Space use, diet preferences and genetic integrity of European hares (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in sympatry

Since the last century, a decline of mountain hare (Lepus timidus) populations has been recorded in Sweden and Russia. Contemporaneously with the decline of the mountain hares, an expansion of the European hares (Lepus europaeus) in these areas has been ascertained. A study of the hunting statistics of Grisons (Switzerland) provides indications that the subspecies Alpine mountain hare (Lepus timidus varronis) which is restricted to the Alps is displaced to higher altitudes by the European hare. Thereby, on the one hand the available area for the mountain hares decreases, on the other hand it seems as if the mountain hares ascend slower than the European hares. Furthermore, genetic mixing with the European hare has been shown for the Alpine mountain hare. Both impair the situation of the mountain hares in in the Alps considerably. Although in the literature the expansion of the European hares is regarded as the main cause of the mountain hare decline, empirical studies which study both hare species in sympatry are practically non-existent. In this research project, we examine if in sympatric areas the competition leads to a possible niche separation in space use and diet preferences. Furthermore, we test if the amount of introgression is altitude dependent. To study the spatial and temporal space use of European and mountain hares, GPS-collars are used. Diet preferences and genetic integrity of both species are assessed by faecal analysis. Thereby, we hope to be able to draw inferences about the type of competition between these two hare species in a holistic approach.