Factors affecting wild rabbit production in extensive breeding enclosures: how can we optimise efforts?

José Guerrero-Casado, Leire Ruiz-Aizpurua, Antonio J. Carpio, Francisco S. Tortosa
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2013.1259

Abstract

The declining rabbit population in the Iberian Peninsula has led hunters and authorities to rear rabbits in captivity systems for their subsequent release. One alternative method to intensive rabbitry systems is the use of extensive breeding enclosures, since they produce animals of greater quality for hunting and conservation purposes. However, some of the factors that affect rabbit production in breeding enclosures are still unknown. The present study used partial least squares regression (PLSR) to analyse the effects of plot size, scrub cover, slope, initial rabbit abundance, the resources needed to dig warrens, predation and proximity to other enclosures on rabbit abundance. The results of our study show a positive effect of the number of other fenced plots within a radius of 3 km, a positive relationship with the availability of optimal resources for building warrens and a positive influence of intermediate values of scrub cover. According to our results, to maximise rabbit production in the enclosures it would be advisable to concentrate the restocking effort by ensuring that the restocking plots are close to each other, thus avoiding isolated enclosures. Furthermore, the selection of plots with an appropriate scrub cover and high availability of elements that favour the construction of warrens, such as large stones, sloping land or tall shrubs, may optimise results.

Keywords

captive breeding; Oryctolagus cuniculus; extensive system; wild rabbit

Full Text:

PDF

References

Arenas A.J., Astorga R.J., García I., Varo A., Huerta B., Carbonero A., Cadenas R., Perea A. 2006. Captive Breeding of Wild Rabbits: Techniques and Population Dynamics. J. Wildlife Manage., 70: 1801-1804. doi:10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[1801:CBOWRT].0.CO;2

Barrio I.C., Bueno C.G., Tortosa F.S. 2009. Improving predictions of the location and use of warrens in sensitive rabbit populations. Anim. Conserv., 12: 426-433. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00268.x

Branco M., Ferrand N., Monnerot M. 2000. Phylogeography of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula inferred from RFLP analysis of the cytochrome bgene. Heredity, 85: 307-317. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2540.2000.00756.x

Cabezas S., Calvete C., Moreno S. 2011. Survival of translocated wild rabbits: importance of habitat, physiological and immune condition. Anim. Conserv., 14: 665-675. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2011.00472.x

Calvete C., Villafuerte R., Lucientes J., Osácar J.J. 1997. Effectiveness of traditional wild rabbit restocking in Spain. J. Zool., 241: 271-277.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb01957.x

Canfield R.H. 1941. Application of the line interception method in sampling range vegetation. J. Forest., 39: 388-394.

Carrascal L.M., Galván I., Gordo O. 2009. Partial least squares regression as an alternative to current regression methods used in ecology. Oikos, 118: 681-690. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2008.16881.x

Díez C., Pérez-Garrido J.A. 2003. El conejo de monte, pasado, presente y futuro. Mundo Ganadero, 160: 80-85. Available at: http://www.magrama.gob.es/ministerio/pags/biblioteca/revistas/pdf_MG/MG_2003_160_80_85.pdf Accessed July 2013.

Eriksson L., Johansson E., Kettaneh-Wold N., Wold S. 1999. Multiand Megavariate data analysis using projection methods (PCA&PLS). Umetrics, Umea, Sweden.

Fernández-de-Simón J., Díaz-Ruiz F., Cirilli F., Sánchez-Tortosa F., Villafuerte R., Delibes-Mateos D., Ferreras P. 2011. Towards a standardized index of European rabbit abundance in Iberian Mediterranean habitats. Eur. J. Wildlife Res., 57: 1091-1100.

doi:10.1007/s10344-011-0524-z

Ferreira C., Delibes-Mateos D. 2010. Wild Rabbit Management in the Iberian Peninsula: state of the art and future perspectives for Iberian lynx conservation. Wildlife Biol. Pract., 3: 48-66. doi:10.2461/wbp.lynx.4

González-Redondo P. 2010. Maternal behaviour in peripartum influences preweaning kit mortality in cage-bred wild rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 18: 91-102. doi:10.4995/WRS.2010.18.12

