The ecological roles of the European rabbit in the Magellanic/Fuegian ecosystem of southernmost Chile

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dc.contributor.authorMann-Vollrath, Francisca
dc.contributor.authorCorrea-Cuadros, Jennifer Paola
dc.contributor.authorAvila-Thieme, M. Isidora
dc.contributor.authorDuclos, Melanie
dc.contributor.authorJaksic, Fabian M.
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-20T16:09:49Z
dc.date.available2025-01-20T16:09:49Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractThe European rabbit has invaded numerous ecosystems worldwide, but rarely steppes. Since its various introduction attempts into the ecosystems of the Magallanes/Fuegian region, the rabbit has become a key player, interacting with species at different trophic levels and generating impacts on ecosystems. To better understand the role of the rabbit in steppe and scrub ecosystems, we characterised the food web in the Magallanes/Fuegian region to understand the identity of their interacting species, the mechanisms and complexities of their interactions to demonstrate that rabbit management may become more complex than just controlling a single species. Based on a bibliographic review and wildlife specialists' opinions, we built the Magellanic/Fuegian food web, evaluated their topological properties and performed a rabbit extinction simulation to assess the possible short-term ecological mechanisms operating in the community. We found that the network had 206 nodes (64% native, 13% exotic, and 22% mixed) and 535 links among nodes. The European rabbit was the most connected node of the food web, had the second largest dietary breadth, and ranked as the seventh prey item with more predators. A rabbit extinction simulation shows a possible release of herbivory pressure on plants, including that on several native plants (e.g., Gunnera tinctoria, Pratia repens, Gavilea lutea, Tetroncium magellanicus), and a possible release of competition for some herbivores that share resources with the rabbit (e.g., Ovis aries, Lama guanicoe, Bos taurus). Although rabbit predators have a broad and generalist diet, some such as the native Galicitis cuja, could face a 20% reduction in their trophic width and could intensify predation on alternative prey. These results show that the European rabbit is strongly embedded in the Magellanic/Fuegian ecosystem and linked to several native species. Therefore, rabbit management should consider ecosystem approaches accompanied by monitoring programs on native fauna and experimental pilot studies on native flora to conserve the Chilean Patagonia community.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/s41598-024-70511-6
dc.identifier.issn2045-2322
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-70511-6
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/90176
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:001297470500050
dc.issue.numero1
dc.language.isoen
dc.revistaScientific reports
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectChilean Patagonia
dc.subjectCommunity effects
dc.subjectConservation
dc.subjectFood web
dc.subjectMagallanes region
dc.subjectOryctolagus cuniculus
dc.subject.ods06 Clean Water and Sanitation
dc.subject.ods11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
dc.subject.ods08 Decent Work and Economic Growth
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.ods12 Responsible Consumption and Production
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods07 Affordable and Clean Energy
dc.subject.ods09 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
dc.subject.ods14 Life Below Water
dc.subject.odspa06 Agua limpia y saneamiento
dc.subject.odspa11 Ciudades y comunidades sostenibles
dc.subject.odspa08 Trabajo decente y crecimiento económico
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.subject.odspa12 Producción y consumo responsable
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa07 Energía asequible y no contaminante
dc.subject.odspa09 Industria, innovación e infraestructura
dc.subject.odspa14 Vida submarina
dc.titleThe ecological roles of the European rabbit in the Magellanic/Fuegian ecosystem of southernmost Chile
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen14
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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