Simple Summary
This study examines the feeding behavior of the European brown hare on Pianosa Island, Italy, across seasons and habitats. Coastal areas had fewer plant species than inland areas, with grasses dominating the diet in spring and herbaceous plants with large leaves in autumn. Legumes were highly preferred year-round. Plant species diversity was higher in spring but declined significantly in autumn. The hare exhibited dietary flexibility, relying entirely on herbaceous plants and avoiding shrubs, likely due to their scarcity and the absence of feeding competitors. These findings highlight the hare’s adaptability to seasonal changes and emphasize the importance of preserving key plant species for its survival in Mediterranean ecosystems.
Abstract
This study investigates the feeding behavior of the European brown hare on Pianosa Island, Italy, focusing on seasonal dietary preferences in coastal and inland areas. We quantified plant species frequencies in vegetation and fecal pellets, assessed α and β diversity, compared diets via Bray–Curtis matrices, and evaluated selection preferences using the Resource Selection Ratio. During spring, the coastal diet was predominantly composed of grasses, particularly Dactylis glomerata, while non-leguminous forbs like Hedypnois rhagadioloides were prominent inland. Fabaceae, including Lotus ornithopodioides, were highly preferred. In autumn, non-leguminous forbs, such as Crepis foetida, were favored on the coast, while grasses like Bromus hordeaceus dominated inland. Fabaceae, particularly Trifolium species, remained a key component of the diet. Plant diversity peaked in spring and decreased markedly in autumn. Dietary overlap between seasons was moderate, with higher similarity observed in the coastal area. The study underscores the importance of Fabaceae and seasonal vegetation changes in shaping the hare’s diet. These findings provide valuable insights for conservation, emphasizing the need to preserve key plant species and habitats to support isolated hare populations in Mediterranean ecosystems.