Enclosed population monitoring of European rabbits (Leporidae)

Knowledge graph centered on Enclosed population monitoring of European rabbits (Leporidae) with 20 nodes and 83 connections. Top connected: Marmota flaviventris, mark-recapture (Sciuridae), small mammals, Peromyscus, Marmota monax.

Method synopsis

Long-term monitoring of rabbit reproduction in a controlled field enclosure using live-trapping and nest observation. Litter composition determined through hair color analysis and behavioral observation.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Long-term effects of litter sex ratio on female reproduction in two iteroparous mammals (2014), Functional Ecology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Monitor rabbit populations in field enclosure
   Studied rabbits in field enclosure of two hectares in size at University of Bayreuth campus. Animals were descendants of rabbits caught in wild in South Germany.
   Quantities: 246 measurements on reproduction from 125 adult females born during different years, stemming from 65 different mothers and 101 different littersDuration: Data collected from 1991 to 2007 as part of long-term project started in 1985Conditions: Field enclosure conditions in Franconia, Germany
   Equipment: field enclosure of two hectares
2. Trap and monitor rabbit reproduction
   Used Tomahawk traps made of wood overnight and checked at dawn the next morning. Set traps again until left open until noon and checked every 1-2 hours. Removed animals from traps and placed singly in opaque boxes.
   Quantities: Traps set overnight, checked at dawn, then set again and checked every 1-2 hours until noonDuration: Overnight trapping sessions with hourly checks during dayConditions: Between trapping sessions, traps were left open
   Equipment: Tomahawk traps made of wood (90 × 30 × 30 cm), opaque boxes
3. Determine rabbit litter composition through hair analysis
   Determined mother of each litter by location of nest in combination with color of hair found in nest. Mother identity was additionally confirmed by analysis of females' abdominal palpation during regular trapping sessions and by behavioral observations.

Typical Equipment

• Tomahawk traps made of wood (90 × 30 × 30 cm)
• opaque boxes
• field enclosure of two hectares

Output Measurements

• litter composition
• reproductive timing
• breeding success
• population density

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol