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Cabrera, A. 1914.
Lynx
pardellus Miller.
In: Fauna iberica. Mamiferos.: 207-210. Madrid: Museo Nacional
de Ciencias Naturales CSIC.
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Information on Iberian lynx characteristics,
geographic distribution, and observations.
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Cabrera_1914_Lynx_pardellus_en_Fauna_Iberica.pdf
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Calvete, C., Villafuerte, R., Lucientes,
J., and Osacar, J. J. 1997.
Effectiveness of traditional wild rabbit
restocking in Spain.
J. Zool. , Lond. 241: 271-277.
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Since myxomatosis, around half a million rabbits
are restocked annually in France and the Iberian Peninsula. The effectiveness
of this approach to restoration is still unknown. In this study, the efficacy
of traditional restocking was evaluated by marking rabbits with radiocollars
and reproducing the methodology usually employed in Spain. The estimated mean
survival rate for the first 10 days after release was very low (<3%). Most
of the tagged rabbits were dead within three months. Causes of mortality
included injuries, disease, and predation (especially by red foxes, Vulpes
vulpes). The deaths were mainly within the first week after release, a
period that could be considered critical for the establishment of the animals.
Male rabbits were more affected by diseases, whereas females were preyed upon
more often. For both sexes, average dispersal distance was low (435 m from the
release place). We suggest that survival of introduced rabbits could be
increased (21%) by disturbing carnivores within the restocking area. A short
period in captivity prior to release (2-3 weeks) increased rabbit survival
rates (40%), by allowing us to remove diseased animals (mainly affected by
myxomatosis). Assuming the existence of a "predator pit" in some
populations of rabbits, the traditional rabbit restocking is not an effective method of increasing the
most important prey for the vertebrate ecosystem in the Iberian Peninsula,
although some improvements could be made.
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Calvete_et_al_1997_Effectiveness_of_traditional_rabbit_restocking_in_Spain.pdf
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Calvete, C., Estrada, R., Villafuerte, R., Osacar,
J. J., and Lucientes, J. 2002.
Epidemiology of viral
haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis in a free-living population of wild
rabbits.
Veterinary Record 150: 776-782.
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From January 1993 to June
1996, the epidemiology of myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) was
studied in a free-living population of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
in Spain by means of serological surveys and radiotracking. Myxomatosis was
endemic and associated with the breeding period. Its serological pattern was
characterised by a 100 per cent prevalence of antibodies in adult rabbits and a
rapid increase in antibodies in young rabbits in their first year. No mortality
from myxomatosis was detected in adults, and mortality in young rabbits could
not be estimated because of interference by predators and scavengers and the
deaths of many radiotagged rabbits inside their burrows. VHD was also an
endemic disease associated with the breeding period. Adults had a higher
prevalence of antibodies against VHD than young rabbits, reaching values of 80
to 90 per cent. During the study, there was an increase in rabbit numbers as a
result of a decrease in mortality from predation which was associated with an
increase in mortality due to VHD and in the prevalence of antibodies to VHD.
Mortality from VHD was lower in rabbits with VHD antibodies than in
seronegative rabbits, but some mortality from the disease was also detected in
seropositive rabbits. The annual mean mortality rate due to VHD in adult
rabbits was estimated to be 21.8 per cent.
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Calvete_et_al_2002_Epidemiology_of_viral_haemorrhagic_disease_and_myxomatosis.pdf
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Calvete, C., Estrada, R.,
Lucientes, J., Osacar, J. J., and Villafuerte, R. 2004.
Effects of
vaccination against viral haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis on long-term
mortality rates of European wild rabbits.
Veterinary Record 155: 388-392.
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The effects of vaccination
against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) on long-term mortality
rates in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were studied from 1993
to 1996 by radiotracking a free-living population of wild rabbits. During the
three months after immunisation, unvaccinated young rabbits weighing between
180 and 600 g were 13·6 times more likely to die than vaccinated young rabbits.
In adult rabbits, vaccination did not significantly decrease mortality, mainly
owing to the high proportion of rabbits which had previously been exposed to
the antigens of both diseases. Compared with adult rabbits with natural
antibodies to VHD, rabbits without these antibodies were 5·2 times more likely
to die of VHD during annual outbreaks.
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Calvete_et_al_2004_Effects_of_vaccination_against_haemorrhagic_disease_and_myxomatosis.pdf
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Calvete, C., Estrada, R., Osacar, J. J., Lucientes,
J., and Villafuerte, R. 2004.
Short-term negative effects of vaccination
campaigns against myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease (VHD) on the
survival of European wild rabbits.
J. Wildl. Manage. 68(1): 198-205.
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The capture and handling of live European wild
rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are unavoidable initial steps for
immunization by vaccination against viral hemorrhagic disease (VHD) and
myxomatosis as a management tool aimed at enhancing wild rabbit populations. We
investigated the short-term effect of vaccination campaigns against VHD and
myxomatosis on the survival of 206 European wild rabbits in a Spanish
population. While no effect was observed on the survival of adult rabbits,
young and subadult rabbits (P< 0.001) had higher mortality rates during the
first week after handling than in the subsequent 3 weeks. The hazard rate of
death from disease was inversely correlated with body condition (P< 0.001)
during the first week. Vaccination increased the hazard rate of death due to
disease during the first 7 days post-handling, although this detrimental effect
was higher in young rabbits (P = 0.012) and modulated by body condition (P =
0.004). The hazard rate of dying from predation during the first week was
higher for males than females (P = 0.023) and in subadults compared to young
rabbits (P = 0.004). Body condition was inversely related to the predation
hazard rate (P = 0.002). Our results suggest that vaccination campaigns had a
short-term negative impact caused by the stress of handling in addition to the
detrimental effect of vaccination against VHD and myxomatosis. Future studies
should consider this negative impact to assess the true efficacy of vaccination
campaigns in wild populations.
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Calvete_et_al_2004_Negative_effects_of_vaccination_campaigns_on_rabbits.pdf
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Calvete, C., Angulo, E., and Estrada, R. 2005.
Conservation of European wild rabbit populations when hunting is age and
sex selective.
Biological Conservation 121: 623-634.
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Several predator species at
risk of extinction in Southwestern Europe are dependent on the population
density of European wild rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus. Rabbit
populations in the region, however, have recently undergone dramatic decreases
in population density, which may be exacerbated by hunting. Current hunting
policies set the autumn–winter season, just before the start of rabbit
reproduction, as the main hunting season, and previous theoretical models have
estimated that the current hunting season may have the greatest negative impact
on rabbit abundance and should be changed. We utilised a model for rabbit
population dynamics to determine the effects of the timing of hunting during
two seasons, summer and autumn, on the tendency of rabbit populations to be
over-harvested and on the number of rabbits hunted. This model included field
estimates of age- and sex-selection biases of hunting by shotgun. Scenarios
with different hunting rates and sex- and age-selection probabilities of
hunting were simulated for populations with different turnover levels and with
and without compensatory mortality mechanisms. Field estimations showed that
hunting in summer was juvenile-biased whereas autumn hunting was juvenile- and
male-biased. In contrast to previous findings, our modelling results suggested
that hunting in autumn may be the most conservative option for harvesting of
rabbit populations, since these populations were more prone to be
over-harvested during the summer. The differences between the two seasons in
number of rabbits hunted were dependent on population dynamics and hunting sex-
and age-selection probabilities. Our findings suggest that altering of current
hunting policies would not optimise the exploitation or conservation of wild
rabbit populations, but that the latter may be improved by some changes in the
timing of hunting.
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Calvete_et_al_2005_Conservation_of_European_wild_rabbit_populations_and_hunting.pdf
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Calzada, J. 1999.
Lynx impact upon
rabbit populations. Conference Proceeding.
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The Iberian lynx, Lynx
pardinus, endemic of the Iberian Peninsula, is a specialist predator on the
European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. Unfortunately it ist the most threatened
felid in the world. One of its main conservation problems comes from hunters
who blame lynx for the decline of rabbit density. Knowing the real impact of
lynx upon rabbit populations will provide us an excellent tool for conservation
policies. It involves knowing how lynx is using rabbit-resource. In a
three-year study, lynx and rabbit densities were recorded in an area of Doñana
National Park, SW Spain. Simultaneously, lynx diet was analyzed.
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Calzada_1999_Lynx_impact_upon_rabbit_populations.pdf
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Calzada, J. 2002.
Genetta genetta
(Linnaeus, 1758), Gineta.
In: Atlas de los Mamíferos
Terrestres de España: 290-293. Palomo, L. J. and
Gisbert, J.(Eds.). Madrid: DGCNA-MIMAM, SECEM, SECEMU.
