Extended diurnal activity patterns of European rabbits along a rural-to-urban gradient

Ziege, Madlen; Babitsch, Denise; Brix, Mareike; Kriesten, Stefanie; Straskraba, Susanne; Wenninger, Sandra; Wronski, Torsten; Plath, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2016.07.002

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Similarly, vigilance behavior increased in association with domestic dogs, but not coyotes in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the mid-Altantic region of the United States (Schuttler et al 2017). Ziege et al (2016) found European rabbits were less vigilant in urban areas as compared to their counterparts in rural areas. This suggests that perhaps the important difference in (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Vigilance response of a key prey species to anthropogenic and natural threats in Detroit

Lima

Gámez

Arringdale

et al. 2020

Preprint

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24Rapid urbanization coupled with increased human influence induces pressures that affect 25 predator-prey relations through a suite of behavioral mechanisms, including alteration of 26 avoidance and coexistence dynamics. Synergisms of natural and anthropogenic threats existing 27 within urban environments exacerbate the necessity for species to differentially modify behavior 28 to each risk. Here, we explore the behavioral response of a key prey species, cottontail rabbits 29 (Sylvilagus floridanus), to anthropogenic and naturogenic pressures in a human-dominated 30 landscape by examining their vigilance levels in green spaces within the city of Detroit, 31Michigan. We conducted the first camera survey in urban parks throughout Detroit in 2017-2020 32 to assess vigilance behavior corresponding to a heterogeneous landscape of risks stimulated by 33 humans, domestic dogs, and a natural predator, coyotes (Canis latrans). We predicted a scaled 34 response where cottontail rabbits would be most vigilant in areas with high coyote activity, 35 moderately vigilant in areas with high domestic dog activity, and the least vigilant in areas of 36 high human activity. From 8,165 independent cottontail rabbit detections in Detroit across 37 11,616 trap nights, one-third were classified as vigilant. We found no significant impact of 38 humans or coyotes spatial hotspots, but vigilance behavior in rabbits significantly increased in 39 hotspots of high activity from domestic dogs. We found little spatial overlap between rabbits and 40 threats, suggesting rabbits invest more in spatial avoidance; thus, less effort is required for 41 vigilance. Our results elucidate strategies of a prey species coping with various risks to advance 42 our understanding of the adaptability of wildlife in urban environments. In order to foster safe 43 and positive interactions between people and wildlife in urban greenspaces, we must understand 44 and anticipate the ecological implications of human-induced behavioral modifications.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Vigilance response of a key prey species to anthropogenic and natural threats in Detroit

Lima

Gámez

Arringdale

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Their findings were notably in contrast with other studies such as Parker and Nilon (2008) that suggested squirrels habituated to human activity in urban areas. Ziege et al (2016) found European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were less vigilant in urban areas as compared to their counterparts in rural areas. This suggests that perhaps the important difference in vigilance lies in the urban-rural gradient, rather than entirely within the urban matrix.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vigilance Response of a Key Prey Species to Anthropogenic and Natural Threats in Detroit

et al. 2021

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Rapid urbanization coupled with increased human activity induces pressures that affect predator-prey relations through a suite of behavioral mechanisms, including alteration of avoidance and coexistence dynamics. Synergisms of natural and anthropogenic threats existing within urban environments exacerbate the necessity for species to differentially modify behavior to each risk. Here, we explore the behavioral response of a key prey species, cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), to pressures from humans, domestic dogs, and a natural predator, coyotes (Canis latrans) in a human-dominated landscape. We conducted the first camera survey in urban parks throughout Detroit, Michigan in 2017–2020 to assess vigilance response corresponding to a heterogeneous landscape created from variation in the occupancy of threats. We predicted a scaled response where cottontail rabbits would be most vigilant in areas with high coyote activity, moderately vigilant in areas with high domestic dog activity, and the least vigilant in areas of high human activity. From 8,165 independent cottontail rabbit detections in Detroit across 11,616 trap nights, one-third were classified as vigilant. We found vigilance behavior increased with coyote occupancy and in locations with significantly high domestic dog activity, but found no significant impact of human occupancy or their spatial hotspots. We also found little spatial overlap between rabbits and threats, suggesting rabbits invest more in spatial avoidance; thus, less effort is required for vigilance. Our results elucidate strategies of a prey species coping with various risks to advance our understanding of the adaptability of wildlife in urban environments. In order to promote coexistence between people and wildlife in urban greenspaces, we must understand and anticipate the ecological implications of human-induced behavioral modifications.

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“…The most common proactive antipredator strategies reported for rabbits appear to rely on the spatial avoidance of high‐risk areas (Rouco et al., 2010; Villafuerte & Moreno, 1997), adapting diel activity patterns (Descalzo et al., 2021) and increasing vigilance (Monclús et al., 2005; Monclús & Rödel, 2008; Rodel et al., 2006). However, rabbits have also been shown to exhibit relaxed antipredator behavior and extended diel activity when predation risk is low (Ziege et al., 2016). Our results support an alternative scenario, aligned with the PRAH, OFT, and ‘control of risk’ postulates: low‐intensity proactive antipredator behavior under constantly high and unpredictable predation risk (Creel, 2018; Lima & Bednekoff, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comfort over safety: thermoregulation overshadows predation risk effects in the activity of a keystone prey

et al. 2021

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The activity level is a fundamental metric of animal behavior, related to the avoidance of predators, food acquisition, and thermoregulation. Animals need to weigh their activity budget to fulfill their energetic, social and reproductive requirements over the energetic costs of these activities. This task becomes further challenging for prey species, which also need to account for predation risk. To investigate the factors shaping proactive behavioral decisions leading prey species engagement in their diel activities, we implemented a multisite year‐round monitoring study on the Iberian rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus), a key prey species in Mediterranean ecosystems. We deployed remotely triggered cameras over 15 sites to continuously monitor Iberian rabbits' activity. We estimated activity levels from time‐of‐detection data from camera traps, and modeled it as a function of climatic, intraspecific, predation, and resource‐related covariates. We found that Iberian rabbits exhibit a bimodal activity pattern peaking at sunrise and sunset, with a more pronounced peak occurring at sunrise during the nonbreeding season, and spend 9.15 ± 3.00 h/day (mean ± sd) active. Diel activity levels were negatively affected by extreme environmental temperatures and density dependence, demonstrating the privileged importance of social interactions and normothermia maintenance. We found mammalian predator activity and abundance to have near‐negligible effects on the activity levels of this key prey, suggesting decreased antipredator behavior when risk is perceived as prolonged. Moreover, we argue that perceived risk may be more important than realized risk in shaping Iberian rabbits' activity level. These results provide valuable insights toward a comprehensive understanding of the factors underlying behavioral decisions made by prey species, relevant for maintaining their energetic and homeostatic balance.

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Extended diurnal activity patterns of European rabbits along a rural-to-urban gradient

Cited by 11 publications

References 37 publications

Vigilance response of a key prey species to anthropogenic and natural threats in Detroit

Vigilance response of a key prey species to anthropogenic and natural threats in Detroit

Vigilance Response of a Key Prey Species to Anthropogenic and Natural Threats in Detroit

Comfort over safety: thermoregulation overshadows predation risk effects in the activity of a keystone prey

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