DOCSLIB.ORG

Behavior and Ecology of the Riparian Brush Rabbit at the San Joaquin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Behavior and Ecology of the Riparian Brush Rabbit at the San Joaquin BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF THE RIPARIAN BRUSH RABBIT AT THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AS DETERMINED BY CAMERA TRAPS A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Stanislaus In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Ecology and Sustainability By Celia M. Tarcha May 2020 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF THE RIPARIAN BRUSH RABBIT AT THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AS DETERMINED BY CAMERA TRAPS By Celia M. Tarcha Signed Certification of Approval page is on file with the University Library Dr. Patrick A. Kelly Date Professor of Zoology Dr. Michael P. Fleming Date Associate Professor of Biology Education Dr. Marina M. Gerson Date Professor of Zoology Matthew R. Lloyd Date U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service © 2020 Celia M. Tarcha ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DEDICATION For my family, living and departed, who first introduced me to wildlife and appreciating inconspicuous beauty. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my committee members, Matt Lloyd, Dr. Fleming, Dr. Gerson, and Dr. Kelly, for their time and effort towards perfecting this project. I would also like to thank Eric Hopson, refuge manager of San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge for his insight and field support. Thank you as well to refuge biologists Fumika Takahashi and Kathryn Heffernan for their field surveys and reports. Additional thanks to Camera Bits Inc. for their donation of the Photomechanic license. I would like to thank the CSU Stanislaus Department of Biological Sciences for their help and support. Thank you to Bernadette Paul of the Endangered Species Recovery Program for her equipment management and support. A special thanks to Scott Phillips of the Endangered Species Recovery Program for his statistical and GIS assistance. Thank you to student Rachael Devaughn for entering my vegetation data. Additionally, thank you to my uncle, Greg Tarcha, and aunt, Carmen Gonzalez, for data management advice. I would like to pay my special regards to my undergraduate professors at San Jose State University, Professor Trewhitt, Dr. Smith, Dr. Lambrecht, Dr. Myatt, and Dr. Bros, who prepared and inspired me to pursue wildlife biology and higher education. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents Mark and Cora Tarcha, my extended family, and my friends for their love and support that carried me through this project. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Dedication ............................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. v List of Tables .......................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ......................................................................................................... xi Abstract ................................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER I. Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 II. Background ........................................................................................... 5 Ecology and Conservation ........................................................ 5 Geographic and Regulatory Setting .......................................... 7 Previous Riparian Brush Rabbit Research and Emerging Technologies ............................................................................. 10 Environmental Threats to Riparian Brush Rabbit Recovery .... 13 III. Methods................................................................................................. 17 Camera Survey .......................................................................... 19 Vegetation Surveys ................................................................... 23 Photo Processing ....................................................................... 24 Data Analysis ............................................................................ 28 IV. Results ................................................................................................... 34 Riparian Brush Rabbit Activity ................................................ 35 Riparian Brush Rabbit Community Ecology ............................ 53 Riparian Brush Rabbit Utilization of Habitat ........................... 57 Riparian Brush Rabbit Behavior Types .................................... 60 Documented Animals................................................................ 70 Extent of Habitat Use ................................................................ 73 Vegetation ................................................................................. 77 vi V. Discussion ............................................................................................. 84 Riparian Brush Riparian Activity ............................................. 84 Riparian Brush Rabbit Interactions ........................................... 86 Riparian Brush Rabbit Habitat Use........................................... 96 Effects of the 2017 Flood on the Riparian Brush Rabbits of San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge................................... 101 Future Research ........................................................................ 104 In Conclusion ............................................................................ 107 References ............................................................................................................... 112 Appendices A. Camera Site Summaries .............................................................................. 127 B. Ethogram and Behavior Tags ...................................................................... 146 C. Photograph Tag Assignment and Definitions ............................................. 147 D. Log of Camera Status.................................................................................. 150 E. Discussion of the Behavioral Repertoire of the Riparian Brush Rabbit ..... 151 a. Behavior Tag Summaries ................................................................ 151 b. Behavior Results ............................................................................. 178 F. Effectiveness of Camera Traps to Study Riparian Brush Rabbit Behavior 179 a. Impacts of Site Choice and Design ................................................. 179 b. Camera Model Performance ........................................................... 180 c. Studying Riparian Brush Rabbit Activity ....................................... 181 d. Studying Riparian Brush Rabbit Behavior and Intraspecific Interactions ...................................................................................... 