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Basic information on the
Small-spotted genet in Spain: Taxonomy, description, distribution, habitat,
reproduction, feeding habits, abundance, social organization & behaviour,
depredation, economic interests & relation to humans, and other subjects.
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Calzada_2002_Genetta_genetta_en_Espana_Atlas_Mamiferos.pdf
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Calzada, J. and Palomares, F.
1996.
Frecuencia de aparición de differentes restos de conejo en excrementos
de lince y zorro.
Acta Vertebrata Doñana 23(2): 243-252.
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Hard rabbit Oryctolagus
cuniculus remains from 165 scats from Iberian lynx, Lynx pardinus,
and red foxes Vulpes vulpes, were identified with the aim of finding
which skeletal elements were the most suitable to estimate through morphometric
studies the age of consumed rabbits. Twenty-seven remains in the case of the
lynx, and seven in the case of the fox were the most suited given morphometric
attributes, their frequency of occurrence and their conservation level. These
remains were teeth and forefoot bones of the rabbit. All of them were found in
92% and 42% of the lynx and fox faeces, respectively, with rabbit remains. 75%
and 95%, respectively, of the cases analyzed, these rabbit remains had a good
preservation level.
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Calzada_&_Palomares_1996_Restos_de_conejo_en_excrementos_de_lince_y_zorro.pdf
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Calzada, J., Haydon, D. T., and Palomares, F.
2003.
Estimating the size of European rabbits consumed by predators:
Relationship between body mass and tooth dimensions.
Acta Theriologica 48(1):
101-111.
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A method for estimating body mass of European
rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) based on tooth dimensions
is proposed. Regression models identified significant relationships between the
body mass of 87 rabbits and individual tooth length, breadth, product of tooth
length and breadth, and whether or not the individual was infected with
myxomatosis. Dimensions of 10 of 14 different teeth explained over 80% of
variation in body mass, and those teeth were selected as adequate predictors of
rabbit body mass. Models were tested using teeth from 16 additional rabbits of
known body mass. Body mass, predicted on the basis of 9 of the 10 selected
teeth, was statistically indistinguishable from the observed values for all 16
individuals. When myxomatosis infection status of the rabbit was included in the
model, all 10 selected teeth yielded predictions statistically
indistinguishable from those observed. Prediction errors can be computed
permitting statistical comparison of the average predicted value of body mass
from different samples of rabbits. The model is useful in estimating rabbit
body masses from teeth recovered from faeces of predators and it will facilitate
testing of hypotheses on size-selective predation. The method was applied to
rabbit teeth found in faecal samples from the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus
collected aver a one-year period. Lynx preyed preferentially upon younger
rabbits during the peak breeding period of this lagomorph.
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Calzada_et_al_2003_Size_of_rabbits_consumed_by_predators.pdf
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Carranza, J. 2002.
Cervus elaphus
(Linnaeus, 1758), Ciervo rojo.
In: Atlas de los Mamíferos
Terrestres de España: 310-313. Palomo, L. J. and
Gisbert, J.(Eds.). Madrid: DGCNA-MIMAM, SECEM, SECEMU.
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Basic information on the Red
deer in Spain: Taxonomy, description, distribution, habitat, reproduction,
feeding habits, abundance, social organization & behaviour, depredation,
economic interests & relation to humans, threats.
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Carranza_2002_Cervus_elaphus_en_Espana_Atlas_Mamiferos.pdf
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Carro, F. and Soriguer, R. C. 2002.
Lepus
granatensis (Rosenhauer, 1856), Liebre ibérica.
In: Atlas de los Mamíferos
Terrestres de España: 452-455. Palomo, L. J. and
Gisbert, J.(Eds.). Madrid: DGCNA-MIMAM, SECEM, SECEMU.
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Basic information on the
Iberian hare in Spain: Taxonomy, description, distribution, habitat,
reproduction, feeding habits, abundance, social organization & behaviour,
threats, economic interests & relation to humans.
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Carro_&_Soriguer_2002_Lepus_granatensis_en_Espana_Atlas_Mamiferos.pdf
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Carvalho, J. C. and Gomes, P. 2004.
Feeding
resource partitioning among four sympatric carnivores in the Peneda-Gerês
National Park (Portugal).