González-Redondo P., Zamora-Lozano M. 2008. Neonatal cannibalism in cage-bred wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Arch. Med. Vet., 40: 281-287. doi:10.4067/S0301-732X2008000300009

Horn B.K.P. 1981. Hill shading and the reflectance map. In Proc.: I.E.E.E., 69: 14-47. doi:10.1109/PROC.1981.11918

López-López P., García-Ripollés C., Aguilar J.M., García-López F., Verdejo J. 2006. Modelling breeding habitat preferences of Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) in relation to topography, disturbance, climate and land use at different spatial scales. J. Ornithol., 147: 97-106. doi:10.1007/s10336-005-0019-3

Martínez J.A., Serrano D., Zuberogoitia I. 2003. Predictive models of habitat preferences for the Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo: a multiscale approach. Ecography, 26: 21-26. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0587.2003.03368.x

Moseby K.E., Read J.L. 2006. The efficacy of feral cat, fox and rabbit exclusion fence designs for threatened species protection. Biol. Conserv., 127: 429-437. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.09.002

Mykytowycz R., Gambale S. 1965. A study of inter-warren activities and dispersal of wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), living in a 45-AC paddock. Wildlife Res., 10: 111-123. doi:10.1071/CWR9650111

Palomares F. 2003a. The negative impact of heavy rains on the abundance of a Mediterranean population of European rabbits. Mamm. Biol., 68: 224-234. doi:10.1078/1616-5047-00088

Palomares F. 2003b. Warren building by European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in relation to cover availability in a sandy area. J. Zool., 259: 63-67. doi:10.1017/S0952836902002960

Piorno V. 2007a. Gestión cinegética y conservación del conejo de monte. Universidad de Vigo. Available at: http://www.tecorportas.com/biblioteca/gestion/TESIS%20VPIORNO.pdf. Accessed July 2013.

Piorno V. 2007b. Obtención de conejos para la repoblación. In: Portas, T. d. (ed.), Claves para o éxito na mellora das pobaocions de Coello en Galicia, Spain, 54-61. Available at: http://www.club-caza.com/gestion/galiciaconejo/10capitulo9.pdf. Accessed July 2013.

Redpath S.M., Thirgood S. J. 1997. Birds of prey and Red Grouse. Stationery Office, London.

Rouco C., 2008. Restauración de las poblaciones de conejo de monte y mejora de la gestión para su conservación. Ph.D. Thesis, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.

Rouco C., Ferreras P., Castro F., Villafuerte R. 2008. The effect of exclusion of terrestrial predators on short-term survival of translocated European wild rabbits. Wildl. Res., 35: 625-632.doi:10.1071/WR07151

Sánchez-García C., Alonso M.E., Díez C., Pablos M., Gaudioso V.R. 2012. An aprroach to the statistics of wild lagomorph captive rearing for relasing purposes in Spain. World Rabbit Sci., 20: 49-56. doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1030

Umetrics 2012. User’s guide to Simca-P, Simca-P+, Version 13.0. Umeå, Sweeden. Available at: http://www.umetrics.com/Content/Document%20Library/Files/UserGuides-Tutorials/User%20Guide%20to%20SIMCA%2013.pdf. Accessed July 2013.

Villafuerte R., 1994. Riesgo de depredación y estrategias defensivas del conejo (Oryctolagus cuniculus) en el Parque Nacional de Doñana. Universidad de Córdoba, Spain.

Abstract Views

7975
Metrics Loading ...

Metrics powered by PLOS ALM


Bookmark and Share

 

Cited-By (articles included in Crossref)

This journal is a Crossref Cited-by Linking member. This list shows the references that citing the article automatically, if there are. For more information about the system please visit Crossref site

1. High rabbit abundance proves detrimental to the population growth rate in European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) extensive breeding enclosures
L. Ruiz-Aizpurua, J. Guerrero-Casado, A. J. Carpio, F. S. Tortosa
World Rabbit Science  vol: 22  issue: 3  first page: 179  year: 2014  
doi: 10.4995/wrs.2014.1668



 

 Universitat Politècnica de València

 

Official journal of the World Rabbit Science Association (WRSA)

 

e-ISSN: 1989-8886     ISSN: 1257-5011   https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs