Main Conclusions
Increasing habitat heterogeneity could improve the habitat suitability
of existing patches or create new patches for New England cottontail.
However, habitat management alone is likely not enough to discourage
eastern cottontail, thus direct species management such as removal of
eastern cottontail and augmentation of New England cottontail
populations should be explored.
Keywords: Habitat suitability, imperiled species,
introduced species, Maxent, niche overlap, rare species conservation