Variations during an annual cycle in wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, L. 1758) circadian activity. Díez, C.; Pérez, J.A.; Bartolomé, D.J.; Prieto, R.; Alonso, M.E.; Gaudioso, V. Dpto. Producción Animal II. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de León. (España). dp2cdv@unileon.es

II WORLD LAGOMORPH CONFERENCE (VAIRAO, PORTUGAL)

 

INTRODUCCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, L.1758) is one of the most emblematic species of the Iberian Peninsula (CAMPS, 1994), being main food of species so outstanding as the Imperial Iberian Eagle (Aquila Adalberti) or Iberian Linx (Linx pardina), which depends on it directly, for its survive. This study aims to determine the activity patterns of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, L. 1758) during the year.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study period was from January to December 2003. Fourteen adult wild rabbits were used, divided randomly in two groups of five females and two males. All animals were identified using a microchip with an alpha-numeric code. Each group was introduced in a 0,5 ha. enclosure. Each enclosure was divided in two areas, one of 0,1 ha in which the burrows were located, and another one of 0,4 ha planted with cereals and leguminous. Two exits, equipped with a microchip reader and a scale connected with a computer, communicated both areas. Data about animal code, day, hour, weight and movements frequency were registered. An activity index, considering the frequency of both exits used, was analysed comparing sexes and months. Statistical analysis was made using SPSS v.11.0 for WINDOWS.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The mean global activity per hour values during the year shows a common pattern for both sexes, characterized by two picks of activity at 6:00 and 21:00 hours for males and 7:00 and 21:00 hours for females (Graph 1).

Activity levels were always bigger in males than in females during the whole study period. Both sexes showed significant higher activity levels during the first months of the year, coinciding with the reproductive period of wild rabbits in the study area (Graph 2).

There were not significant differences between sexes or months of the year when we consider the average of hours that the animals spend in the feeding area. The mean value of the time spend in the feeding area in each visit was higher for the females during every month of the study period and also we observed that during the summer months this value was higher.