The stock of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus PALLAS, 1778) is declining since decades, in Germany as well as in other European countries.At the same time,the occurrence of European brown hares is a new phenomenon in urban areas. Hence,Lichtenberg, a city district of Berlin, the capital of Germany, even assumed a special responsibility for its new inhabitants.
Whereas a method for the quantification of this common game species in agricultural areas already exists, a new quantification method for city habitats is required in order to overcome several limitations.
The aim of this master thesis is to deliver a suitable quantification method for Lepus europaeus, which can be applied by nature conservation authorities in future.
By means of a strong LED torchlight and a bike, 153.74 ha of green area, which is usually scattered between residential buildings, were investigated in the style of the previous “spotlight taxation”. These investigated areas belong to five different tracks. Each track
was investigated three times in the late evening hours in the spring period from 8th of March until the 25th of April 2011. Within this time 37 sightings of hares have been made. Summing up the five maximum values from each of the 3 countings, one could assume that at least 17 hares live within the illuminated area. Considering the territorial behaviour, even a minimum number of 19 hares is probable. If additionally only suitable tracks are taken into account, a density of 16.98 hares/100 ha can be calculated ‒ a
surprisingly high value compared to the results of spotlight counting in surrounding federal states, where the agricultural landscape, and therefore the natural habitat of Lepus europaeus, is more prevalent. However, a direct comparison to the hare densities in
the open landscape, which are obtained by means of different methods is incorrect. Nevertheless, if the proposed aspects for a future implementation will be taken into consideration in the long run, it is a realisable method for the quantification of urban hare populations. Moreover, the interested public can participate on this scientific approach as well. Then, cost reduction and the rising awareness for wild animals in the public are positive side-effects.
Table of Contents
1 Abstract
2 Introduction
3 European hares (Lepus europaeus)
3.1 Appearance, biology and behaviour
3.2 Abundance
3.3 Endangerment and status of protection
3.4 Actual methods for quantification
4 Preliminary investigations and preconditions for method development
4.1 Data set and object of investigation
4.2 Vehicle
4.3 Light source
4.4 Illumination technique
4.5 Protocol
4.6 Security measures and timing of investigation
5 Data acquisition with the "Torchlight counting in urban areas"
5.1 Investigation areas / sample plots
5.1.1 Overview: district Lichtenberg
5.1.2 Friedrichsfelde (FF)
5.1.3 Herzberge (HB)
5.1.4 Weiße Taube / Fennpfuhl (WT/FP)
5.1.5 Falkenberg (FB)
5.1.6 Neu-Hohenschönhausen (NH)
5.2 Timing of investigations
6 Results of field work
6.1 Illumination area
6.2 Sightings of hares
6.3 Sightings of hares with regard to the habitat type
6.4 Other sightings
7 Discussion
7.1 Evaluation of the method with respect to objectivity, reliability and validity
7.2 Interpretation of results
7.2.1 Selection of illumination areas
7.2.2 Calculation of the hare density
7.2.3 Disruptive factors
7.3 Recommendations for a future application of the method
7.3.1 Vehicle
7.3.2 Light source
7.3.3 Illumination technique
7.3.4 Protocol
7.3.5 Timing
7.3.6 Organisation
8 Conclusions
Research Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a reliable and standardized quantification method for European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations specifically adapted for urban environments, using the district of Lichtenberg in Berlin as a case study. The research addresses the challenge that traditional rural census methods are unsuitable for the fragmented and high-pressure landscapes of urban settings.
- Development of the "Torchlight counting in urban areas" method.
- Evaluation of different urban habitat types for hare suitability.
- Analysis of observational data across five distinct urban investigation tracks.
- Assessment of the impact of human presence and urban infrastructure on hare activity.
- Creation of a long-term monitoring organizational framework involving local volunteers.
Excerpt from the Book
3.4 Actual methods for quantification
The determination of wild game populations is an important, but also a challenging task. Information about population dynamics or about the influence of certain factors on the development of populations require a quantification, which should be as exact as possible but still at appropriate costs [AHRENS et al. 1995]. The cost-efficient comparison of hunting bag statistics provides only information about the relative abundance of animals.
