150 
Kevin W. Markham and Wm. David Webster 
were combined for the analysis of seasonal variation. Chi-square 
was used to test the hypothesis that marsh rabbits display no sig- 
nificant (P < 0.05) seasonality in plant consumption using trans- 
formed (square root) abundance data. 
RESULTS 
Spring — The spring collection included five marsh rabbits. There 
were 25 species of plants identified from the stomachs of these 
rabbits, with each stomach averaging eight species (range = 6-10). 
Diets of individual rabbits were varied, and no plant appeared to 
be dominant during this period (Table 1). Grasses accounted for 
41% of the spring diet, whereas forbs comprised 52% and shrubs 
7%. Marsh vegetation comprised 32% of the diet, and together with 
plants typical of the adjacent low grasslands, accounted for 89% of 
the diet. Spike grass ( Distichlis spicata), sea lavender ( Limonium 
carolinianum), and reed (Phragmites australis) collectively comprised 
27% of the spring diet; these marsh plants were not eaten in sum- 
mer and winter (Table 1). 
Summer — Nine marsh rabbits were collected during August and 
September. Twenty-five plant species were found in their stomachs, 
although each stomach averaged eight species (range = 5-11). Beach 
pea ( Strophostyles helvola) was the dominant plant in the stomachs 
of most rabbits collected during summer and accounted for 25% of 
the total diet (Table 1). Beach pea, seaside goldenrod ( Solidago 
sempervirens), and cottonweed ( Iresine rhizomatosa) accounted for 
48% of the cumulative diet of these rabbits. Forbs averaged 70% 
of the diet with grasses contributing 29% and shrubs 1%. Marsh 
vegetation comprised 6% of the diet for this season. 
Winter — The winter diet was examined in seven marsh rabbits. 
Seventeen plant species were represented, with each stomach con- 
taining an average of seven species (range = 5-10). The abundance 
of camphorweed ( Heterotheca subaxillaris) was higher in winter than 
in other seasons, representing 35% of the diet (Table 1). Camphorweed 
and saltmeadow cordgrass ( Spartina patens) were consumed by all 
rabbits collected in winter and together averaged 52% of the diet. 
Forbs (including camphorweed) accounted for 70% of the diet, whereas 
grasses and shrubs comprised 22% and 8%, respectively. Marsh 
vegetation accounted for less than 1% of the diet. 
Combined — We found 40 species of plants in the stomachs of 
21 marsh rabbits collected in spring, summer, and winter (Table 1). 
Five species were eaten year-round, especially marsh pennywort ( Hydro - 
cotyle bonariensis), seaside goldenrod, and saltmeadow cordgrass, with 
seasonal shifts in the importance of each. Marsh vegetation was 
relatively more important in spring, with significant consumption of 
