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Alterations in condition of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on rangelands following brush management
Author
Lochmiller, R. L.
Pietz, D. G.
McMurry, S. T.
Leslie, D. M.
Engle, D. M.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1995-05-01
Body

Although the use of herbicides and prescribed fire have been shown to increase density of cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) populations, the impact of such brush management practices on their condition has not been explored. We used discriminant analysis to investigate responses of overall physical condition of cottontail rabbits (n = 422 adults) to brush management and succession on replicated disturbed and undisturbed upland hardwood forest-tallgrass prairie over a 6-year period. Five different disturbed habitat types were experimentally created using herbicides (tebuthiuron or triclopyr), fire, or a combination of both. Parameters that were important discriminators of rabbit physical condition among habitat types and post-disturbance successional changes included indices of kidney fat and parasitism, and relative masses of spleen, liver, and dried stomach digesta. Brush management practices using herbicides influenced overall condition of rabbits, but the type of habitat disturbance was not important. Effects on overall body condition of cottontail rabbits from burning disturbed habitats were not apparent until later seral stages when production of herbaceous dicots declined and vegetative composition more closely resembled that of undisturbed areas. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4002426
Additional Information
Lochmiller, R. L., Pietz, D. G., McMurry, S. T., Leslie, D. M., & Engle, D. M. (1995). Alterations in condition of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on rangelands following brush management. Journal of Range Management, 48(3), 232-239.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/644356
Journal Volume
48
Journal Number
3
Journal Pages
232-239
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
body condition
tebuthiuron
triclopyr
Sylvilagus floridanus
habitats
brush control
ecological succession
prescribed burning
Oklahoma