Spatial Distribution Patterns, Environmental Drivers, and Hotspot Dynamics of the European Rabbit on a Mediterranean Island: Implications for Conservation and Management.

IF 3.6 3区 生物学 Q1 BIOLOGY
Yiannis G Zevgolis, Foto Konsola, Athanasia-Zoi Bouloutsi, Niki-Nektaria Douskou, Ioanna Emmanouilidou, Maria-Alexandra Kordatou, Anastasia Lekka, Maria-Eirini Limnioti, Maria Loupou, Despoina Papageorgiou, Michailia-Theodora Papamakariou, Eleni Tsiripli, Panagiotis Tzedopoulos, Christos Xagoraris, Alexandros D Kouris, Panayiotis G Dimitrakopoulos
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) presents a significant conservation and management challenge in Greece. While it has been listed in national biodiversity assessments, its population dynamics on the island of Lemnos demonstrate the characteristics of a highly adaptable and rapidly expanding species, exerting substantial ecological and economic impacts. Addressing this issue requires a spatially explicit understanding of its distribution patterns and habitat preferences, particularly given its extensive population growth over the past three decades. To this end, we conducted 40 field surveys across the island, documenting 1534 presence records of the species. We applied Kernel Density Estimation, Getis-Ord Gi *, and Anselin Local Moran's I to identify the spatial distribution patterns and significant hotspots. A spatial lag model was used to quantify hotspot intensity and clustering dynamics, while abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors were analyzed to assess habitat associations. Our results revealed that rabbit hotspots are predominantly concentrated in fertile lowland agroecosystems, with nearly 60% of high-density areas overlapping conservation zones. Soil and field conditions, grazing-supporting landscapes, and arable and subsidized agricultural areas emerged as significant predictors of O. cuniculus presence. The observed spatial dependencies indicated that while hotspot intensities and clustering dynamics are influenced by the conditions in neighboring areas, habitat characteristics remain fundamental in shaping their distribution, highlighting the broader landscape-scale spatial patterns affecting rabbit populations. These findings underscore the necessity of adopting spatially informed management strategies that mitigate agricultural impacts while accounting for interconnected spatial dynamics, providing a foundation for informed decision-making to manage rabbit populations while balancing conservation and agricultural priorities.

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来源期刊
Biology-Basel
Biology-Basel Biological Science-Biological Science
CiteScore
5.70
自引率
4.80%
发文量
1618
审稿时长
11 weeks
期刊介绍: Biology (ISSN 2079-7737) is an international, peer-reviewed, quick-refereeing open access journal of Biological Science published by MDPI online. It publishes reviews, research papers and communications in all areas of biology and at the interface of related disciplines. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. There is no restriction on the length of the papers. The full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Electronic files regarding the full details of the experimental procedure, if unable to be published in a normal way, can be deposited as supplementary material.
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