The Influence of Rabbits on the Vegetation of Certain Hill-Grazing Districts of Scotland

Abstract

Examples are quoted for the Pentland and Moorfoot Hills. Comparison is made with other areas. Plants unpalatable to rabbits are Holcusmollis and H. lanatus, Pteridium aquilinum and Digitalis purpurea in its younger stages. The usual order of extinction and suppression is (1) Calluna vulgaris (2) Vactinium myrtillus (3) Nardus stricta (4) Agrostis-Festuca (5) Deschampsia flexuosa. In extreme cases mosses and finally lichens may become plentiful. Galium saxatile being un-grazed tends to assume an important role. A rabbit biotic climax is being superimposed on a sheep biotic climax.