Effect of wildfires and post-fire forest treatments on rabbit abundance

摘要: One of the main factors involved in decline European wild rabbit Iberian Peninsula is loss suitable habitats caused by abandonment agricultural and grazing activities. Nowadays, Mediterranean landscapes suffer from wildfires that affect extensive areas produce considerable habitat changes. However, little known about influence post-fire treatments on abundance to address policies recover their populations. To do so, we studied abundances this species four types plots during three consecutive years after a wildfire Catalonia (NE Spain): (A) unburnt forests, (B) burnt forests with removal trees but branches left, (C) branches, (D) non-forested plots. Rabbits progressively colonised plots, where increased for at least 5 fire, decreased or even disappeared ones, indicating forest fires have positive effect Although did not differ between plot types, had highest increase abundance. In addition, soil covered dense vegetation appeared negatively correlated abundance, could hinder movements, while some plant benefit rabbits providing high quality food. Thus, favourable populations might therefore be good way increasing conservation economic value affected fires.