Visual counts, in contrast, are the simplest and oldest method to get information on absolute animal numbers or densities, but a major intrinsic problem is that the method tacitly assumes that all individuals are spotted, which [WINCENTZ 2009] is. Nevertheless, due to a good practicability, appropriate costs and reliable results, spotlight counting became the most common method to quantify Lepus europaeus [HOFFMANN 2003]. It is a statistical sampling method, which is suitable for flat agricultural areas that are poor in coverage. The population density of hares within an area of known size is assessed and extrapolated for a larger area.
Due to the fact that hares are crepuscular and nocturnal animals (except during the mating period), the counts take place by night. The first step is the determination of the investigation area. It is important to take all characteristic structures (different crops) into account. The track should be chosen so that it typifies the entire area. From a slowly driving (20 to 25 km/h) all-terrain vehicle with an additional spotlight at the side, a determined area is illuminated [AHRENS et al. 1995]. A suitable spotlight with a range of 150 m, which can be fixed perpendicular to the driving direction, is described by PEGEL [1986]. While one person drives the car, a second person counts the hares or their reflecting eyes, respectively. A third person takes the minutes (Fig. 5a). This kind of spotlight taxation is a so-called line taxation because the car follows a street (line), and data are obtained continuously [NATURSCHUTZPLANUNG.DE 2011].
Summary of Chapters
Abstract: Provides an overview of the declining hare populations and introduces the new urban quantification method based on bicycle-mounted LED torchlight.
Introduction: Discusses the status of the brown hare in Germany and the emergence of the species as a new, unexpected inhabitant of urban districts.
European hares (Lepus europaeus): Details the biological characteristics, natural abundance, and protection status of the species.
Preliminary investigations and preconditions for method development: Outlines the technical requirements, including the selection of the torchlight and the bike as a flexible vehicle.
Data acquisition with the "Torchlight counting in urban areas": Describes the five investigated tracks in Lichtenberg and the systematic categorization of sample plots.
Results of field work: Presents the observational data, hare sightings, and the influence of different habitat types on population distribution.
Discussion: Critically evaluates the objectivity and reliability of the developed method and offers recommendations for future monitoring programs.
Conclusions: Compares the new urban method with traditional rural spotlighting techniques, highlighting the differences in logistics and application.
Keywords
European brown hare, Lepus europaeus, urban ecology, torchlight counting, population monitoring, Lichtenberg, Berlin, wildlife management, habitat analysis, urban development, field survey, synanthropization, conservation, biodiversity, spotlight taxation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the development of a specific method to quantify brown hare populations in urban areas, where traditional rural methods fail due to infrastructure and line-of-sight constraints.
Which species is the central subject of the study?
The central subject is the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), a species traditionally found in rural landscapes that has increasingly colonized urban environments.
What is the primary goal of the thesis?
The primary goal is to provide nature conservation authorities with a standardized, cost-effective, and applicable method for the regular monitoring of urban hare populations.
What scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes "torchlight counting," involving two-person teams on bicycles equipped with high-performance LED torches to systematically survey predefined urban tracks at night.
What content is covered in the main section?
The main part covers the preparation of the method (equipment, protocol), the selection of investigation areas in Lichtenberg, the execution of field counts, and the subsequent analysis of hare distribution in relation to urban habitat types.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include urban ecology, Lepus europaeus, population monitoring, torchlight counting, wildlife management, and the case study location of Lichtenberg, Berlin.
Why are bike-based methods preferred over cars in this study?
Bicycles allow for flexible maneuvering in residential areas, access to non-motorized zones, and are less intrusive to the behavior of urbanized hares compared to vehicles.
How does the author propose to sustain the monitoring program?
The author suggests an organizational structure led by a "Hare Manager" who coordinates a pool of volunteers, supported by an internet forum and regular informative sessions to maintain data quality over the long term.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Regina Schulze (Autor:in), 2011, Development of a quantification method for European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in urban areas on the example of Lichtenberg, Berlin, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/196315
