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Exploitative Competition between Mountain Hare and Moose-Qualitative Effects on Hare Winter Forage?
Simen Pedersen1, Hans Chr Pedersen2
1Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Campus Evenstad, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, N-2480 Koppang, Norway.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|September 28, 2021
Summary
Mountain hares (Lepus timidus) show limited dietary changes due to moose browsing. Their food selection was minimally impacted, suggesting other factors may drive population declines in Scandinavia.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Wildlife Biology
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) populations in Scandinavia are declining and listed as Near Threatened.
- Competition with large herbivores, such as moose (Alces alces), is a hypothesized cause for this decline.
- Understanding interspecific herbivore interactions is crucial for mountain hare conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prior moose browsing on the food selection of captive mountain hares.
- To assess how moose browsing affects the consumption of downy birch (Betula pubescens) and goat willow (Salix caprea).
Main Methods:
- A cafeteria trial was conducted with captive mountain hares.
- The study examined food selection based on biomass consumed, bites per minute, and bite diameter.
- Downy birch and goat willow plants with and without previous moose browsing were offered.
Main Results:
- Mountain hares did not alter their consumption of downy birch based on previous moose browsing levels.
- Mountain hares exhibited larger bite diameters on goat willow previously browsed by moose.
- The direct effects of moose browsing on the winter food quality for mountain hares appear limited.
Conclusions:
- Moose browsing has a minimal direct impact on the winter food selection of mountain hares.
- Further research is needed on the qualitative effects of moose browsing on wild mountain hares.
- Quantitative landscape-scale studies are required to assess moose browsing's impact on available mountain hare forage.
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