Hackländer Klaus
Habitat Selection of the Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) in the Central Alps
Project Number: CH-3432
Project Type: |
Master |
Project Duration: |
04/01/2007 - 07/31/2008 project completed |
Funding Source: |
other , |
Project Leader: |
Prof. Klaus Hackländer Wildbiologie und Jagdwirtschaft Department für Integrative Biologie und Biodiversitätsforschung BOKU Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33 AT-1180 Wien Austria Phone: +43 (0) 1 476 54 44 51 FAX: +43 (0) 1 476 54 44 59 e-Mail: klaus.hacklaender(at)boku.ac.at http://www.iwj.at |
Research Areas:
Disciplines:
Keywords:
Mountain hare, Faecal pellets, habitat selection, Lepus timidus, Alps
Abstract:
In this study we investigated habitat selection of the Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) in a continental part of the Central Alps over a one-year period. A trial plot survey by monitoring the number of faecal pellets indicated that the seasonal habitat selection is found to be closely linked to shelter and food availability. The selection of forest habitats has showed small seasonal traits and the Mountain hare selected the area positively during one year. Whereas the selection of open habitat types was stronger influenced by seasonal traits and the Mountain hare mostly avoided the area in snow-covered seasons. Further the influences of the selected habitat, seasonal and climatic parameters to habitat selection were tested. The results indicated that altitude and habitat type are suitable factors to describe the distribution of the Mountain hare. The suggestions of results illustrated that interpretation needs caution because Mountain hare possesses a high flexibility to physical and behaviour adaptations to local existing environment conditions.
Leading questions:
The aim of the present study is to investigate seasonal changes on habitat selection of Mountain hares and the identification of their interacting factors in the Swiss National Park in a continental part of the High Alps by monitoring the number of faeces.
Publications:
Rehnus M., Palme R., Filli F., Hackländer K. (2009): No seasonal changes of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in Mountain hare (Lepus timidus). Mammalian Biology, 74 (Special Issue), 20-21; ISSN 1616-5047 [83rd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Mammalogy, Dresden, 13.-17.09.2009].
Last update: 12/23/16
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-3432
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