Ecological Impacts of Introduced European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Island Ecosystems in the Mediterranean
<p>Map of study sites, with brown indicating islands that are currently being grazed by rabbits, green indicating islands that have never been grazed, and yellow representing islands with eradicated rabbit populations.</p> "> Figure 2
<p>Rabbit introductions have been an increasingly widespread phenomenon on Aegean Sea islands [<a href="#B32-diversity-16-00244" class="html-bibr">32</a>]. The above map shows the islands in the Cyclades with documented introduced European rabbit populations. Satellite islands (denoted in red) are likely to harbor floras with small island specialists and, therefore, more likely to be impacted by rabbits. Larger islands (denoted in orange) are inhabited by humans and livestock and have plant species communities largely adapted to herbivory. Islands are listed in <a href="#diversity-16-00244-t0A2" class="html-table">Table A2</a> in the <a href="#app1-diversity-16-00244" class="html-app">Appendix A</a>.</p> "> Figure 3
<p>Changes in the percent of bush, herbaceous vegetation, bare soil, and exposed rock cover across the three types of grazing categories. Dark green represents bush cover; light green represents herbaceous cover; brown represents soil cover, and gray represents rock cover. Significant differences (<span class="html-italic">p</span> < 0.05) are denoted by *.</p> "> Figure 4
<p>Relationship between vegetation height (cm) and percent vegetation cover on the study islands, shown separately for each category of rabbit grazing status.</p> "> Figure 5
<p>Total number of specialist/endemic plant species across the three different grazing statuses. Islands with rabbits had significantly fewer such plant species relative to ungrazed islands.</p> "> Figure 6
<p>Differences in abundance of arthropods per pitfall trap on the study islands (corrected for island area).</p> "> Figure 7
<p>Boxplot of soil depth with individual data points overlaid across the three island categories.</p> "> Figure 8
<p>Endemic plant taxa found on Aegean Islets that are vulnerable to impacts from grazing. (<b>A</b>) <span class="html-italic">Campanula heterophylla</span> (JF). (<b>B</b>) <span class="html-italic">Dianthus fruticosus</span> (JF). (<b>C</b>) <span class="html-italic">Scorzonera araneosa</span> (JF). (<b>D</b>) <span class="html-italic">Brassica cretica</span> (JF). (<b>E</b>) <span class="html-italic">Origanum calcaratum</span> (<span class="html-italic">G. Gavalas</span>). (<b>F</b>) <span class="html-italic">Helichrysum amorginum</span> (JF).</p> "> Figure 9
<p>Photographs of some of our study islands across the three rabbit presence categories. Images show how rabbits mainly target low, herbaceous vegetation and less woody perennial species (e.g., <span class="html-italic">Pistacea lentiscus</span>) that often remain unaffected by rabbits due to their chemical and physical defenses or height. Post-rabbit islands are characterized primarily by the re-colonization of areas between these scrubby perennials by low annuals. However, any such recovery never attains the original, ungrazed levels of vegetation cover, at least not without additional restoration steps. Images from Angelina Kossoff, 2022, and Agia Kali from Johannes Foufopoulos, 2022.</p> "> Figure A1
<p>Box plot displaying the variation in vegetation height (cm) across the three island classifications. Individual data points are overlaid across the boxplots.</p> ">
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
2.2. Grazing Intensity
2.3. Vegetation Assessment
2.4. Arthropod Community Assessment
2.5. Soil Characteristics
2.6. Statistical Analyses
3. Results
3.1. Survey
3.2. Grazing Intensity
3.3. Vegetation
3.3.1. Ground Cover
3.3.2. Vegetation Height
3.3.3. Vegetation Biomass
3.3.4. Vegetation Species Richness
3.4. Arthropods
3.5. Soil
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Agia Kali | Grambonisi | Tourlos | Glarombi | Lower Fira | Panterionisi | Filitzi | Galiastos | Tigani | Gramvousa | Upper Fira | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grazing Status | Ungrazed | Ungrazed | Ungrazed | Grazed | Grazed | Grazed | Grazed | Post-rabbit | Post-rabbit | Post-rabbit | Post-rabbit |
Area (km2) | 0.01 | 0.15 | 0.03 | 0.21 | 0.46 | 0.48 | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.08 | 0.79 | 0.26 |
Vegetation Height (cm) | 15.26 ± 4.22 | 35.5 ± 5.21 | 13.35 ± 1.62 | 12.81 ± 3.40 | 29.72 ± 5.66 | 13.46 ± 5.28 | 13.74 ± 4.88 | 3.74 ± 2.85 | 6.02 ± 1.05 | 9.40 ± 5.28 | 24.12 ± 9.84 |
Observed Plant Species | 12.00 | 15.00 | 8.00 | 9.00 | 8.00 | 11.00 | 9.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | 17.00 | 8.00 |
Chao1 Bias-Corrected Estimate (plant) | 14.55 | 16.99 | 9.76 | 9.00 | 6.00 | 17.50 | 14.75 | 14.82 | 13.62 | 75.14 | 7.47 |
Average Aboveground Biomass (g) | 183.2 ± 98.24 | 417.99 ± 226.35 | 443.60 ± 112.45 | 63.06 ± 29.39 | 216.20 ± 145.96 | 120.80 ± 57.7 | 314.98 ± 151.52 | 111.6 ± 50.64 | 175.38 ± 106.22 | 278.89 ± 188.08 | 218 ± 44.56 |
Average Soil Depth (cm) | 31.98 | 25.64 | 10.03 | 8.40 | N/A | 13.12 | 10.68 | 9.24 | 4.78 | 4.09 | N/A |
Observed Pitfall Trap Species | 9.00 | 4.00 | 11.00 | 8.00 | 11.00 | 10.00 | 7.00 | 3.00 | 5.00 | 7.00 | 6.00 |
Average Arthropod Biomass per day (g) | 0.036 | 0.244 | 0.085 | 0.020 | 0.024 | 0.199 | 0.008 | 0.022 | 0.040 | 0.159 | 0.003 |
Arthropod Abundance per day (pitfall) | 24.79 | 20.50 | 46.97 | 4.75 | 37.33 | 21.00 | 13.14 | 10.81 | 14.40 | 7.33 | 11.20 |
Arthropod Abundance per day (sticky) | 14.14 ± 2.28 | 39.1 ± 11.90 | 11.51 ± 3.32 | 6.75 ± 3.93 | 11.84 ± 2.36 | 26.9 ± 4.70 | 6.63 ± 1.88 | 23.73 ± 3.70 | 6.7 ± 0.93 | 30.53 ± 6.45 | 37.01 ± 14.35 |
Percent Vegetation Cover | 53.33% ± 3.6 | 79.57% ± 5.01 | 55% ± 3.97 | 41.67% ± 7.39 | 56.67% ± 8.05 | 35% ± 5.53 | 41.67% ± 6.16 | 24.17% ± 1.6 | 45.83% ± 6.29 | 44.27% ± 4.85 | 54.17% ± 16.52 |
Number | Island | Documented By | Latitude | Longitude |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Akamatis | JF | 37.856210 | 24.746671 |
2 | Megalo | JF | 37.848055 | 24.750482 |
3 | Andros | Masseti | 37.854974 | 24.851252 |
4 | Giaros | Masseti | 37.611585 | 24.715466 |
5 | Syros | JF | 37.424795 | 24.912170 |
6 | Dydimi | JF | 37.426787 | 24.973094 |
7 | Tinos | Masseti | 37.599734 | 25.130841 |
8 | Kea | Masseti | 37.623806 | 24.336106 |
9 | Kithnos | Masseti | 37.387624 | 24.421376 |
10 | Serifos | Masseti | 37.162023 | 24.483325 |
11 | Vous | JF | 37.142318 | 24.561666 |
12 | Kitriani | JF | 36.904085 | 24.726438 |
13 | Kimolos | Masseti | 36.809761 | 24.557400 |
14 | Milos | Masseti | 36.683792 | 24.460690 |
15 | Folegandros | Masseti | 36.633207 | 24.896052 |
16 | Kardiotisa | Masseti | 36.629623 | 25.017722 |
