Damage to and intake of plantation seedlings by captive European rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Damage to and intake of three seedling species commonly used in plantation forestry were examined when offered to captive European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Rabbits damaged seedlings by clipping them close to the base. Sixty-eight to ninety percent of the stem was removed from all seedlings irrespective of the seedling species. In terms of dry matter intake, rabbits preferred Pinus radiata stem and foliage to that of the other two species, and they preferred Eucalyptus nitens foliage to Eucalyptus globulus foliage. Rabbits consistently removed more foliage and stem from seedlings than they ate, and feeding preferences did not accurately reflect the amount of damage. These results have important implications when considering management techniques to reduce browsing damage through seedling choice. Rabbit damage in plantations may be influenced more by seedling characteristics that affect clipping than those affecting intake. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.