Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula
This study examines the reproductive performance of the European brown hare in Italy, focusing on four hunting districts in Basilicata (A1, A2) and Emilia–Romagna (A3, A4) and using the number of endometrial scars as a fertility indicator. Fertility, measured as the number of scars during the entire...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Pierangelo Freschi Carlo Cosentino Egidio Mallia Valter Trocchi |
| author_facet | Pierangelo Freschi Carlo Cosentino Egidio Mallia Valter Trocchi |
| author_sort | Pierangelo Freschi |
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| description | This study examines the reproductive performance of the European brown hare in Italy, focusing on four hunting districts in Basilicata (A1, A2) and Emilia–Romagna (A3, A4) and using the number of endometrial scars as a fertility indicator. Fertility, measured as the number of scars during the entire reproductive period, was highest in A1 (11.50 ± 1.64) and A4 (11.43 ± 1.01), followed by A3 (9.56 ± 1.09) and A2 (6.08 ± 1.34). Significant differences were found when comparing the mountain area (A2) with A4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and with A1 and A3 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Regarding the overall monthly number of scars per individual across the four study areas, the highest value (3.16 ± 0.18) was observed in May, followed by March (2.74 ± 0.18), April (2.67 ± 0.20), June (2.57 ± 0.20), February (2.53 ± 0.34), July (2.40 ± 0.22), and August (2.19 ± 0.31). A correlation analysis identified a weak yet statistically significant positive relationship (<i>r</i> = 0.532; <i>p</i> = 0.036) between the Kerner Oceanity Index (with values of 16.87, 15.00, 8.45, and 11.11 in A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively) and the number of scars per pregnancy across the four study areas. Understanding species’ reproductive dynamics is vital for assessing habitat suitability and creating strategies to sustain hare populations and their ecosystem roles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7492f76fa602447899a1240e95e8d8fe |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-7492f76fa602447899a1240e95e8d8fe2025-08-20T02:56:05ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-12-011424369010.3390/ani14243690Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian PeninsulaPierangelo Freschi0Carlo Cosentino1Egidio Mallia2Valter Trocchi3Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (DAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (DAFE), University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyUfficio Foreste e Tutela del Territorio del Dipartimento Politiche Agricole e Forestali, della Regione Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyFederazione Italiana della Caccia (FIdC), 00198 Roma, ItalyThis study examines the reproductive performance of the European brown hare in Italy, focusing on four hunting districts in Basilicata (A1, A2) and Emilia–Romagna (A3, A4) and using the number of endometrial scars as a fertility indicator. Fertility, measured as the number of scars during the entire reproductive period, was highest in A1 (11.50 ± 1.64) and A4 (11.43 ± 1.01), followed by A3 (9.56 ± 1.09) and A2 (6.08 ± 1.34). Significant differences were found when comparing the mountain area (A2) with A4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and with A1 and A3 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Regarding the overall monthly number of scars per individual across the four study areas, the highest value (3.16 ± 0.18) was observed in May, followed by March (2.74 ± 0.18), April (2.67 ± 0.20), June (2.57 ± 0.20), February (2.53 ± 0.34), July (2.40 ± 0.22), and August (2.19 ± 0.31). A correlation analysis identified a weak yet statistically significant positive relationship (<i>r</i> = 0.532; <i>p</i> = 0.036) between the Kerner Oceanity Index (with values of 16.87, 15.00, 8.45, and 11.11 in A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively) and the number of scars per pregnancy across the four study areas. Understanding species’ reproductive dynamics is vital for assessing habitat suitability and creating strategies to sustain hare populations and their ecosystem roles.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3690European brown hareplacental scarsfertilityreproduction seasonalityenvironmental conditions |
| spellingShingle | Pierangelo Freschi Carlo Cosentino Egidio Mallia Valter Trocchi Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula Animals European brown hare placental scars fertility reproduction seasonality environmental conditions |
| title | Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula |
| title_full | Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula |
| title_fullStr | Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula |
| title_short | Fertility of the European Brown Hare Across Plain, Hill and Mountain Environments in the Italian Peninsula |
| title_sort | fertility of the european brown hare across plain hill and mountain environments in the italian peninsula |
| topic | European brown hare placental scars fertility reproduction seasonality environmental conditions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3690 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pierangelofreschi fertilityoftheeuropeanbrownhareacrossplainhillandmountainenvironmentsintheitalianpeninsula AT carlocosentino fertilityoftheeuropeanbrownhareacrossplainhillandmountainenvironmentsintheitalianpeninsula AT egidiomallia fertilityoftheeuropeanbrownhareacrossplainhillandmountainenvironmentsintheitalianpeninsula AT valtertrocchi fertilityoftheeuropeanbrownhareacrossplainhillandmountainenvironmentsintheitalianpeninsula |