Zróżnicowanie wieku, płci oraz masy ciała zajęcy w warunkach niskiego zagęszczenia na Wyżynie Lubelskiej

The analysis of population density indicators and hunting exploitation of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in the Lublin Upland (eastern Poland) hunting club indicates that these parameters reached low and very low level resulting in the reduction or suspension of hunting acquisition. Analysis of body weight of obtained hares indicates that despite the low density of the species, it does not differ significantly from the value of this parameter in other regions of the country at different levels of population density. Thus, achieved results are confirmation that the population density index does not determine hare body weight. Statistically significant differences in body weight in the group of juveniles and adults regardless of gender were found, and there were no clear and statistically significant differences between males and females, both in the group of juveniles and adults (tab.). Analysis of the age and gender structure among obtained hares (fig. 2 and 3) shows a clear dominance of adult animals, both males and females. These results confirm that in spite of the low population density, the estimated possibilities of the reproductive potential are high, and the cause of a population decline and continued low density are the factors from the outside of the population.