Naslov
The invasion of the european rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L., 1758) on the Lokrum island – an example of poor management of the protected area.

Autori
Jasprica, Nenad ; Dolina, Katija

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Book of Abstracts of the Second Croatian Symposium on Invasive Species with International Participation / Jelaska, Sven - Zagreb : Hrvatsko ekološko društvo, 2016, 69-69

Skup
The Second Croatian Symposium on Invasive Species with International Participation

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 21.11.2016. - 22.11.2016

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
abundance ; activity ; habitat structure ; Mediterranean ecosystem ; botanical garden ; south Croatia.

Sažetak
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L., 1758) is a key mammal prey species in the food webs in the Mediterranean ecosystems. According to the literature, the European rabbit prefers types of vegetation cover that offer, first of all, shelter, mainly in the form of shrub cover, and secondly, vegetation cover that always displays high fragmentation or high availability of resources. Until 2014, there were no rabbits on the island of Lokrum (72 ha), which is protected as a Special Reserve of Forest Vegetation since 1976. Although in protected, covered habitats, food for rabbits is scarce, limiting their population density, the population of the rabbits rapidly increased and they are considered a pest on the island. According to the Croatian legislative system, introducing rabbits on islands and/or protected areas is not allowed. Direct damage is clearly visible in the excavation, milling and damage to the root systems of many plant species in the Lokrum Botanical garden (2 ha), particularly in the fields with succulents. Visible holes in the ground give visitors a terrible first impression. All these undermine the level of expertise and management practices in the Special Reserve, including the Botanical garden. We emphasize the responsibilities of the management authority of a Special Reserve, local and state institutions for removing rabbits from the island in an appropriate way. However, rabbit control is time-consuming and there is no quick fix solution.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA