SPATIAL-DISTRIBUTION OF BROWN HARE LEPUS-EUROPAEUS POPULATIONS IN HABITATS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF AGRICULTURE

In 1987 - 1990 an investigation was made on the spatial structure of b rown hare Lepus earopaeus Pallas, 1778 populations using the transect routes method. The investigation was carried out in two different part s of Poland that differed in the character of agriculture: I - northea stern with large fields of state farms, and II - eastcentral with smal l fields of individual farmers. The results indicate that independentl y of the agrarian structure, the distribution of hares in crops corres ponds to their percentage share in the region, with exception of rape fields, which show a tendency to be avoided. There was also a signific ant relationship between the spatial distribution of the hare and the habitat diversity - highly variegated fields are more consistently inh abited by hares. Besides, hares show a distinct tendency to prefer are as close to the field margins. Positively oblique distance distributio ns between the individuals and the margins of field crops are particul arly strongly expressed in the region of a highly monotonous crop spec ies. It may be expected that a change in type of farming by passing to the large-fields and continuous cropping is one of the factors that m ake it difficult for the hare to utilize the space within the habitat.