BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
26 November 2019 Home Ranges of Semi-Urban Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus) and Mountain Hares (Lepus timidus) at Northern Latitudes
Rikka Levänen, Jaakko L. O. Pohjoismäki, Mervi Kunnasranta
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Many species shift their distribution northwards due to changing climate, which may bring previously isolated species into contact. In some cases, this can lead to competition and crossbreeding among congeneric species. Due to milder winters, several hare species (Lepus spp.) have shifted poleward or to higher elevations and currently occur in sympatry. There are limited data on the spatial ecology of northern brown hares (L. europaeus), and on possible joint space use with mountain hares (L. timidus), although species are known to frequently crossbreed. We estimated home ranges of 12 brown and 12 mountain hares in eastern Finland using GPS telemetry. The total home-range median areas were 111 ha for brown hares and 105 ha for mountain hares. The median core areas of these species were 5 and 3 ha, respectively. Individual home ranges and core areas of the studied species overlapped. Interspecific interaction seems to be frequent during the breeding season, which also enables crossbreeding.

© Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2019
Rikka Levänen, Jaakko L. O. Pohjoismäki, and Mervi Kunnasranta "Home Ranges of Semi-Urban Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus) and Mountain Hares (Lepus timidus) at Northern Latitudes," Annales Zoologici Fennici 56(1-6), 107-120, (26 November 2019). https://doi.org/10.5735/086.056.0110
Received: 23 April 2019; Accepted: 15 August 2019; Published: 26 November 2019
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top