This project will combine applied genetics and ecological research methods to assess and semi-quantify the diet and gut microbiome of the mountain hare in Scotland. The resulting data will also be used to assess differences between the seasons, habitats and the sexes to inform conservation and management strategies for this species and its habitats The mountain hare (Lepus timidus) is found in upland areas of Scotland where it is strongly associated with heather moorland habitats and but is also found in woodlands and other habitats, albeit at lower densities. Mountain hares have an intermediate feeding strategy, with a high-quality grass-dominated diet in summer and switching to a low-quality bulk browse-dominated diet in winter. Their flexible diet and presence in different habitat types, makes mountain hares an ideal model species to study how small herbivores may adapt to habitat change. Accurate information on mountain hare diet will help us to make predictions about how they will use different habitats under future climate-driven and land-use change in Scotland. Predicting how mountain hares will use different habitats is important for developing evidence-based management and conservation strategies for the mountain hare itself, as well as informing land-use planning and habitat management strategies to ensure multi-use landscapes support viable and resilient mountain hare populations.If you would like to know more about the project, please contact Michelle Henley This article was published on 2025-04-01
