Multiple warren use by subadult wild rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, and its implications for disease transmission
Scott Jennings A and Gregory Mutze B CA Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
B Biosecurity SA, PIRSA, GPO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: greg.mutze@sa.gov.au
Wildlife Research 44(7) 582-586 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR17042
Submitted: 22 March 2017 Accepted: 7 October 2017 Published: 27 November 2017
Abstract
Context: Contact rates are a key determinant of disease transmission. Territorial behaviour has generally been considered to limit contact between European rabbits occupying different warrens, particularly during the breeding season.
Aims: We investigated warren use by subadult rabbits during a period of low population density to determine their potential role in transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis.
Methods: Subadult rabbits were radio-collared in late summer and relocated twice-weekly for 25 weeks, during which time they grew to adult size and breeding commenced.
Key results: Rabbits of both sexes used an average of four warrens each on a regular basis, even after older rabbits had commenced breeding. Warrens used by individual rabbits formed a continuously overlapping, irregular array. Subadult rabbits did not belong to separate social groups that utilised separate groups of warrens.
Conclusions: Subadult or young adult rabbits did not display the same territorial warren fidelity that had been previously described for rabbits. They have potential to carry pathogens between warrens at a landscape scale.
Implications: Movement of subadult rabbits between warrens is therefore likely to play a critical role in disease transmission, particularly when population density is low. This may help to explain the prevalent seasonality of RHD epizootics in spring when first-born litters of each breeding season typically reach that size.
Additional keywords: contact rates, epidemiology, European rabbit, myxomatosis, rabbit haemorrhagic disease, social groups, territorial behaviour.
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