The effect of landscape heterogeneity on population density and habitat preferences of the European hare (Lepus europaeus) in contrasting farmlands

We assessed the effect of habitat heterogeneity and predator density on the European hare (Lepus europaeus), a declining farmland specialist, in intensive farmlands in Central Europe. Using spotlight surveys we explored population density and habitat preference of the European hare in spring and autumn during 2014-2015 in seven farmland regions, of which six were located in the Czech Republic and one in Austria. The average population density of European hares significantly differed between study regions in the Czech Republic and Austria, however, we found no differences in population density between autumn and spring. In particular, the average European hare population density in study regions in the Czech Republic varied between 6.8-17.0 individuals/100 ha, whereas in Austria the population density reached 65.3 individuals/100 ha. Differences between spring and autumn population densities were not significant. European hare population density was significantly negatively affected by mean patch size and positively by area of arable land. We did not find a significant effect of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) presence on the numbers of European hares in individual regions. Habitat preferences differed among regions with contrasting population densities and field sizes, hares in regions of high density and small fields were more equally distributed among available habitats compared to regions of low or intermediate density and large fields. To conclude, conservation measures focusing on enhancing habitat heterogeneity by reducing field size may be an effective tool to support populations of European hares in arable farmland landscapes.