182 e. Studying Riparian Brush Rabbit Interspecific Interactions and Community Ecology ....................................................................... 183 vii LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Camera sessions and dates during the flood of 2017 ........................................ 18 2. Camera sessions and dates after 2017 floodwaters began to recede ................. 18 3. Habitat resources present at each site ............................................................... 22 4. Orientations and alterations to camera sites ...................................................... 22 5. Number of photos collected at each site by month ........................................... 35 6. Number of days cameras were active at each site ............................................. 35 7. Results of single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) for all time periods separately .......................................................................................................... 42 8. Results of single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) between time periods with dawn and dusk combined into one group, crepuscular ..................................... 42 9. Results of single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) between the number of times riparian brush rabbits were at rest and active in the grouped data .......... 45 10. Results of t-Test of riparian brush rabbit rest and activity................................ 45 11. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) between activity with and without the tag vigilant .............................................................................................................. 47 12. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) between times RBR were inactive, resting or vigilant, and active ............................................................................................ 47 13. Number of photos recorded per species and proportion of tagged photos ....... 54 14. Number of photos with different numbers of riparian brush rabbit co-occurring per site ............................................................................................................... 56 15. Count of photos with each vegetation tag ......................................................... 59 viii 16. Number of behavior types and individual riparian brush rabbit recordings across sites with proportion calculated as a percentage ............................................... 60 17. Results of single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing the numbers of individual, intraspecific, and interspecific behaviors ....................................... 61 18. Results of t-Test comparing the means of individual and intraspecific behaviors of riparian brush rabbits .......................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Effect of Climate Change on the Distribution of a Critically Threatened Species
    THERYA, 2016, Vol. 7 (1): 147-159 DOI: 10.12933/therya-16-358, ISSN 2007-3364 Efectos del cambio climático en la distribución de una especie críticamente amenazada Effect of climate change on the distribution of a critically threatened species Eugenia C. Sántiz1, Consuelo Lorenzo1*, Arturo Carrillo-Reyes2, Darío A. Navarrete3 and Gerald Islebe4 1 Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n. C. P. 29290. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México. E-mail: [email protected] (ECS), [email protected] (CL). 2 Oikos: Conservación y Desarrollo Sustentable, A.C., Calle Bugambilias 5, Col. Bismark, C.P. 29267, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México. E-mail: [email protected] (ACR). 3 Laboratorio de Información Geográfica, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n. C. P. 29290. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México. E-mail: [email protected] (DAN). 4 Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. del Centenario Km. 5.5. C.P. 77900. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México. E-mail: [email protected] (GI). *Corresponding author Climate change (CC) is modifying the habitat and distribution of wild fauna, causing distribution area reduction and/or altitudinal or latitudinal movements of species in response to increased temperatures and changes in precipitation. This increases the risk of species extinction, particularly for those with small population sizes, habitat specialists, microendemics and/or those with already restricted distributions. We examine how the effects of CC could influence the distribution and availability of habitat for the critically threatened and endemic species: the Tehuantepec jackrabbit (Lepus flavigularis) as well as the species of grasses on which it feeds.
    [Show full text]
  • For the Riparian Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus Bachmani Riparius)
    CONTROLLED PROPAGATION AND REINTRODUCTION PLAN FOR THE RIPARIAN BRUSH RABBIT (SYLVILAGUS BACHMANI RIPARIUS) Ó B. Moose Peterson, Wildlife Research Photography by DANIEL F. WILLIAMS, PATRICK A. KELLY, AND LAURISSA P. HAMILTON ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY PROGRAM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, STANISLAUS TURLOCK, CA 95382 6 JULY 2002 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY We present a plan for controlled propagation and reintroduction of riparian brush rab- bits (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius), a necessary set of tasks for its recovery, as called for in the Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California1. This controlled propagation and reintroduction plan follows the criteria and recommendations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Policy Regarding Controlled Propagation of Spe- cies Listed under the Endangered Species Act2. It is organized along the lines recom- mended in the draft version of that policy and meets the criteria of the final policy. It should be viewed in an adaptive management context in that as events unfold, unexpected changes and new information will require modifications. Modifications will be appended to this document. Controlled Propagation is necessary for the riparian brush rabbit 1) to provide a source of individuals for reintroduction to restored habitat for establishing new, self- sustaining populations, 2) to augment existing populations if needed, 3) and to ensure the prevention of extinction of the species in the wild. We propose to establish three breed- ing colonies in separate enclosures of 1.2-1.4 acres each. Predator-resistant enclosures will be erected around existing, but unoccupied natural habitat for brush rabbits. Enclo- sures will be located on State land surrounded by irrigated agriculture that provides no habitat for brush rabbits.
