Studies of the rabbit population on Macquarie Island. ...

• Main Author: Skira, Irynej Joseph
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Macquarie Island
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23243456; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Studies_of_the_rabbit_population_on_Macquarie_Island_/23243456

Studies were made of the ecology of rabbits on Macquarie Island, the predation on rabbits by skuas and the distribution and extent of spread of the European rabbit flea. The numbe:r of rabbits on Macquarie Island estimated from visual counts was in the order of 50 OOO. Most rabbits were present on 35% of the island, of which 7% had >15 rabbits per 2 ha. 'I'he ma.in coat colours were agouti (83%) and black (17%). The rabbits moulted twice a year. Females were heavier than males during the summer when breeding occurred, while males were heavier during winter. The mean weight of liver, kidneys and spleen in female rabbits was greatest in the summer and adrenal glands were heaviest in the winter. In male rabbits the kidneys and spleen were heaviest in the smamer, the liver and adrenal glands heaviest in winter. The breeding season extended from late August 1974 to mid-March 1975 Skua territories were widely distributed on the island but no pairs that nested in the bleak upland regions searched,reared chicks. ...