Biology of Rabbits, Oryctolagus-Cuniculus, in Subtropical Queensland

Abstract

Capture-recapture estimates of the density of adult rabbits on an aeolian sand ridge near Mitchell in Queensland varied from four to seven per hectare over 18 months. The density of adult plus young rabbits peaked at 15 per hectare. Adult weights were high and the weights of adult males showed little seasonal variation. Young rabbits grew at a constant rate of 9.1 g day-1 until they reached a body weight of 1400 g. In the breeding season following a dry period there was a general synchrony of successive conceptions throughout the breeding season. For rabbits weighing more than 1400 g the sex ratio was biased towards males; for rabbits of less than 750 g there were more females than males. Immature rabbits dispersed more frequently than adults, and immature males dispersed more frequently than immature females.