Use of space by sympatric European hares (Lepus europaeus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Australia

Abstract

Summary Use of space by sympatric European hares (Lepus europaeus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was investigated in a coarse-grained environment in the Mediterranean climatic zone of Australia by telemetric methods. There was a high degree of overlap between rabbits and hares during the day, when both species made use of native vegetation as cover. At night, hares travelled further than rabbits. Well after both species had become active, the hares still spent time in crop and pasture areas utilised by rabbits, although partial avoidance was detected in the periods around dawn and dusk. Rabbit home ranges were c.10 ha, but at 149 ha mean hare home range area matched the maximum predicted for a herbivorous species of its size. Home ranges of rabbits, and overlap between male rabbits, decreased as succulent green feed became available. Home ranges of hares remained large, and overlap between male hares remained high, irrespective of the availability of green feed.