Spatial Distribution Patterns, Environmental Drivers, and Hotspot Dynamics of the European Rabbit on a Mediterranean Island: Implications for Conservation and Management.
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.
欧洲兔(Oryctolagus cuniculus)在希腊提出了一个重大的保护和管理挑战。虽然它已被列入国家生物多样性评估,但其在利姆诺斯岛上的种群动态显示出高度适应性和快速扩张的物种特征,对生态和经济产生了重大影响。解决这一问题需要对其分布模式和栖息地偏好有明确的空间理解,特别是考虑到过去三十年来其人口的广泛增长。为此,我们在全岛进行了40次实地调查,记录了1534个物种的存在记录。应用核密度估计、Getis-Ord Gi *、Anselin Local Moran’s I等方法识别了植被的空间分布格局和显著热点。利用空间滞后模型量化热点强度和聚类动态,并分析非生物、生物和人为因素来评估生境相关性。结果表明,兔子热点地区主要集中在肥沃的低地农业生态系统中,近60%的高密度区域重叠保护区。土壤和田间条件、支持放牧的景观、可耕地和受补贴的农业区是弓形虫存在的重要预测因子。空间依赖关系表明,虽然热点强度和聚类动态受到邻近地区条件的影响,但生境特征仍然是影响其分布的根本因素,突出了影响兔子种群的更广泛的景观尺度空间格局。这些发现强调了采用空间知情管理策略的必要性,这些策略可以减轻农业影响,同时考虑相互关联的空间动态,为在平衡保护和农业优先事项的同时管理兔子种群的知情决策提供基础。
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.