Agroecosystem quality as an essential driver of European hare (Lepus europaeus) population density in contrasting farmlands
Abstract
The European hare is a rapidly declining farmland specialist, particularly sensitive to changes in landscape structure and agricultural management. Previous studies had found that agricultural landscape diversity can affect population densities; however, this evidence came from distant locations with different environmental and climatic conditions. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the differences in European hare population densities between two neighboring locations (1.1 km apart) in Czechia, with contrasting landscape structures and compositions (heterogeneous vs. homogeneous study areas), and to compare these with a control study area featuring small-scale farming in Lower Austria. The European hare population densities were determined using infrared thermography in regular squares with fixed line transects during two spring monitoring periods in Czechia and one in Austria (2023–2024). We found significantly higher adult densities in the Czech heterogeneous landscape during two spring monitoring periods in 2023 and 2024 (117.3 ± 68.1 to 179.0 ± 95.4 ind./100 ha). A comparable population density was found in Austria (90.6 ± 50.0 to 113.8 ± 48.6 ind./100 ha). Contrarily, we found an incomparably lower population density in the Czech neighboring homogeneous landscape (25.0 ± 29.7 to 38.3 ± 44.1 ind./100 ha) and an even more contrasting pattern was found for subadults and juveniles. Detected population density of juveniles was 7.0 ± 10.6 to 24.3 ± 24.7 ind./100 ha in a Czech heterogeneous landscape, 8.1 ± 10.6 to 11.9 ± 12.0 ind./100 ha in Austria, but only 0.4 ± 1.6 to 2.1 ± 5.6 ind./100 ha in a Czech homogeneous landscape, which may indicate a lower survival rate in homogeneous agroecosystems. Our findings, based on pair comparison of neighboring areas with comparable environmental and climatic factors but with contrasting farmland structures and agricultural practices, suggest that population density is primarily driven by agroecosystem quality (i.e., heterogeneous small-scale farmland with a higher share of non-agricultural vegetation).
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.fj6q57461
Description of the data and file structure
The European hare is a rapidly declining farmland specialist, particularly sensitive to changes in landscape structure and agricultural management. This dataset contains population densities of the European hare in three study areas located in Czechia and Lower Austria. Our study aims to assess differences in the population density of the European hare in two neighboring areas in Czechia with contrasting agricultural practices, and then compare it to a control area in Austria that has a heterogeneous landscape pattern with a predominance of small arable fields which represents an ideal habitat for European hares.
Files and variables
File: data.xlsx
Description: This dataset contains population densities of the European hare recorded in three study areas located in two Central European countries. The data were collected during two spring monitoring periods in Czechia and one in Austria (2023–2024) and include population densities stratified by age class (adult, subadult, juvenile). The dataset serves to assess differences in the population density of the European hare in contrasting agricultural landscapes.
Variables
- country - country where the study area is located (Czechia, Austria)
- study area - code of the study area (CZ_hetero/CZ_homo/AU_hetero)
- year - year of data collection (2023/2024)
- period - spring monitoring period (A/B)
- age - age category of individuals: adult, subadutl, juvenile
- square ID - unique identifier of the monitoring square (400 m square grid)
- ind./100 ha - population density expressed as the number of individuals per 100 ha
Code/software
The dataset can be opened and viewed using Microsoft Excel or any compatible spreadsheet software.
