The 24-hour cycle of the mountain hare Lepus timidus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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Institution: | 1. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland;2. Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria;1. Zoo Dortmund, Mengelteichstraße 80, D-44225 Dortmund;2. ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen, Grimberger Allee 3, D-45889 Gelsenkirchen;3. Institut für Tierschutz und Verhalten, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 2, D-30559 Hannover;4. Zentrales Tierlaboratorium, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, D-45122 Essen;1. Universität Oldenburg, Kniphauser Deich 1, D-26386 Wilhelmshaven;2. Zoo Osnabrück, Klaus-Strick-Weg 12, D-49082 Osnabrück;3. Universität Greifswald, Bremer Straße 21a, D-90765 Fürth;4. Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Deutschland |
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Abstract: | The behavioral decisions of wild animals are influenced by the often conflicting needs to both feed efficiently and to avoid predators. Information regarding how lagomorphs such as the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) balance these factors throughout the day-night cycle is largely lacking despite its importance to management.To better understand the type and proportion of various behaviors the mountain hare engages in over the course of a 24-hour period, I monitored the behavior of six mountain hares under controlled conditions from early to mid-winter. The mountain hares spend the majority of their time resting (mean ± standard deviation: 32.4 ± 14.4%) and under canopy (22.4 ± 18.7%), and a smaller proportion of their time feeding (16.2 ± 6.1%). Activity peaks over the course of the 24-hour cycle reflect natural behavior patterns that emphasize the reduction of predation risk. The sunrise phase is characterized by the search for a suitable resting place; the day phase by resting and hiding. The sunset phase is characterized by the search for food, and the night phase by an equal mix of food intake and movement through the home range. These results can help land managers predict how factors such as increasing tourist activity (perceived by the hare as a safety threat) will influence the behavior of free-ranging mountain hares. |
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Keywords: | Behavior Activity Alps |
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