Bhadresa, R.: Food Preferences of Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus L. at Holkham Sand Dunes, Norfolk

R. Bhadresa: Food Preferences of Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus L. at Holkham Sand Dunes, Norfolk.
In: Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Apr., 1977), pp. 287-291.

Link: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2401845?uid=3737864&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21102708982881

Zitat :

Abstract

(1) Faecal pellets of rabbits were collected from the Holkham sand dunes, Norfolk. The proportion of leaf epidermis of various plant species in the faecal pellets was compared with the proportions of the species in the surrounding vegetation. (2) Festuca rubra was the major contributor to the diet and was apparently preferred, since the proportion was greater in the faeces than in the vegetation. Ammophila arenaria, Carex arenaria, Poa pratensis and Dicranum scoparium were apparently disliked. (3) Monocotyledonous species formed the major part of the diet of rabbits throughout the year, but the contribution of dicotyledonous species and mosses increased slightly during spring and summer.