HABITAT SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT OF EUROPEAN HARE (LEPUS EUROPAEUS PALLAS) IN MAJILMAKHTE IN DUHOK GOVERNORATE

  • AMIN ABDO KHEDHER Dept. of Recreation and Ecotourism, College of Agriculture, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
  • AHMED M.H. MUSTAFA Dept. of Recreation and Ecotourism, College of Agriculture, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
Keywords: Lepus europaeous, Habitat Suitability Index, Experimental Unit, Behavior, Breeding Sites, Resting Sites

Abstract

The main goal of the present study was to determining the habitat suitability assessment and identifying the seasonal influences on European brown hare behavior Lepus europaeus Pallas. The study field site located near Majilmakhte village, northeastern of Duhok city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Data had collected directly from the field at two times (April and July 2008-2009). Results of this study showed that habitat structure (Agriculture, Silviculture and Horticulture) and seasonal effects (spring, summer) played the main role in European brown hare’s fluctuation behavior. In spring, the feeding sites had seen generally in horticultural habitat on which their means were 61, while in agricultural and silvicultural habitats were 43.6 and 19.8 feeding sites respectively. Whereas, the majority of resting and breeding sites found in silvicultural habitat with 15 resting and 13 breeding sites respectively. In summer period, the differences were obvious in silvicultural habitat on where feeding sites increased approximately three times from 19.8 to 53.8. This noticeable change in hare behavior from spring to summer periods could be explained by the abundance of succulent plants in April more than July, especially at the edges of crop fields. Additionally, the resting and breeding sites were mostly found in silvicultural habitat under juniper and oak trees, on where ensure better shelter to protect themselves from predators. In Kurdistan Region, there are real needs for further ecological and biological studies in order to estimate the European brown hare’s population density and the influence of landscape changes and farming practices on their biophysiological behavior

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Published
2019-08-01
How to Cite
ABDO KHEDHER, A., & M.H. MUSTAFA, A. (2019). HABITAT SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT OF EUROPEAN HARE (LEPUS EUROPAEUS PALLAS) IN MAJILMAKHTE IN DUHOK GOVERNORATE. Journal of Duhok University, 22(1), 292-299. https://doi.org/10.26682/avuod.2019.22.1.27
Section
Agriculture and Veterinary Science