Dinámica espacial de la Liebre Ibérica (Lepus granatensis) en una zona sometida a restauración vegetal (Escombrera de lignitos Meirama, A Coruña-España)

The Iberian hare (Let1s granatensis) is one of the primary game species in Spain, has a wide distribution and stable populations in almost the entire territory. In Galicia, in recent years, factors such as habitat modification, increased hunting pressure and the construction of road infrastructure have been affecting many populations; therefore, the species has been reduced and even has disappeared being reduced and even disappeared in some Atlantic areas. Rapid modification of natural habitats has forced the species to occupy new territories, there is currently no information on how the animal responds to these new media. This is the case in a population of Iberian hare, inhabiting Foreign Mining Dump Reservoir Meirama (A Coruña), an area under vegetation restoration process. This work aims to assess the spatial dynamics of Lepus granatensis, under the particular conditions of the dump. To fulfill this aim, 8 specimens were radio-marked and followed during 18 months in nocturnal journeys from the 18:00 to the 8:00 hours, every 10 days. We registered 1671 paths which generated 547 locations. The results of action range, core area, and overlap, were analyzed through testing of repeated measures ANOVA, Wilcoxon assigned ranks, Chi-square, and Bonferroni t. Analyses show that the land restored with conifers was selected by hares were selected by Hare above habitats closer to natural features. The range of action described (24 ha) is smaller than those found in other studies in the Iberian Peninsula. The plant heterogeneity, the major food source represented the shoots of pine and eucalyptus trees, and the wide availability of beds, are the basis that may allow these new habitats to sustain a viable and stable a viable and stable Iberian hare population.