2026-08-22T19:39:14Zhttps://docta.ucm.es/rest/oai/requestoai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/429112023-08-26T13:50:20Zcom_20.500.14352_14col_20.500.14352_15
Docta Complutense
author
Gálvez-Bravo, L.
author
López-Pintor Alcón, Antonio
author
Rebollo, S.
author
Gómez-Sal, Antonio
2023-06-20T00:43:00Z
2023-06-20T00:43:00Z
2011-09
1095-922X
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.03.015
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42911
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196311001029
Mammalian herbivores can have dramatic etfects on the vegetation through different mechanisms, and may therefore modify resource distribution or create habitat for other species. Organisms that cause such changes are classified as ecosystem engineers. The European rabbit ( Orycto/agus cunicu/us) is a semifossorial mammal native to the lberian Peninsula and a keystone species in Mediterranean foodwebs. Rabbits are central-place foragers, but few studies have analysed their ecosystem engineering effects in the vicinity ofwarrens. Here, we explored the role of rabbits as ecosystem engineers in Mediterranean pastures in central Spain. We studied the spatial patterns and internal heterogeneity in the vegetation community of different spatial subunits created by rabbits (warrens, the warren influence area, and latrines). Within the different subunits, rabbit activities gave rise to patches and gradients with different plant species richness, diversity and height. and a high internal heterogeneity (dissimilarity) in floristic composition. Through different mechanisms, they have a significant effect on species coexistence and competitive interactions, and increase the number of available ni ches for plants which otherwise would not be able to establish. In conclusion, rabbits can act as allogenic ecosystem engineers in Mediterranean pastures, increasing heterogeneity and contributing to the high biodiversity of Mediterranean annual pastures.
eng
European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) engineering effects promote plant heterogeneity in Mediterranean dehesa pastures
journal article
URL
https://docta.ucm.es/bitstreams/b1885ecf-0682-4d38-a093-63960263302f/download
File
MD5
b8936ba9af62bfe69da8598644fc6ed3
5573041
application/pdf
Galvez-Bravo-DE-European-rabbit.pdf
URL
https://docta.ucm.es/bitstreams/321f1345-633f-44b6-b3a9-a0ee12a1cffa/download
File
MD5
24d68299ae13852334a122ea657bbaaa
16
text/plain
Galvez-Bravo-DE-European-rabbit.pdf.txt