Evaluating crop options for managing rabbit populations: triticale exhibits lower herbivory than traditional cereals

The European rabbit is a key species in Mediterranean ecosystems, yet its populations show contrasting trends: despite broad declines, some areas now sustain very high densities that cause crop damage. Conventional control methods, including hunting, have proven insufficient. As a complementary strategy, cultivating less palatable cereals may reduce crop losses while limiting food availability for rabbits, and, in turn, curbing further population growth. Triticale (x Triticosecale) has been proposed as resistant to rabbit herbivory, but its effectiveness remains unquantified. To quantify its relative resistance under conditions where alternative crops are available, we experimentally compared the yield outcomes of triticale and commonly cultivated cereals under staggered durations of rabbit exposure. Triticale exhibited significantly greater resistance, retaining ∼50% of its yield after six months of rabbit browsing, whereas commonly cultivated cereals dropped to ∼10% of their yield remaining. This difference reflects lower relative herbivory on triticale when alternative cereal crops are available. Responses to herbivory were consistent across triticale varieties, suggesting a general trait rather than a cultivar-specific effect. Under full protection from rabbits, both crop types achieved comparable yields, indicating no major productivity cost associated with triticale. Our findings highlight triticale as a promising tool to mitigate rabbit-induced damage in cereal-based agroecosystems without compromising productivity. Further research should assess the long-term effectiveness for controlling rabbit populations and the broader agroeconomic implications of adopting triticale as an alternative crop to commonly cultivated cereals.