J. Zool. , Lond. 263: 275-283.
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The Iberian Peninsula comprises two distinct
biogeographic areas: a temperate Atlantic Eurosiberian (north) and a
Mediterranean (centre and south), and they provide very different biotopes,
landscapes and prey for carnivores. One example is an abundance of the wild
rabbit Orytolagus cuniculus in the Mediterranean zone, which contrasts
with the Eurosiberian zone, where the rabbit is scarce. The feeding resource
partitioning among four sympatric predators (red fox Vulpes vulpes, wild
cat Felis silvestris, genet Genetta genetta and stone marten Martes
foina) was analysed in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (north-west
Portugal), located in the Eurosiberian region. Data on the spatial distribution
of three important prey species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Microtus
lusitanicus and Talpa occidentalis) were also collected to
investigate their possible relationships with the feeding habits of each
predator. Rodents are the staple prey for this guild of carnivores. Predators
are able to supplement their diets with one or two secondary prey types:
rabbits and arthropods by the largest carnivores (the red fox and the wild
cat); insectivores by the small predators (the genet and the stone marten).
These results contrast with the characteristic Mediterranean predator-prey
features, where rabbits are the main support of carnivore communities. The
feeding resource partitioning revealed a complex structure characterized by a
dynamic niche differentiation and overlap, according to a seasonal pattern. To
explain this pattern of resource exploitation two hypotheses are discussed in
the light of the body size of predators and their use of space.
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Carvalho_&_Gomes_2004_Feeding_resource_partitioning_among_four_sympatric_carnivores.pdf
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Carvalho, J. C. and Gomes, P. 2004.
Influence of
herbaceous cover, shelter, and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in
NW Portugal.
Acta Theriologica 49(1): 63-74.
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The European wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus,
1758) populations in the Iberian Peninsula has suffered a serious decline.
Therefore, the knowledge about the factors that influence rabbit distribution
and abundance is of major interest for conservation and management programmes.
Rabbit relative abundance was evaluated by pellet counting in relation to
herbaceous ground cover, shelter availability (tall scrub cover and gaps in
rocks) and land cover structure in the Northeastern Peneda-Gerês National Park
(PGNP), NW Portugal. Rabbit abundance was higher at intermediate levels of
herbaceous cover, but no significant statistical differences were detected. A
strong association between the abundance index and tall scrub cover was
verified, and when this cover was rare, an association with gaps in rocks was
observed. At the land cover level, rabbit abundance was associated with high
interspersion sites of rocks with matorral and high interspersion sites of tall
scrubland. Evidence from this study highlighted the importance of shelter and
the interspersion of open/shelter habitats for rabbits. This pattern could be
interpreted as an anti-predator strategy. Therefore, management actions should
favour the growing and establishing of tall scrub patches and the selective
cutting in highly continuous areas of tall scrub vegetation.
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Carvalho_&_Gomes_2004_Influence_of_cover_on_rabbit_abundance.pdf
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Castro, L. 1994.
Ecologia y conservacion del
lince iberico en la sierra portuguesa de Malcata. Quercus: 8-12.
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The difficulities to which the
lynx in Portugal is opposed are very similar to those that exist in Spain, as
well. The modification of the forest and mediterranean scrubland, the scarcity
of rabbits, the direct persecution and the fragmentation of the populations are
the four factors negatively affecting the survival of this felid, the most
endangered carnivore of the Iberian fauna. The study of a population inhabiting
the Natural Reserve of Serra de Malcata, close to the Spanish Sierra de Gata,
allowed to promote conservation measures for the lynx in this Portuguese
protected area.
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Castro_1994_Ecologia_y_conservacion_del_lince_en_Malcata.pdf
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Castro, L. R. and Palma, L. 1996.
The
current status, distribution and conservation of Iberian lynx in Portugal.
J.
Wildl. Res. 2(1): 179-181.
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The Iberian lynx (Lynx
pardinus) is native to the Iberian Peninsula and ranked as endangered in
IUCN's red data book. Its status in Portugal was studied in 1977 and
superficiaIly updated in I989. Since then,
new data have provided a better assessment of the situation. Lynx have
an extremely fragmented, pocket-like, distribution in Portugal that may
represent less than 10% of the Iberian range. Some of the main nuclei are
western ends of transnational populations. Isolated relics survive throughout
the country reflecting the former distribution area. The decline that began at
the turn of the century worsened in the 1930's and 1940's and again in the
1960's and 1970's. It continues now, leading to a further decrease of lynx
densities and a stronger insulation of the populations. The main causes have
been habitat loss, wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) scarcity (the felid's obligate prey) and
human-related mortality. In several regions, the shortage of rabbits forced
lynx to abandon the relatively quiet mountain cores to settle around in the
unstable and insecure peripheries. Lynx conservation plans shall emphasize the
mitigation of these factors and sound educational actions. In the Malcata
Nature Reserve a lynx recovery plan is currently being carried out through
habitat management and experimental restocking with rabbits. A country-wide
project for the study and conservation of the Iberian lynx is now being set up.