    [Show full text]
  • 2011 COLUMBIA BASIN PYGMY RABBIT REINTRODUCTION and GENETIC MANAGEMENT PLAN Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
    2011 COLUMBIA BASIN PYGMY RABBIT REINTRODUCTION AND GENETIC MANAGEMENT PLAN Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Addendum to Washington State Recovery Plan for the Pygmy Rabbit (1995) Penny A. Becker, David W. Hays & Rodney D. Sayler EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This plan addresses the recovery strategy for the federal and state endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) in shrub-steppe habitat of central Washington. It is a consolidated update of the 2010 genetic management plan and the 2007 reintroduction plan for the pygmy rabbit. Technical background for the plan, covering the history, biology, and ecology of pygmy rabbits, has been reviewed extensively in a 5-Year Status Review (USFWS 2010) and an amendment to the federal Draft Recovery Plan (USFWS 2011) for the Columbia Basin distinct population segment of the pygmy rabbit. Currently, there are no wild pygmy rabbit populations known to occur in Washington’s Columbia Basin. As a result, the recovery strategy relies on the reintroduction of captive-bred pygmy rabbits originating from the joint captive population maintained since 2001 at Northwest Trek, Oregon Zoo, and Washington State University, in conjunction with the release of wild pygmy rabbits captured from other populations within the species’ historic distribution. The reintroduction plan was formulated with information gleaned from studies of pygmy rabbits in the wild, results of the 2002-04 pilot-scale reintroductions in southeastern Idaho, results of a trial 2007 release of animals into Washington, and comparable reintroduction efforts for other endangered species. Beginning in the spring of 2011, pygmy rabbits were reintroduced at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area.
    [Show full text]
  • The State of Lagomorphs Today
    HOUSE RABBIT JOURNAL The publication for members of the international House Rabbit Society Winter 2016 The State of Lagomorphs Today by Margo DeMello, PhD Make Mine Chocolate™ Turns 15 by Susan Mangold and Terri Cook Advocating For Rabbits by Iris Klimczuk Fly Strike (Myiasis) in Rabbits by Stacie Grannum, DVM $4.99 CONTENTS HOUSE RABBIT JOURNAL Winter 2016 Contributing Editors Amy Bremers Shana Abé Maureen O’Neill Nancy Montgomery Linda Cook The State of Lagomorphs Today p. 4 Sandi Martin by Margo DeMello, PhD Rebecca Clawson Designer/Editor Sandy Parshall Veterinary Review Linda Siperstein, DVM Executive Director Anne Martin, PhD Board of Directors Marinell Harriman, Founder and Chair Margo DeMello, President Mary Cotter, Vice President Joy Gioia, Treasurer Beth Woolbright, Secretary Dana Krempels Laurie Gigous Kathleen Wilsbach Dawn Sailer Bill Velasquez Judith Pierce Edie Sayeg Nancy Ainsworth House Rabbit Society is a 501c3 and its publication, House Rabbit Journal, is published at 148 Broadway, Richmond, CA 94804. Photograph by Tom Young HRJ is copyright protected and its contents may not be republished without written permission. The Bunny Who Started It All p. 7 by Nareeya Nalivka Goldie is adoptable at House Rabbit Society International Headquarters in Richmond, CA. rabbitcenter.org/adopt Make Mine Chocolate™ Turns 15 p. 8 by Susan Mangold and Terri Cook Cover photo by Sandy Parshall, HRS Program Manager Bella’s Wish p. 9 by Maurice Liang Advocating For Rabbits p. 10 by Iris Klimczuk From Grief to Grace: Maurice, Miss Bean, and Bella p. 12 by Chelsea Eng Fly Strike (Myiasis) in Rabbits p. 13 by Stacie Grannum, DVM The Transpacifi c Bunny p.
