Title:

Predation risk, cover type, and group size in European rabbits in Doñana (SW Spain)

Creator:

Villafuerte, R. ; Moreno, S.

Place of publishing:

Białowieża

Date issued/created:

1997

Description:

As European rabbits Oryctolagus caniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) in SW Spain fece high predation pressure, some antipredator tactics are expected. Authors examined rabbit group size in relation to the safety of the cover (sparse or dense), and the proximity to shrub cover. Stem density influenced the distanse rabbits ventured from shrub; rabbits ventured greater distance when stem density in cover was higher. Rabbit group size was related to the distance to cover; solitary animals remained closer protective cover, whereas rabbits in groups (≥3 animals) foraged further from cover. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the formation of rabbit groups is related to defense against predation, and that group size is influenced by risk of perception.

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

group size ; habitat structure ; Oryctolagus caniculus ; predation risk ; rabbits ; size ; Spain ; królik

Relation:

Acta Theriologica

Volume:

42

Issue:

2

Start page:

225

End page:

230

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

PDF

Resource Identifier:

10.4098/AT.arch.97-23

Source:

click here to follow the link

Language:

eng ; Sum. eng.

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Free Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. May be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms

Digitizing institution:

Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences

Projects co-financed by:

Programme Innovative Economy, 2010-2014, Priority Axis 2. R&D infrastructure ; European Union. European Regional Development Fund

Access:

Open