Abstract

GONZALEZ-GALVEZ, José Luis et al. Contrasting latrine sizes in two leporid species after fire in a semiarid ecosystem. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2018, vol.89, n.1, pp.163-172. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.1.2080.

The cottontail rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus (J.A. Allen, 1990) and white-sided jackrabbit Lepus callotis (Wagler, 1830), coexist in the semiarid valley of Perote, Veracruz an area under continuous changes in land use and frequent anthropogenic impact of induced fires. We describe the formation of lagomorphs latrines, their composition, size and distribution as well as the characterization of the vegetation between conserved and fire disturbed sites. Our results show that the size of latrines differed between rabbits and hares as well as between sites. Disturbed sites had consistently more heterogeneous sized latrines. We also recorded that mixed latrines, that contained both rabbit and hare droppings, occurred only 6 months after intense fires occurred. Therefore, S. floridanus and L. callotis have a high plasticity towards habitat changes, even those associated to fire and rapidly use the disturbed habitat despite the temporary loss of vegetation cover.

Keywords : Habitat; Lagomorphs; Disturbance; Rabbit; Hare jackrabbit; Semiarid.