    [Show full text]
  • Home Range Dynamics of the Tehuantepec Jackrabbit in Oaxaca, Mexico
    Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 81: 143- 151, 2010 Home range dynamics of the Tehuantepec Jackrabbit in Oaxaca, Mexico Dinámica del ámbito hogareño de la liebre de Tehuantepec en Oaxaca, México Arturo Carrillo-Reyes1*, Consuelo Lorenzo1, Eduardo J. Naranjo1, Marisela Pando2 and Tamara Rioja3 1El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ecología y Sistemática Terrestres. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n. 29290, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México. 2Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. Carretera Panamericana km 145 s/n. 87700 Linares, Nuevo León, México. 3Oikos: Conservación y Desarrollo Sustentable A.C. Sol 22, Bismark. 29267, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México. *Correspondent: [email protected] Abstract. Information on the spatial ecology of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit (Lepus fl avigularis) is important for developing management strategies to preserve it in its habitat. We radio-collared and monitored 60 jackrabbits from May 2006 to April 2008. We estimated annual and seasonal home ranges and core areas by using the fi xed-kernel isopleth to 95% and 50% of confi dence, respectively. This jackrabbit showed a highly variable seasonal home range: 1.13 ha to 152.61 ha for females and 0.20 ha to 71.87 ha for males. Annual and seasonal home ranges and core areas of females were signifi cantly wider than male home ranges. There was considerable overlap of ranges within and between sexes, with the home range of each jackrabbit overlapping with the ranges of 1 to 46 other individuals. Home range and overlap analysis confi rms that the Tehuantepec jackrabbit is a polygamous and non-territorial species.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecography ECOG-01063 Verde Arregoitia, L
    Ecography ECOG-01063 Verde Arregoitia, L. D., Leach, K., Reid, N. and Fisher, D. O. 2015. Diversity, extinction, and threat status in Lagomorphs. – Ecography doi: 10.1111/ecog.01063 Supplementary material 1 Appendix 1 2 Paleobiogeographic summaries for all extant lagomorph genera. 3 4 Pikas – Family Ochotonidae 5 The maximum diversity and geographic extent of pikas occurred during the global climate 6 optimum from the late-Oligocene to middle-Miocene (Ge et al. 2012). When species evolve 7 and diversify at higher temperatures, opportunities for speciation and evolution of thermal 8 niches are likely through adaptive radiation in relatively colder and species poor areas 9 (Araújo et al. 2013). Extant Ochotonids may be marginal (ecologically and geographically) 10 but diverse because they occur in topographically complex areas where habitat diversity is 11 greater and landscape units are smaller (Shvarts et al. 1995). Topographical complexity 12 creates new habitat, enlarges environmental gradients, establishes barriers to dispersal, and 13 isolates populations. All these conditions can contribute to adaptation to new environmental 14 conditions and speciation in excess of extinction for terrestrial species (Badgley 2010). 15 16 Hares and rabbits - Family Leporidae 17 Pronolagus, Bunolagus, Romerolagus, Pentalagus and Nesolagus may belong to lineages 18 that were abundant and widespread in the Oligocene and subsequently lost most (if not all) 19 species. Lepus, Sylvilagus, Caprolagus and Oryctolagus represent more recent radiations 20 which lost species unevenly during the late Pleistocene. Living species in these four genera 21 display more generalist diet and habitat preferences, and are better represented in the fossil 22 record. (Lopez-Martinez 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • World Distribution of the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)
    1 The Evolution, Domestication and World Distribution of the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Luca Fontanesi1*, Valerio Joe Utzeri1 and Anisa Ribani1 1Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Division of Animal Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy 1.1 The Order Lagomorpha to assure essential vitamin uptake, the digestion of the vegetarian diet and water reintroduction The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, (Hörnicke, 1981). Linnaeus 1758) is a mammal belonging to the The order Lagomorpha was recognized as a order Lagomorpha. distinct order within the class Mammalia in Lagomorphs are such a distinct group of 1912, separated from the order Rodentia within mammalian herbivores that the very word ‘lago- which lagomorphs were originally placed (Gidely, morph’ is a circular reference meaning ‘hare- 1912; Landry, 1999). Lagomorphs are, however, shaped’ (Chapman and Flux, 1990; Fontanesi considered to be closely related to the rodents et al., 2016). A unique anatomical feature that from which they diverged about 62–100 million characterizes lagomorphs is the presence of years ago (Mya), and together they constitute small peg-like teeth immediately behind the