Managing the European Rabbit: Converging Interests Between Australian Research for Rabbit Control and European Research for their Conservation

Cooke, Brian

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-72446-9_21

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Following the initial outbreak, mortality rates due to myxomatosis started to decline as the degree of resistance to the disease increased. Still, to this day the disease continues to play a major role in the dynamics of rabbit populations [30]. Just when populations in Spain and Portugal were recovering from myxomatosis, another viral disease greatly impacted rabbit populations again.…”

Section: The Historical Decline Of Rabbits In the Iberian Peninsulamentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild Rabbit Management in the Iberian Peninsula: State of the Art and Future Perspectives for Iberian Lynx Conservation

Ferreira¹,

Delibes‐Mateos²

2010

Wildl. Biol. Pract.

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The Iberian lynx, the most endangered cat in the world, is presently found only in two isolated populations in southern Spain. Natural expansion from these populations is limited which turns Iberian lynx reintroduction programs into the only alternative to save the species from extinction. Prey availability is one of the top considerations for predator reintroductions. In this paper, we review the state of the art regarding wild rabbit (lynx's main prey) biology, status and management in the Iberian Peninsula, and future perspectives for Iberian lynx conservation. Historically, wild rabbits have sharply declined in the Iberian Peninsula, mainly as a consequence of habitat loss and the arrival of viral diseases. Most Iberian rabbit populations are still declining so different management techniques are employed to revert this scenario. Population monitoring, adjusting hunting pressure, predator control, habitat management, restocking and rabbit vaccination are the most frequently employed management tools. Surprisingly, strong empirical evidence is still lacking to support the usefulness and impact of most of these management techniques. Hence, for the success of future Iberian lynx reintroductions, efforts need to be made to suppress knowledge gaps of rabbit ecology and management at several levels, namely: the study of basic biological parameters from natural free populations, the implementation of an Iberian rabbit monitoring framework based on standardised rabbit monitoring protocols (that produces systematic and periodic comparable results), the study of the impact of predator control, the assessment of both the costs vs. benefits of vaccinating wild rabbits against viral diseases and the effectiveness of habitat management. Finally, the creation of a working platform congregating researchers, hunters and game managers, conservationists and further sectors involved in wild rabbit management is essential for the definition of a global strategy that defends collective interests and serves the ultimate goal of conserving this lagomorph.

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Section: The Historical Decline Of Rabbits In the Iberian Peninsulamentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild Rabbit Management in the Iberian Peninsula: State of the Art and Future Perspectives for Iberian Lynx Conservation

Ferreira¹,

Delibes‐Mateos²

2010

Wildl. Biol. Pract.

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“…In some regions where the species was introduced, exceptional ecological conditions favored its rapid colonization turning it into a pest (Cooke 2008). In these regions (e.g., Australia) control programs for the species have been continuously improved and new methods to prevent population growth have emerged.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of habitat management on the abundance and diet of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) populations in Mediterranean ecosystems

Ferreira

Alves

2009

Eur J Wildl Res

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During the last decades wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations have been progressively declining in the Iberian Peninsula as a result of several factors, namely habitat deterioration. Hence, habitat management has become one of the most commonly used management techniques to restore wild rabbit populations. To test the efficacy of some of these measures (creation of pastures, opening firebreaks) in rabbit populations, two managed (M1 and M2) and two control areas (C1 and C2) were selected in the Portuguese Southwest (SW) Coast. In each study area, the influence of habitat management was tested assessing temporal changes in rabbit abundance obtained from pellet counts and in rabbits' diet through microhistological analysis of fecal pellets. Rabbit densities were higher in managed than in control areas (mean annual values: M1-1.08 pellets/m 2 ; M2-1.60 pellets/m 2 ; C1-0.69 pellets/m 2 ; C2-0.40 pellets/m 2 ). In general, Gramineae was the most consumed plant group throughout the year and in all study areas. In control areas, consumption of alternative species with low nutritive value (e.g., Cistus ladanifer) was observed, especially in summer. Our data suggest a positive influence of habitat management on rabbit populations since in managed areas individuals presented an overall higher abundance and a more nutritive diet. In addition, there was no evidence that sown species were consumed in detriment to naturally occurring grasses, suggesting that in Mediterranean semi-arid regions clearing vegetation inside the scrubland might be sufficient to improve habitat conditions for rabbits.

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“…In Australia, rabbits are major environmental and agricultural pests (Gong et al . ; Cooke ), and have been vigorously targeted to suppress their numbers through mechanical/chemical control methods (Cooke ) and the deliberate the introduction of four biological control agents. Myxoma virus (MYXV) was successfully released in Australia in the 1950s, followed by the European rabbit flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi in the mid‐1960s and the Spanish rabbit flea Xenopsylla cunicularis in the early 1990s to enhance MYXV transmission (Kerr ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular epidemiology ofRabbitHaemorrhagicDiseaseVirus inAustralia: when one became many

et al. 2013

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Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) was introduced into Australia in 1995 as a biological control agent against the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We evaluated its evolution over a 16 year period (1995–2011) by examining 50 isolates collected throughout Australia, as well as the original inoculum strains. Phylogenetic analysis of capsid protein VP60 sequences of the Australian isolates, compared to those sampled globally, revealed that they form a monophyletic group with the inoculum strains (CAPM V-351 and RHDV351INOC). Strikingly, despite more than 3000 re-releases of RHDV351INOC since 1995, only a single viral lineage has sustained its transmission in the long-term, indicative of a major competitive advantage. In addition, we find evidence for widespread viral gene flow, in which multiple lineages entered individual geographic locations, resulting in a marked turnover of viral lineages with time, as well as a continual increase in viral genetic diversity. The rate of RHDV evolution recorded in Australia – 4.0 (3.3 – 4.7) × 10−3 nucleotide substitutions per site per year – was higher than previously observed in RHDV, and evidence for adaptive evolution was obtained at two VP60 residues. Finally, more intensive study of a single rabbit population (Turretfield) in South Australia provided no evidence for viral persistence between outbreaks, with genetic diversity instead generated by continual strain importation.

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Managing the European Rabbit: Converging Interests Between Australian Research for Rabbit Control and European Research for their Conservation

Cited by 11 publications

References 45 publications

Wild Rabbit Management in the Iberian Peninsula: State of the Art and Future Perspectives for Iberian Lynx Conservation

Wild Rabbit Management in the Iberian Peninsula: State of the Art and Future Perspectives for Iberian Lynx Conservation

Influence of habitat management on the abundance and diet of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) populations in Mediterranean ecosystems

Molecular epidemiology ofRabbitHaemorrhagicDiseaseVirus inAustralia: when one became many

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