Agricultural Habitat Heterogenity Impact on the European Hare (Lepus europaeus) Density in Vojvodina Region (Serbia)

Abstract

Throughout Europe agriculture intensification during the last decades has dramatically changed the structure of the farmland landscape with an intensive impact on ecosystem stability. Changes in the production led to decreased habitat heterogeneity and to decline in biodiversity, including the European hare (Lepus europaeus), especially in the lowland regions. Even though European hare mostly adapted to intensive agricultural habitats, the population densities have decreased throughout Europe since the 1960s. Previous research reported field size to be one of the most important predictors of the hare population. We aimed to assess the effect of habitat heterogeneity and structure on hare habitat selection i.e. population density. Using hunting organization census data we explored the population density and habitat preference of the European hare in spring 2020 in the hunting ground, Ba & ccaron;ka - Ba & ccaron;ki Petrovac. The average population density of European hare significantly differed between four fractions of the hunting ground - Ba & ccaron;ki Petrovac, Kulpin, Glo & zcaron;an, and Magli & cacute;. Density varied from 27 in Ba & ccaron;ki Petrovac to 50 individuals per 100 ha in Magli & cacute;. The population was negatively affected by mean patch size and by the area under no vegetation during the winter period. Conservation measures should focus on enhancing habitat heterogeneity by reducing field size, and fostering sowing during the late autumn period.