Faecal Pellets of the Endangered Amami Rabbit ( Pentalagus furnessi ) as an Allochthonous Resource for Benthic Macroinvertebrates in a Forest Stream in Amami‐Oshima Island, Japan

Faecal pellets of the endangered Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) serve as a significant allochthonous resource for benthic macroinvertebrates in forest streams on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan. Stable isotopic analysis revealed that rabbit faeces contribute 12% to 66% to the diets of these aquatic animals, highlighting their ecological importance. The study employed underwater behavioural observations using time-lapse photography and experimental faecal introductions to demonstrate that decapod crustaceans actively forage on rabbit faeces in streams. This finding underscores the unique role of insular stream ecosystems in supporting biodiversity through allochthonous inputs.

Takahashi, S., Abe, S.-i., Takemon, Y., & Iguchi, K. (2025). Faecal Pellets of the Endangered Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) as an Allochthonous Resource for Benthic Macroinvertebrates in a Forest Stream in Amami‐Oshima Island, Japan. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 35(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70098