Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula

This study analyzes the reproductive performance of the European brown hare across different areas and environments in Italy: a hilly and a mountainous district in Basilicata and two plains districts in Emilia–Romagna. Fertility varied significantly by region, with the highest rates observed in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) 2024-12, Vol.14 (24), p.3690
Main Authors: Freschi, Pierangelo, Cosentino, Carlo, Mallia, Egidio, Trocchi, Valter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal reproduction
Climate
Endometrium
Environmental conditions
European brown hare
Females
Fertility
Hunting
Laboratories
Ligaments
placental scars
Population growth
Predation
Rabbits
reproduction seasonality
Success
Temperature
Uterus
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Summary:This study analyzes the reproductive performance of the European brown hare across different areas and environments in Italy: a hilly and a mountainous district in Basilicata and two plains districts in Emilia–Romagna. Fertility varied significantly by region, with the highest rates observed in the areas closest to the coast in Emilia–Romagna and the lowest found in the mountainous areas of Basilicata. Seasonal fertility peaked in May across all areas and showed a slight positive correlation with climate oceanity levels. These findings highlight the need for differentiated conservation strategies aimed at enhancing hare population resilience. Future research should incorporate factors like genetic diversity, juvenile survival, and environmental impacts to better understand regional reproductive differences and improve conservation efforts to ensure long-term population sustainability.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani14243690