The main goals are to determine past and present distributions as well as the
status of the populations and to implement educational and conservation
programmes.
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Castro_&_Palma_1996_Distribution_and_conservation_of_the_Iberian_lynx_in_Portugal.pdf
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Clot, A. and Besson, J. P. 1974.
Nouveaux restes
osseux de Lynx dans les Pyrenées.
Bull. soc. hist. nat. Toulouse. 110(1-2):
157-169.
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A new skull is described and
incorporated into the variety of the big northern lynx, Felis Lynx lynx
L. The data concerning the bony rests discovered during around ten years are
regrouped which leads to three specimens of lynx in the Pyrenees incorporated
into the nordic variety. Until now, the Spanish variety, F. Lynx pardina Temm.,
was not noticed, while its presence has commonly been assumed without big
proofs, however.
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Clot_&_Besson_1974_Nouveaux_restes_osseux_de_lynx_dans_les_Pyrenees.pdf
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Cobo Anula, J. and Beaufoy, G. 2000.
El Lince
Ibérico y la Red Natura 2000. Adena, WWF.
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Content: Why is the Iberian
lynx heading towards extinction?, The conservation of the Iberian Lynx in
Spain: Recent history and perspectives for the future, What does WWF/Adena to
conserve the Iberian Lynx?, The Habitat Directive and Natura 2000: a new chance
for the Iberian Lynx? Analysis of WWF/Adena of the official Natura 2000
proposal for the Iberian Lynx, WWF/Adena and Iberian lynx conservation
according to the Habitat Directive.
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Cobo_Anula_&_Beaufoy_2000_El_lince_Iberico_y_la_Red_Natura_2000.pdf
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Cobo Anula, J. and Suarez Arangüena, L.
2002.
WWF/Adena's actions for the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) conservation. Summary.
Proceedings
International Seminar on the Iberian lynx, Andújar Spain, 29-31 October
2002: 6-8. (also in Spanish)
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Although since 1983, WWF/Adena
has been realising different actions for the Iberian Lynx conservation, these
were incresed from 1998 on. A wide project with different action lines was
developed. The most significant activities of the project are described.
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Cobo_&_Suarez_2002_WWF_actions_for_the_Iberian_lynx.pdf
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Cooke, B.D. 2002.
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: field epidemiology and the management of wild rabbit populations.
Rev.sci.tech.Off.int.Epiz. 21(2): 347-358.
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Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) has become established in wild rabbit populations throughout Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The abundance of wild rabbits has been significantly reduced, particularly in drier areas of southern Spain, inland Australia and South Island New Zealand. A detailed knowledge of the epidemiology of RHD is essential for the manament of the disease in natural rabbit populations, either to rebuild or to control populations. When RHD first spread among naive wild rabbits, epidemiological studies provided unique information on the rate of spread, the possible role of insect vectors in transmission, and the correlation between the impact of disease on populations and climatic variables. Current research shows a consistent pattern of epidemiology between Europe and Australasia. Typically, the most severe epizootics of RHD occur among young sub-adult rabbits which have lost age-related resilience and maternal antibodies. However, the timing of these outbreaks reflects climatic variables that determine the breeding season of the rabbits and the periods when RHD virus (RDHV) is most likely to persist and spread. Further factors that may complicate epidemiology include the possibility that non-pathogenic RHDV-like viruses are present in natural populations. Additionally, the question of how the virus persists from year to year remains unresolved; persistence in carrier rabbits is a possibility. Understanding of the epidemiology of RHD is now sufficiently advanced to consider the possibility of manipulating rabbit populations to alter the epidemiological pattern of RHD and thereby maximise or minimise the mortality caused by the disease. Altering the epidemiology of RHD in this manner would assist the management of wild rabbit populations either for conservation or pest control purposes.
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Cooke_2002_Rabbit_haemorrhagic_disease_field_epidemiology_and_management.pdf
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