Continentality affects body condition and size but not yearly reproductive output in female European hares (Lepus europaeus) |
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Authors: | Klaus Hacklä nder,Claudia Zeitlhofer,Thomas Ceulemans,Franz Suchentrunk |
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Affiliation: | aInstitute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria;bHubertus Vereniging Vlaanderen, Lambermontlaan 410, 1030 Brussels, Belgium;cResearch Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | Life history in reproductive pattern in hares are affected by ambient temperature. We hypothesized that European hares dwelling in areas of higher energy demands would have larger body sizes, larger fat depots and a delayed first reproduction. To test this assumption we compared yearly reproductive output as well as age, body size, body weight and body condition of female European hares from Belgium (temperate oceanic climate) and Lower Austria (temperate continental climate). Our results reveal that there was no effect of study site on annual reproductive output in female European hares. However, adult female hares from Belgium were significantly smaller and had significantly lower body condition in late autumn compared to the Lower Austrian sample, although Belgian individuals were actually older than Lower Austrians. These findings suggest that females in Belgium are more under an r-selection regime whereas Lower Austrian females might be more under K-selection within the r-K-continuum. |
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Keywords: | Climate Life history Fecundity Energy allocation |
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