Latrines are a key element of maintenance behaviour in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), as well as a very important source of social and territorial information. On the other hand, its location probably carries significant costs associated with risk of predation. This study focuses on the factors involved in the spatial distribution of rabbit latrines in a suburban Mediterranean forest in Madrid (central Spain). In total, 167 latrines associated to 15 burrows were analyzed and the following information recorded: distance from each latrine to the burrow, ease of transit between each latrine and the burrow, visibility from the latrine and plant cover around the latrine. Our results show that, although all these factors are involved in the latrines disposition, their specific weight in the same was unequal, being ease of transit, visibility and plant cover more important than the distance between the latrines and the burrow.
2
Dostęp do pełnego tekstu na zewnętrznej witrynie WWW
Predation pressure, which varies among habitats, is important factor for selection of nesting sites by birds. We investigated artificial nest depredation on an island 23 ha in size and on the river bank covered by willow-poplar forest and meadows in the middle Vistula river valley, in the spring and autumn 2006. We used polyurethane thrush-size nests placed at three heights (ground, bush and tree) with one quail egg. Each nest was checked twice, 7 and 14 days after the beginning of the experiment, in total 381 nest-inspections was included. Additionally, we live-trapped rodents (data from 510 trapnights included) which are potential predators of broods. We found that the survival rate of artificial nests was higher on the island as compared to the bank. Artificial nests placed on the ground revealed the higher survival rate than the nests placed on trees and bushes. Nest survival rate was higher in the autumn than in the spring. Repeatability of the results (survived vs. depredated) for the first and second 7-day period was high but lower on the island as compared to the bank. The abundance of rodents was higher on the bank during the spring, but no difference was recorded in the autumn. Rodents were also more abundant in the autumn than in the spring. This may indicate that survival rates of nests were not affected by rodents directly.
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.