Experimental study on the effect of cover and vaccination on the survival of juvenile European rabbits

• DOI: 10.1007/s10144-013-0403-4
• Publication Date: 2013-09-19T09:14:37Z
• Authors: Catarina Ferreira; Rafael Villafuerte; Nacho Villar; Francisca Castro; Pablo Ferreras; Carlos Rouco; Paulo C. Alves; Luis Arias de Reyna; Steve Redpath
• Keywords: European rabbit

Abstract In Mediterranean ecosystems, the European rabbit is a keystone species that has declined dramatically, with profound implications for conservation and management. Predation disease acting on juveniles are considered likely causes. field, these processes managed by removing predators, increasing cover to reduce predation risk vaccinating against myxomatosis. These manipulations can be costly and, when protected predators killed, they also damaging interests. Our goal was test effectiveness of vaccination juvenile survival in two large enclosures, free mammalian adding juveniles. Rabbit warrens were our experimental unit, nine replicates four treatments: control, cover, vaccination, combined. results showed improved systematically increased survival, whereas had no clear effect interactive negligible. data suggest around an effective way abundance at least generalist scarce. contrast programme limited benefit, raising questions about its efficacy as management tool.