scholarly journals Patterns and potential drivers of intraspecific variability in the body C, N, and P composition of a terrestrial consumer, the snowshoe hare ( Lepus americanus )

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 14453-14464
Author(s):  
Matteo Rizzuto ◽  
Shawn J. Leroux ◽  
Eric Vander Wal ◽  
Yolanda F. Wiersma ◽  
Travis R. Heckford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
The Body ◽  
Snowshoe Hare

scholarly journals Patterns and potential drivers of intraspecific variability in the body elemental composition of a terrestrial consumer, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Rizzuto ◽  
Shawn J. Leroux ◽  
Eric Vander Wal ◽  
Yolanda F. Wiersma ◽  
Travis R. Heckford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Weak Relationship ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
P Content

AbstractIntraspecific variability in ecological traits is widespread in nature. Recent evidence, mostly from aquatic ecosystems, shows individuals differing at the most fundamental level, that of their chemical composition. Age, sex, or body size may be key drivers of intraspecific variability in the body concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). However, we still have a rudimentary understanding of the patterns and drivers of intraspecific variability in chemical composition of terrestrial consumers, particularly vertebrates.Here, we investigate the whole-body chemical composition of snowshoe hare Lepus americanus, providing one of the few studies of patterns of stoichiometric variability and its potential drivers for a terrestrial vertebrate. Based on snowshoe hare ecology, we expected higher P and N concentrations in females, as well as in larger and older individuals.We obtained whole-body C, N, and P concentrations and C:N, C:P, N:P ratios from a sample of 50 snowshoe hares. We then used general linear models to test for evidence of a relationship between age, sex, or body size and stoichiometric variability in hares.We found considerable variation in the C, N, and P concentrations and elemental ratios within our sample. Contrary to our predictions, we found evidence of N content decreasing with age. As expected, we found evidence of P content increasing with body size. As well, we found no support for a relationship between sex and N or P content, nor for variability in C content and any of our predictor variables.Despite finding considerable stoichiometric variability in our sample, we found no substantial support for age, sex, or body size to relate to this variation. The weak relationship between body N concentration and age may suggest varying nutritional requirements of individuals at different ages. Conversely, P’s weak relationship to body size appears in line with recent evidence of the potential importance of P in terrestrial systems. Snowshoe hares are a keystone herbivore in the boreal forest of North America. The substantial stoichiometric variability we find in our sample could have important implications for nutrient dynamics in both boreal and adjacent ecosystems.

scholarly journals Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis, Exploits a Beagle Hound, Canis familiaris, as a "Beater" to Catch a Snowshoe Hare, Lepus americanus

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
John T. Neville
Keyword(s):  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
First Record ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Accipiter Gentilis ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Northern Goshawk

During a winter Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) hunt with a beagle hound (Canis familiaris), I observed an adult Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) exploiting the running, barking hound as a “beater” and use strategic locations for attacks. The hawk made three attacks on a hare being pursued by the hound, and subsequently caught and killed it. To my knowledge, this report represents the first record of a Northern Goshawk using this behavior to capture prey.

The hidden history of the snowshoe hare,Lepus americanus: extensive mitochondrial DNA introgression inferred from multilocus genetic variation

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (18) ◽  
pp. 4617-4630 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Melo-Ferreira ◽  
Fernando A. Seixas ◽  
Ellen Cheng ◽  
L. Scott Mills ◽  
Paulo C. Alves
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
History Of

Clear-cutting and regeneration practices in Quebec boreal balsam fir forest: effects on snowshoe hare

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia de Bellefeuille ◽  
Louis Bélanger ◽  
Jean Huot ◽  
Agathe Cimon
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Seedling Stage ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Term Basis ◽  
Protective Cover

We compared utilization by the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben) of recent clearcuts subjected to three regeneration scenarios commonly used in boreal forest: natural regeneration, plantation with herbicide release (glyphosate), and plantation with manual release (brushsaw). Refuges for snowshoe hare, on a landscape dominated by clearcuts, were also investigated. Colonization of regenerating sites by the hare comes late in the humid boreal forest because clear-cut stands take more than 10 years to reach the sapling stage. Our sites were in the seedling stage 7–9 years after cutting, and hares avoided them year round because of an inadequate protective cover. Therefore, regeneration treatments did not affect habitat use by the hare on a short-term basis. During the seedling stage, the snowshoe hare were found in the remaining forest which occupied at least 25% of the area of each home range. The preservation of residual forests is thus essential to maintain local populations on an area dominated by commercial clearcuts.

