Effects of arboriculture stands on European hare Lepus europaeus spring habitat use in an agricultural area of northern Italy

摘要: Habitat changes due to agricultural intensification is widely considered a main cause of European hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) decline. We investigated the potential arboriculture stands enhance landscape diversity and increase farmland suitability for hares in an intensive area northern Italy. In spring 2005, we recorded habitat use during feeding activity resting time by nocturnal censuses searching daytime sites, respectively. Hare presence/absence, based on faecal pellets, was assessed 150 1-m radius plots. Hares positively selected edges avoided woods stubble both time, which highlights key role permanent linear cover providing variety vegetation types required shelter feed. Forms were typically located covered places, surrounded denser than sample plots, order gain protection from avian terrestrial predators. Arboriculture seem be able satisfy part requirement, thanks ground flora that provide tasty food, tree offers refuge against predators bad weather conditions. However, more focused studies are necessary improve knowledge long-term effects these crops biodiversity.