up- the clade Glires (Chuan-Kuei et al., 1987; Benton per-front incisors. For this feature, lagomorphs and Donoghue, 2007). Lagomorphs, rodents and are also known as Duplicidentata. Therefore, primates are placed in the major mammalian instead of four incisor teeth characteristic of clade of the Euarchontoglires (O’Leary et al., 2013). rodents (also known as Simplicidentata), lago- Modern lagomorphs might be evolved from morphs have six. The additional pair is reduced the ancestral lineage from which derived the in size. Another anatomical characteristic of the †Mimotonidae and †Eurymilydae sister taxa, animals of this order is the presence of an elong- following the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) bound- ated rostrum of the skull, reinforced by a lattice- ary around 65 Mya (Averianov, 1994; Meng et al., work of bone, which is a fenestration to reduce 2003; Asher et al., 2005; López-Martínez, 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • Pygmy Rabbit Brachylagus Idahoensis
    Pygmy Rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis Mammalia — Lagomorpha — Leporidae CONSERVATION STATUS / CLASSIFICATION Rangewide: Apparently secure (G4) Statewide: Imperiled (S2) ESA: No status USFS: Region 1: No status; Region 4: Sensitive BLM: Rangewide/Globally imperiled (Type 2) IDFG: Upland game animal BASIS FOR INCLUSION Regional population abundance and trend data are lacking; habitat threats. TAXONOMY The pygmy rabbit is within the monotypic genus Brachylagus. DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE This species occurs in the Great Basin and adjoining intermountain regions. Populations are widely scattered across this landscape in association with tall, dense sagebrush aggregations with deep, loose soils of alluvial origin that allow burrowing. In Idaho, pygmy rabbits occur across the southern half of the state. The species is considered rare in Idaho, though data on abundance and population trends are generally lacking. Recent surveys for presence of pygmy rabbits have augmented statewide distribution data and documented relatively abundant populations in localized areas (Waterbury, in prep; Roberts 2001). POPULATION TREND There are no trend data for Idaho populations. HABITAT AND ECOLOGY The pygmy rabbit is a sagebrush obligate inhabiting areas characterized by cold winters, warm summers, scant precipitation. Elevations range from 900-2380 m (2800- 7800 ft). Habitat comprises dense, tall stands of big sagebrush growing on deep, friable soils that allow the rabbits to dig rather extensive burrow systems (Janson 2002). Landscape features includes alluvial fans and hillsides, swales within rolling topography, floodplains, brushy draws, riparian channels, edges of rock and lava outcroppings, and mima mounds (low, circular mounds of loose, unstratified soils that support distinctly taller patches of sagebrush). Big sagebrush is the primary food item of pygmy rabbits and may comprise up to 99% of the winter diet (Green and Flinders 1980).
    [Show full text]
  • Black-Tailed Jackrabbit, Cottontail Rabbit, Brush Rabbit Family: Leporidae
    VERTEBRATE PEST CONTROL HANDBOOK - RABBITS BIOLOGY, LEGAL STATUS, CONTROL MATERIALS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE Rabbits – Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Cottontail Rabbit, Brush Rabbit Family: Leporidae Fig. 1. Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) Fig. 2. Desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audobonii) Fig. 3. Brush rabbit (S. bachmani) Introduction: Three rabbits are common to California: the black-tailed jackrabbit, the cottontail, and the brush rabbit. Of these, the jackrabbit is the most destructive because of its greater size and occurrence in agricultural areas. Cottontails are common pests in landscaped areas. Hereinafter ‘rabbits’ shall refer to all three species unless distinguished otherwise. Rabbits can be destructive and eat a wide variety of plants, grasses, grains, alfalfa, vegetables, fruit trees, vines, and many ornamentals. They also cause damage to plastic irrigation through their gnawing activities. Identification: The black-tailed jackrabbit (Fig. 1) is about the size of a house cat, 17 to 22 inches long. It has long ears, short front legs, and long hind legs. They populate open or semi open lands in valleys and foothills. Desert cottontail (Fig. 2) and brush rabbits (Fig. 3) are smaller (14.5 to 15.5, and 12.0 to 14.5 inches in length, respectively) and have shorter ears. Brush rabbits can be distinguished from cottontails by their smaller, inconspicuous tail and uniformly colored ears that lack a black tip. They inhabit brushy areas where cover is dense; landscaped areas provide excellent habitat. They can also be found beneath junipers and other large, low-growing evergreen shrubs. 262 VERTEBRATE PEST CONTROL HANDBOOK - RABBITS Legal Status: Black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails, and brush rabbits are classed as nongame animals in most states, but are considered game mammals by the California Fish and Game Code.
