Estimating Rabbit Density by Counting Dung Pellets

Abstract

The relationship between cumulative rabbit density (number of rabbit-days) and density of dung-pellets was examined in six enclosures, each 0.5 ha, in subalpine vegetation in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales. The vegetation in three of the enclosures had been burnt to produce a structurally homogenous vegetation. Data from these three plots produced the regression equation y=70.63 + 1.67x, R*2=0.55 (P<0.001, N=91) for rabbit density on dung-pellet density.