Effects of human induced land‐use changes on the distribution of the Iberian hare

摘要: Land conversion in Mediterranean Europe has substantially altered the biotic interactions and patterns of resource availability many ecosystems with serious environmental consequences on some species. Habitat changes are thought to be main cause decline numbers European hares, Lepus europaeus, throughout Europe. In contrast, Iberian hare L. granatensis, Spain significantly increased since early 1990s. We aimed investigate habitat favourability within municipalities southern from 1960s use predictive distribution models assess relationship between species' distribution, based hunting yields, variables by municipality. Our results show that requirements have changed recent decades a highly significant association natural vegetation 1960s, one cultivated lands argue this shift may enabled increase numbers. heterogeneity at municipality scale benefited especially olive groves. Unlike hare, which suffered homogeneous, intensively managed landscapes, Andalusia dry wood crops irrigated herbaceous crops. These anthropogenic habitats provide year-round cover food. However, schemes target regeneration variety landscapes should encouraged.