Volcano Rabbit - Habitat

Habitat

Volcano rabbits are found in Mexico. The rabbit occurs within 16 patches of its range. The rabbit has been pushed into various regions on the slopes of the Iztaccíhuatl, Pelado, Popocatepetl, and Tlaloc volcanoes. The volcano rabbit is generally found between elevations of 2800 m and 4250 m in pine forests with dense undergrowth of bunch grass and rocky terrain called the transverse neovolcanic axis. The climate is generally temperate, sub humid, and mild to cold. The average rainfall is usually 1000 mm. It has been proven that the distribution of species is heavily influenced by human activities and environmental factors. Volcano rabbits show strong preferences for habitat types that are categorized as subalpine bunch grasslands and pine forests. However, further research is necessary to determine what other variables directly affect the distribution of volcano rabbits. Oftentimes population density is used to measure habitat quality but it has been very controversial. In order to judge the quality of the habitat other factors such as competition, predation, productivity, survival, and reproductive success (fitness) need to be taken into consideration. In analyzing the distribution range of the volcano rabbits and their habitats six different grassland types have been recognized. These different grasslands must be taken into consideration when analyzing the habitat of the volcano rabbits. Habitat types for the volcano rabbit are generally categorized into three different classes: most suitable, suitable, and least suitable. The number of volcano rabbits in each habitat is measured by the number of pellets left behind by the animals. This tracking measure works to see is a population of volcano rabbit is higher in one region as opposed to another. Then factors such as competition, fitness, and survival skills are used to analyze whether the habitat is suitable or not.