (ii) RHDV seropositives never had considerably higher survival, and (iii) seroconversion to seropositivity was more likely than the reverse. We suggest seropositivity affects survival depending on trade-offs among antibody protection, immunosuppression and virus lethality. Negative effects of seropositivity might be greater on juveniles due to their immature immune system. Also, while RHDV directly affects survival through the hemorrhagic syndrome, MV lack of direct lethal effects means that interactions influencing survival are likely to be more complex. Multi-event modeling allowed us to quantify patterns of host-pathogen dynamics otherwise difficult to discern. Such an approach offers a promising tool to shed light on causative mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Carlos Rouco
- Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation Department, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain.
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Delibes-Mateos M, Ferreira C, Rouco C, Villafuerte R, Barrio IC. Conservationists, hunters and farmers: the European rabbit O
ryctolagus cuniculus
management conflict in the Iberian Peninsula. Mamm Rev 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Delibes-Mateos
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC; CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ronda de Toledo s/n 13071 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Catarina Ferreira
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC; CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ronda de Toledo s/n 13071 Ciudad Real Spain
- CIBIO; Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos; Universidade do Porto; Campus Agrário de Vairão 4485-661 Vairão Portugal
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Ecology and Wildlife Epidemiology; Landcare Research; PO Box 282 9340 Alexandra New Zealand
| | - Rafael Villafuerte
- Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA-CSIC); Campo Santo de los Mártires 7 14004 Córdoba Spain
- Departamento de Zoología; Campus de Rabanales; Universidad de Córdoba; 14071 Córdoba Spain
| | - Isabel Catalán Barrio
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; CW405 Biological Sciences Building Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecologia (CSIC); Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria s/n PO box 64 22700 Jaca Spain
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15
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Mutze G, Cooke B, Lethbridge M, Jennings S. A rapid survey method for estimating population density of European rabbits living in native vegetation. RANGELAND JOURNAL 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/rj13117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
European rabbits are severe environmental pests in Australia but reporting of density-damage relationships has been hindered by a lack of simple methods to estimate the density of rabbit populations in native vegetation. A methodology for quantifying rabbit densities suitable for use in sparse populations of rabbits in conjunction with surveys of the condition of native vegetation is proposed. Dung pellets were counted in 11 629 regularly-spaced quadrats of 0.1 m2 in semiarid, coastal and cool-temperate areas of southern Australia. Mean pellet counts in latrines and the relationship between dung counts outside of latrines and the proportion of quadrats falling on latrines were quantified. This allowed density of dung pellets to be estimated by using a correction factor for latrines instead of attempting to count all pellets within quadrats that included parts of latrines. Rabbit density was calculated from pellet density based on mean pellet size, pellet breakdown rate and estimates of rabbits’ dry matter intake and digestive efficiency. Results were validated against estimates of rabbit density from long-term studies using a combination of spotlight transect counts and burrow entrance counts. The proposed methodology allows estimates of rabbit density in native vegetation to be obtained from just a few hours work and can be used in conjunction with surveys of the condition of native vegetation to quantify rabbit impacts. This methodology is seen as particularly useful in providing a tool to allow rabbit densities to be estimated and then compared with the thresholds, determined separately, at which damage occurs for given ecosystems.
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16
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Restocking a keystone species in a biodiversity hotspot: Recovering the European rabbit on a landscape scale. J Nat Conserv 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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17
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Godinho S, Mestre F, Ferreira JP, Machado R, Santos P. Effectiveness of habitat management in the recovery of low-density populations of wild rabbit. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-013-0738-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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European rabbit research in the Iberian Peninsula: state of the art and future perspectives. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-012-0664-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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FORDHAM DAMIENA, SINCLAIR RONG, PEACOCK DAVIDE, MUTZE GREGJ, KOVALISKI JOHN, CASSEY PHILLIP, CAPUCCI LORENZO, BROOK BARRYW. European rabbit survival and recruitment are linked to epidemiological and environmental conditions in their exotic range. AUSTRAL ECOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2011.02354.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Occupancy, colonization and extinction patterns of rabbit populations: implications for Iberian lynx conservation. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0599-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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21
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Cabezas S, Calvete C, Moreno S. Survival of translocated wild rabbits: importance of habitat, physiological and immune condition. Anim Conserv 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2011.00472.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Towards a standardized index of European rabbit abundance in Iberian Mediterranean habitats. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0524-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Donázar JA, Cortés-Avizanda A, Carrete M. Dietary shifts in two vultures after the demise of supplementary feeding stations: consequences of the EU sanitary legislation. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-009-0358-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Ferreira C, Paupério J, Alves PC. The usefulness of field data and hunting statistics in the assessment of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) conservation status in Portugal. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2010. [DOI: 10.1071/wr09137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context. The wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a keystone species from the Iberian Peninsula that has suffered a strong decline in Spain during the past decades. Data on historical and current population trends in Portugal are virtually non-existent.
Aims. To investigate changes in rabbit abundance at the national level so as to inform conservation status assessments, and to evaluate the usefulness of hunting bags as a rabbit abundance index.
Methods. Field surveys based on latrine counts in linear transects were performed in two periods (1995 and 2002) to assess variation in population abundance. Hunting bags were also analysed for the same period to verify whether these data showed the same trends. General trends of rabbit abundance were estimated using TRIM software.
Key results. Field data revealed that most of the sampling units across Portugal have low abundances, despite the observation of local high-density spots. A population reduction of 27% was estimated. Although some fluctuations were observed in hunting bags, global results obtained from these data suggest a slightly increasing trend in rabbit abundance.
Conclusions. A discrepancy between field data and hunting statistics was observed. Because hunting bags may be influenced by sporadic management operations undertaken by hunters and the lack of systematic procedures in data collection, we believe that hunting statistics are not representative of real changes in rabbit populations. Thus, observed reduction in rabbit abundance estimated by field data, combined with the high initial morbidity due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) after 1988 and the potential for continuing decline in population trends because of other factors, led to an inference of a reduction of >30% in rabbit abundance in Portugal during the past decade.
Implications. Taking into account the estimated reduction, the species’ biology and socioeconomic implications, wild rabbit in Portugal was listed in 2005 in the Near Threatened category under IUCN criteria. Because of its ecological and economic importance, this classification prompted the definition of several conservation actions aimed at the recovery of the species in Portugal.
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DELIBES-MATEOS MIGUEL, FERRERAS PABLO, VILLAFUERTE RAFAEL. European rabbit population trends and associated factors: a review of the situation in the Iberian Peninsula. Mamm Rev 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2009.00140.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Henning J, Pfeiffer DU, Davies PR, Stevenson MA, Meers J. Mortality patterns over 3 years in a sparse population of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in New Zealand, with an emphasis on rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-008-0187-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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