17 | Sikinos | Masseti | 36.676971 | 25.116797 |
18 | Ios | JF | 36.724885 | 25.319705 |
19 | Psathonisi | JF | 36.749432 | 25.364105 |
20 | Cristiana | Masseti | 36.249606 | 25.202587 |
21 | Santorini | Masseti | 36.387112 | 25.455643 |
22 | Despotiko | JF | 36.962468 | 25.002743 |
23 | Lower Fira | JF | 37.054512 | 25.082179 |
24 | Upper Fira | JF | 37.061153 | 25.085618 |
25 | Antiparos | Masseti | 36.998277 | 25.047446 |
26 | Glarombi | JF | 36.979221 | 25.109781 |
27 | Tigani | JF | 36.976707 | 25.116035 |
28 | Panterionisi | JF | 36.971061 | 25.119186 |
29 | Paros | JF | 37.050244 | 25.181891 |
30 | Galiatsos | JF | 37.130813 | 25.245973 |
31 | Gaidouronisi | JF | 37.157282 | 25.268061 |
32 | Ovriokastro | Masseti | 37.152427 | 25.296432 |
33 | Filitzi | JF | 37.124964 | 25.289978 |
34 | Mando | JF | 37.089253 | 25.361565 |
35 | Naxos | JF | 37.054048 | 25.482152 |
36 | Macheres | JF | 37.085339 | 25.695641 |
37 | Agia Paraskevi | JF | 37.079723 | 25.70582 |
38 | Donousa | JF | 37.107447 | 25.812942 |
39 | Prasoura | JF | 36.986712 | 25.638222 |
40 | Ano Koufonisi | JF | 36.941124 | 25.606195 |
41 | Glaronisi | JF | 36.916409 | 25.605192 |
42 | Schoinoussa | JF | 36.873949 | 25.519387 |
43 | Keros | JF | 36.890691 | 25.651398 |
44 | Megali Plaka | JF | 36.877677 | 25.626787 |
45 | Andreas | JF | 36.861629 | 25.621933 |
46 | Kato Antikeri | JF | 36.841104 | 25.665571 |
47 | Pano Antikeri | JF | 36.846570 | 25.680731 |
48 | Gramvousa | JF | 36.807258 | 25.745579 |
49 | Amorgos | JF | 36.846272 | 25.898340 |
50 | Nikouria | JF | 36.886292 | 25.908540 |
51 | Anydros | JF | 36.625212 | 25.682358 |
52 | Anafi | Masseti | 36.368622 | 25.773609 |
53 | Pachia | Masseti | 36.271722 | 25.830563 |
54 | Makria | Masseti | 36.269564 | 25.886052 |
55 | Megalo Sofrano | JF | 36.075218 | 26.400744 |
56 | Mikro Sofrano | JF | 36.046704 | 26.409475 |
57 | Syrna | JF | 36.347422 | 26.676584 |
58 | Mesonisi | JF | 36.299744 | 26.740516 |
59 | Astypalea | JF | 36.580607 | 26.370291 |
60 | Diapori | JF | 36.570960 | 26.387153 |
61 | Chtapodia | JF | 37.410302 | 25.567967 |
62 | Mykonos | Masseti | 37.444814 | 25.379182 |
63 | Delos | Masseti | 37.391613 | 25.271329 |
64 | Megalos Revmatiaris | JF | 37.394672 | 25.260716 |
65 | Rhinia | Masseti | 37.413464 | 25.222172 |
66 | Kato Koufonisi | JF | 36.912094 | 25.577397 |
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Kossoff, A.; Schueller, S.; Nossan, H.; Slack, I.; Avramidis, P.; Foufopoulos, J. Ecological Impacts of Introduced European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Island Ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Diversity 2024, 16, 244. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040244
Kossoff A, Schueller S, Nossan H, Slack I, Avramidis P, Foufopoulos J. Ecological Impacts of Introduced European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Island Ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Diversity. 2024; 16(4):244. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040244
Chicago/Turabian StyleKossoff, Angelina, Sheila Schueller, Hannah Nossan, Ian Slack, Pavlos Avramidis, and Johannes Foufopoulos. 2024. "Ecological Impacts of Introduced European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Island Ecosystems in the Mediterranean" Diversity 16, no. 4: 244. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040244