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Research article2004Peer reviewed

Hare and vole browsing preferences during winter

Hjalten J, Danell K, Ericson L

Abstract

The aim with this study was to, under controlled conditions, determine the food preference of mountain hares Lepus timidus Linnaeus, 1758 and bank voles Clelthrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) for a substantial part of the woody plants potentially available for these herbivores during winter. In addition, we compared hare and vole preference patterns. Thirteen woody plant species were simultaneously presented to 9 captive voles and 9 captive hares in preference tests during winter. Consumption by hares from 50 g bundles (one per species) was measured after 3 h, whereas shoot consumption by voles was measured after 12 h. Both hares and voles preferred deciduous species to conifers, Populus tremula, and Vaccinium myrtillus being the most preferred species. However, there was considerable variation in palatability among deciduous plant species and only a marginally significant correlation was found between hare and vole preference. One striking differences between hares and voles was that Sorbus aucuparia was the most utilised by voles but the least preferred by hares. In conclusion, deciduous plant species were generally considerably more palatable to hares and voles than conifers, which is consistent with current theories. Nevertheless, the high variation in palatability among deciduous trees and the difference in preference between hares and voles indicate more complex and species-specific patterns with regard to plant-animal interactions. The latter also suggests that hares and voles differ in their dietary adaptations and have different dietary constrains

Published in

Acta Theriologica
2004, Volume: 49, number: 1, pages: 53-62
Publisher: POLISH ACAD SCIENCES

      SLU Authors

    • Danell, Kjell

      • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Hjältén, Joakim

        • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03192508

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/5508