Background:The European rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus L.1758)was introduced into different regions of the world,generating significant trade‑offs that critically impacted native vegetation.Here,we evaluate the rabbit’...Background:The European rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus L.1758)was introduced into different regions of the world,generating significant trade‑offs that critically impacted native vegetation.Here,we evaluate the rabbit’s forage intakes in three vegetation types(forests,shrublands,and grasslands)along the four seasons in a temperate forest landscape in Southern Patagonia and discuss the potential threats over native vegetation.We formulated the following questions:(i)what is the forage offer at each vegetation type?(ii)what is the rabbit’s forage intake and how it varied across the seasons along the year?and(iii)which vegetation types and plant life forms were more used according to the rabbit’s forage intakes?Methods:We censused understory vegetation to characterize the forage offer at each vegetation type and determined seasonal dietary intakes using microhistological analysis of pellets.The plant species identified in the field were grouped according to life form classes(tree regeneration,shrubs,forbs,graminoids,orchids,ferns,bryophytes,and hemiparasites).Data were analysed through uni‑and multi‑variate analyses,determining relationships between forage offer and the rabbit’s forage intakes.Results:Forage intakes revealed changes in plant life form consumption across vegetation types,where intake pressure was considerably different for tree regeneration(p=0.001),graminoids(p=0.001),and hemiparasites(p=0.001).Besides,significant changes in consumption among seasons were detected for shrubs(p=0.001),ferns(p=0.030),and hemiparasites(p=0.002).Although many species play an important role in the rabbit’s forage intake networks(e.g.,Chiliotrichum diffusum,Holcus lanatus),the strongest intake linkages were found in exotic grasses(e.g.,Poa pratensis and Festuca sp.),native hemiparasites(e.g.,Misodendrum sp.),native shrubs(e.g.,Empetrum rubrum),and native trees(e.g.,Nothofagus sp.).The summer and autumn seasons presented higher intake compared to the winter and spring seasons.Furthermore,hemiparasites intake(e.g.,Misodendrum sp.)suggests that rabbits utilize different forage sources depending on the vegetation types.Conclusions:Rabbits regularly inhabit the forest,even though it is not their preferred vegetation type to live.Rabbit management entails isolating regions that are more favourable to intake and emphasizing the year’s season for rabbit control efforts.展开更多
Introduction:Huemul(Hippocamelus bisulcus Molina)is the most threatened flag species of Southern Patagonia,where conservation efforts were not effective to avoid the retraction of its distribution area.Habitat quality...Introduction:Huemul(Hippocamelus bisulcus Molina)is the most threatened flag species of Southern Patagonia,where conservation efforts were not effective to avoid the retraction of its distribution area.Habitat quality modeling can assist to design better management strategies for regional conservation planning.The objective was to elaborate one habitat suitability map for huemul,defining the environmental characteristics at landscape level,and determining the distribution of the suitable habitat inside the current natural reserve network.Methods:We used a database of 453 records and explored 40 potential explanatory variables(climate,topographic,and landscape variables including human-related ones)to develop one habitat suitability map using the Environmental Niche Factor Analysis(ENFA)for Santa Cruz province(Argentina).We combined the outputs in a GIS project using different shapes,including the current natural reserve network.Results:We defined the potential habitat for huemul,where forest edges and ecotone zones(e.g.,mainly alpine environments)were the most important environmental variables,as well as some forest types(e.g.,Nothofagus pumilio).Habitat losses were found in the extreme potential distribution areas(northern and southern areas),probably related to the increasing ranch activities.The current natural reserve network maintains approximately half of the huemul potential habitat in Santa Cruz province,where National Parks presented the similar conservation importance than the Provincial natural reserves.Conclusions:Habitat suitability model for huemul can be used as a decision support system for new management strategies at different landscape levels to improve the current conservation efforts.展开更多
文摘Background:The European rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus L.1758)was introduced into different regions of the world,generating significant trade‑offs that critically impacted native vegetation.Here,we evaluate the rabbit’s forage intakes in three vegetation types(forests,shrublands,and grasslands)along the four seasons in a temperate forest landscape in Southern Patagonia and discuss the potential threats over native vegetation.We formulated the following questions:(i)what is the forage offer at each vegetation type?(ii)what is the rabbit’s forage intake and how it varied across the seasons along the year?and(iii)which vegetation types and plant life forms were more used according to the rabbit’s forage intakes?Methods:We censused understory vegetation to characterize the forage offer at each vegetation type and determined seasonal dietary intakes using microhistological analysis of pellets.The plant species identified in the field were grouped according to life form classes(tree regeneration,shrubs,forbs,graminoids,orchids,ferns,bryophytes,and hemiparasites).Data were analysed through uni‑and multi‑variate analyses,determining relationships between forage offer and the rabbit’s forage intakes.Results:Forage intakes revealed changes in plant life form consumption across vegetation types,where intake pressure was considerably different for tree regeneration(p=0.001),graminoids(p=0.001),and hemiparasites(p=0.001).Besides,significant changes in consumption among seasons were detected for shrubs(p=0.001),ferns(p=0.030),and hemiparasites(p=0.002).Although many species play an important role in the rabbit’s forage intake networks(e.g.,Chiliotrichum diffusum,Holcus lanatus),the strongest intake linkages were found in exotic grasses(e.g.,Poa pratensis and Festuca sp.),native hemiparasites(e.g.,Misodendrum sp.),native shrubs(e.g.,Empetrum rubrum),and native trees(e.g.,Nothofagus sp.).The summer and autumn seasons presented higher intake compared to the winter and spring seasons.Furthermore,hemiparasites intake(e.g.,Misodendrum sp.)suggests that rabbits utilize different forage sources depending on the vegetation types.Conclusions:Rabbits regularly inhabit the forest,even though it is not their preferred vegetation type to live.Rabbit management entails isolating regions that are more favourable to intake and emphasizing the year’s season for rabbit control efforts.
基金This research was supported by the financial support of the“Operationalisation of Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital:From concepts to real-world applications(OpenNESS)”project financed under the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme(project number 308428).
文摘Introduction:Huemul(Hippocamelus bisulcus Molina)is the most threatened flag species of Southern Patagonia,where conservation efforts were not effective to avoid the retraction of its distribution area.Habitat quality modeling can assist to design better management strategies for regional conservation planning.The objective was to elaborate one habitat suitability map for huemul,defining the environmental characteristics at landscape level,and determining the distribution of the suitable habitat inside the current natural reserve network.Methods:We used a database of 453 records and explored 40 potential explanatory variables(climate,topographic,and landscape variables including human-related ones)to develop one habitat suitability map using the Environmental Niche Factor Analysis(ENFA)for Santa Cruz province(Argentina).We combined the outputs in a GIS project using different shapes,including the current natural reserve network.Results:We defined the potential habitat for huemul,where forest edges and ecotone zones(e.g.,mainly alpine environments)were the most important environmental variables,as well as some forest types(e.g.,Nothofagus pumilio).Habitat losses were found in the extreme potential distribution areas(northern and southern areas),probably related to the increasing ranch activities.The current natural reserve network maintains approximately half of the huemul potential habitat in Santa Cruz province,where National Parks presented the similar conservation importance than the Provincial natural reserves.Conclusions:Habitat suitability model for huemul can be used as a decision support system for new management strategies at different landscape levels to improve the current conservation efforts.