Hierarchical Habitat Selection of Endangered Hispid Hare and Implications for Its Conservation Management

• DOI: 10.1111/acv.13013
• Publication Date: 2025-03-19T17:49:23Z
• Authors: Anukul Nath; Shrishti Joshi; Bhim Singh; Bibhuti Lahkar; Vishnupriya Kolip...; Diana Bell; Sutirtha Dutta
• Keywords: Habitat conservation

ABSTRACT Many endangered species are specialists of threatened habitats with poorly understood species–habitat relationships. Hence, knowledge their habitat selection becomes vital for effective conservation management. We investigated the hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus using a hierarchical multiscale analysis, from geographical range to microsites. conducted surveys in eight protected areas (PAs) covering entire Terai region along foothills Indian Himalayas. examined effects climatic, landscape, topographic, and anthropogenic variables on species' occurrence ensemble presence‐only models at level generalized linear mixed (GLMM) population microsite levels. above alongside grass‐species assemblage, height, cover use GLMM. found that distribution is highly fragmented restricted tall successional grasslands within PAs. At level, percentage grassland cover, fire intensity, distance PA, mean temperature influenced occurrence. was scale‐dependent: probability responded unimodally intensity broad scale (700 m), positively negatively human footprint finer scales (100 m). micro‐sites, selected assemblages dominated by Narenga porphyrocoma (syn: Saccharum narenga ). Our findings relationships emphasize need rotational (instead complete) burning, eradication invasive weeds, regulation cattle grazing restoration remaining hare, totalling ~300 sq.km area. Finally, (trans)national policies hydroelectric projects, which shape riverine communities, accommodate needs obligatory fauna, including hare.