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Sobrino, R.; Acevedo, P.; Escudero, M.A.; Marco, J.; Gort zar, C.
Carnivore population trends in Spanish agrosystems after the reduction in food availability due to rabbit decline by rabbit haemorrhagic disease and improved waste management
2009  European Journal of Wildlife Research (55): 161-165

We conducted spotlight counts from 1992 to 2006 in 59 localities to describe carnivore presence, distribution and relative abundance in open agriculture lands in Aragon, northeastern Spain. During the study period, urban waste and carcases of domestic livestock became less available to wild animals, and rabbit (_Oryctolagus cuniculus_) abundance was low after rabbit haemorragic disease. We calculated a kilometric abundance index (KAI, individuals seen per 100 km surveyed) and the ratio between the number of positive localities in which a species was detected and the total of localities surveyed in a year. Indices to abundance and presence included: red fox (_Vulpes vulpes_), KAI per 100 km 10.70 and 100.0% localities per year; stray dog (_Canis familiaris_), KAI 0.48 and 22.6% localities; wildcat (Felis silvestris), KAI 0.10 and 19.1% localities; domestic cat (_Felis catus_), KAI 0.21 and 20.6% localities; polecat (_Mustela putorius_), KAI 0.02 and 2.0% localities; badger (_Meles meles_), KAI 0.16 and 23.6% localities; stone marten (_Martes foina_), KAI 0.11 and 19.6% localities; weasel (_Mustela nivalis_), KAI 0.002 and 0.6% localities; and genet (_Genetta genetta_), KAI 0.06 and 10.0% localities. Indices of badger abundance increased significantly, whereas indices of stray dogs decreased significantly over the study period. Abundance indices of red fox, the most important predator of small game, were stable throughout the study period. No significant trend was observed to other studied species. This study concludes that Aragon region maintains a diverse and rather stable carnivore community and shows that large scale data may help to identify trends of the more abundant wild and feral carnivores.

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