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF THE SNOWSHOE HARE

1966 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 953-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd B. Keith ◽  
Orrin J. Rongstad ◽  
E. Charles Meslow
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Species Range ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Breeding Female ◽  
Genetically Determined

Reproductive characteristics of the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) over its principal geographic range were summarised. The onset of breeding each spring was chronologically similar throughout a major portion of the species' range, although Alaska hares tended to be about 2 weeks later than those elsewhere. Mean litter size increased significantly from south to north, and studies with captive snowshoes demonstrated that such regional differences are genetically determined. Both the average number of litters, and the average number of young, per adult female per year were greatest at intermediate latitudes. It is suggested that regional differences in mean litter size reflect the general "fitness" of the breeding female and (or) her young relative to their particular environment, as governed by the physiological consequences of species adaptation and of reproduction.

What factors determine cyclic amplitude in the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) cycle?

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 1039-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles J. Krebs ◽  
John Bryant ◽  
Knut Kielland ◽  
Mark O’Donoghue ◽  
Frank Doyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Regional Monitoring ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Existing Data

Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of their North American range. These cycles show large variations in cyclic amplitude and we ask what factors could cause amplitude variation. We gathered data from 1976 to 2012 on hare numbers in the boreal forest of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia to describe the amplitude of hare fluctuations and to evaluate four possible causes. First, weather could cause variation in amplitude via hare reproduction or survival, but this mechanism does not fit our data. Second, bottom-up processes involving forest succession could explain amplitude variation through changes in winter forage availability, but succession is too slow a variable in our study areas. Third, plant defenses entrained by hare over-browsing in one cycle can produce variation in plant quality and quantity in subsequent cycles. A mathematical model suggests this is a possible explanation. Fourth, predator recovery following the cyclic low is inversely related to hare cyclic amplitude, and the existing data are consistent with this mechanism. A standardized regional monitoring program is needed to improve our understanding of cyclic amplitude variation in hares and the possible role of predators and winter foods in affecting amplitude.

Effects of selection cuts on winter habitat use of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) in northern temperate forests

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1049-1057
Author(s):  
Véronique Simard ◽  
Louis Imbeau ◽  
Hugo Asselin
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Temperate Forests ◽  
Lepus Americanus ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Gap Formation ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Selection Cutting ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Northern Temperate Forests ◽  
Positive Effect

Selection cutting is used in northern temperate forests where regeneration dynamics are driven by gap formation. By creating openings in the canopy, selection cutting modifies shrub cover, an important criterion in winter habitat selection by snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777), a key species in North American forests. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of selection cuts on snowshoe hare habitat and to evaluate the restoration of habitat quality over time. Occurrence indices for snowshoe hare (fecal pellets and tracks) were modelled according to habitat quality parameters for 22 hardwood stands that were subjected to selection cutting between 1993 and 2007 and 30 untreated stands (15 hardwood and 15 mixedwood) in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. Model selection based on the Akaike second-order information criterion (AICc) identified lateral cover as the only habitat structure parameter having a positive effect on snowshoe hare abundance in the study sites. Indicators of snowshoe hare presence were highest in untreated mixedwood stands but more abundant in selection cuts than in untreated hardwood stands. The use of selection cuts by snowshoe hare increased with time since logging was performed. We conclude that selection cutting exerted a positive effect on the use of hardwood stands by snowshoe hare.

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