Survival of translocated wild rabbits: importance of habitat, physiological and immune condition

摘要: European wild rabbit populations are declining in Mediterranean ecosystems, where the species is of special conservation interest, and translocations one most-used tools to recover populations. We evaluated effects habitat physiological immune condition on short- long-term survival translocated adult rabbits. Rabbits were released four different treatments frequently used programmes: additional shelter, food, shelter plus predator exclusion control. Before releasing rabbits, we determined their from body-mass serum levels urea, creatinine total protein, concentrations antibodies against myxomatosis haemorrhagic disease. The risk dying during first 18 days post-release was two times lower treatment than that food Short-term also negative positively correlated with protein levels, respectively. 19 180 10 nine control, respectively, negatively antibody concentration myxomatosis. results suggest short-term related predation condition, availability incidence. recommend translocation programmes should consider using soft-release methods reduce ensure all individuals best possible increase survival. be managed environment provides appropriate conditions (i.e. shelter) for population persistence. Immune taken into account origin donor variability pathogen virus strains.