Effect of landscape type, elevation, vegetation period, and taxonomic plant identification level on diet preferences of Alpine mountain hares (Lepus timidus varronis)

• DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01398-7
• Publication Date: 2020-06-30T06:02:40Z
• Authors: Stéphanie C. Scha...; Katharina Lapin; Karl-Georg Bernhardt; Paulo C. Alves; Klaus Hackländer
• Keywords: Alpine plant; Taxonomic rank

Abstract Diet is important for understanding the ecology and evolution of populations. When examining animals’ diets, lowest taxonomic rank (i.e., species level) generally used. However, it questionable whether dietary description varies with respect to plant taxonomy or extent diversity in landscapes. We studied diet Alpine mountain hare ( Lepus timidus varronis ) by analyzing botanical composition fecal pellets comparing results availability food plants. Overall, hares selected ligneous plants, whereas grasses were neutrally consumed avoided. Plant identification at genus family level revealed most information, little additional information was gleaned identifying plants level. In low-diversity spruce forests higher elevations, exhibited greater breadth compared high-diversity vegetative mosaics lower even if they had access same types This likely due hares’ need diversify their when quantity low. Greater selection a larger number different beginning vegetation growth period suggested that more suitable available during this time end period.