    [Show full text]
  • Lepus Flavigularis) in Oaxaca, Mexico
    Journal of Mammalogy, 87(4):748–756, 2006 HOME RANGE AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF THE ENDANGERED TEHUANTEPEC JACKRABBIT (LEPUS FLAVIGULARIS) IN OAXACA, MEXICO VERO´ NICA FARI´AS,* TODD K. FULLER,FERNANDO A. CERVANTES, AND CONSUELO LORENZO Department of Natural Resources Conservation, 160 Holdsworth Way, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9285, USA (VF, TKF) Laboratorio de Mastozoologı´a, Instituto de Biologı´a, Universidad Nacional Auto´noma de Me´xico, Coyoaca´n, Me´xico D.F. 04510, Me´xico (VF, FAC) Departamento de Ecologı´a y Sistema´tica Terrestre, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Cristo´bal de Las Casas, Chiapas 29290, Me´xico (CL) Present address of VF: Laboratorio de Ana´lisis Espaciales, Instituto de Biologı´a, Universidad Nacional Auto´noma de Me´xico, Coyoaca´n, Me´xico D.F. 04510, Me´xico We studied the home-range and core-area size and overlap of Tehuantepec jackrabbits (Lepus flavigularis) by radiotracking 32 individuals between May 2001 and April 2003 in savanna habitat in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Annual home-range and core-area sizes averaged 55 ha 6 8 SE and 8 6 1 ha for 10 adults of both sexes using the 95% and 50% fixed-kernel isopleths, respectively. Seasonal home ranges varied widely for adults, from 15 to 111 ha for females and from 24 to 166 ha for males. Juvenile males had larger seasonal home ranges than did juvenile females (X ¼ 80 and 24 ha). For adult jackrabbits, seasonal home ranges were larger during the 1st year compared to those of the 2nd year of study (X ¼ 87 and 49 ha), particularly for females.
    [Show full text]
  • State of Knowledge and Conservation of Endangered and Critically Endangered Lagomorphs Worldwide
    THERYA, 2015, Vol. 6 (1): 11-30 DOI: 10.12933/therya-15-225, ISSN 2007-3364 Estado del conocimiento y conservación de lagomorfos en peligro y críticamente en peligro a nivel mundial State of knowledge and conservation of endangered and critically endangered lagomorphs worldwide Consuelo Lorenzo 1* , Tamara M. Rioja-Paradela 2 and Arturo Carrillo-Reyes 3 1El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, Barrio de María Auxiliadora. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, 29290, México. E-mail: [email protected] (CL) 2Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas. Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Colonia Lajas Maciel. Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, 29000, México. E-mail: [email protected] (TMRP) 3Oikos: Conservación y Desarrollo Sustentable, A. C. Bugambilias 5, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, 29267, México. E-mail: [email protected] (ACR) *Corresponding author Introduction: Lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas) are widely distributed in every continent of the world, except Antarctica. They include 91 species: 31 rabbits of the genera Brachylagus , Bunolagus , Caprolagus , Nesolagus , Pentalagus , Poelagus , Prolagus , Pronolagus , Romerolagus, and Sylvilagus ; 32 hares of the genus Lepus and 28 pikas of the genus Ochotona . According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2014), the list of threatened species of lagomorphs includes one extinct, three critically endangered, ten endangered, %ve near threatened, %ve vulnerable, 61 of least concern, and six with de%cient data. Although a rich diversity of lagomorphs and endemic species exists, some of the wild populations have been declining at an accelerated rate, product of human activities and climate change.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix Lagomorph Species: Geographical Distribution and Conservation Status
    Appendix Lagomorph Species: Geographical Distribution and Conservation Status PAULO C. ALVES1* AND KLAUS HACKLÄNDER2 Lagomorph taxonomy is traditionally controversy, and as a consequence the number of species varies according to different publications. Although this can be due to the conservative characteristic of some morphological and genetic traits, like general shape and number of chromosomes, the scarce knowledge on several species is probably the main reason for this controversy. Also, some species have been discovered only recently, and from others we miss any information since they have been first described (mainly in pikas). We struggled with this difficulty during the work on this book, and decide to include a list of lagomorph species (Table 1). As a reference, we used the recent list published by Hoffmann and Smith (2005) in the “Mammals of the world” (Wilson and Reeder, 2005). However, to make an updated list, we include some significant published data (Friedmann and Daly 2004) and the contribu- tions and comments of some lagomorph specialist, namely Andrew Smith, John Litvaitis, Terrence Robinson, Andrew Smith, Franz Suchentrunk, and from the Mexican lagomorph association, AMCELA. We also include sum- mary information about the geographical range of all species and the current IUCN conservation status. Inevitably, this list still contains some incorrect information. However, a permanently updated lagomorph list will be pro- vided via the World Lagomorph Society (www.worldlagomorphsociety.org). 1 CIBIO, Centro de Investigaça˜o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos and Faculdade de Ciˆencias, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vaira˜o 4485-661 – Vaira˜o, Portugal 2 Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str.
    [Show full text]