A rapid summer decline in a mountain hare population on an island

Angerbjörn, Anders; Hjernquist, Björn

doi:10.4098/at.arch.84-6

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…The mean population sizes of helminth parasites in the rabbits were similar to those already reported from Scotland and England (BOAG, 1972;1985) but the T. retortaeformis numbers found in the mountain hares were greater than any previously recorded (IRVIN, 1970;SOVERI & VALTONEN, 1983). Sub-clinical parasitism by T. retortaeformis may possibly be one of the contributing factors responsible for the fluctuations in hare numbers (ANGERBJORN & HJERNQUIST, 1984) since the over-all mean population was in excess of 3600 nematodes per hare which is higher than the numbers of similar related species which have been shown to have a detrimental effect on the growth of lambs (SPEDDING & BROWN, 1957). BARTH & BRULL (1975) were able to demonstrate the harmful effects of parasites when they fed apples treated with an anthelmintic to wild brown hares and managed to control the parasites and get significant increases in body-weight.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The occurrence and abundance of helminth parasites of the mountain hare Lepus timidus (L.) and the wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Boag¹,

Iason

1986

J. Helminthol.

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Mountain hares were collected each month between April 1984 and March 1985 and their intestines examined for helminths. 26 rabbits were also collected between Juny and December 1984 and examined for gastro-intestinal helminths. Three nematode and two cestode species were found in the hares while only two nematode and one cestode species were found in the rabbits. Trichostronglylus retortaeformis was recorded form 88% of the 193 hares and 92% of the rabbits While comparable figures for Passalurus ambiguus were 0·5% and 54% and for Mosgovoyia pectinata 14% and 81%. Seasonal fluctuations were observed in the T. retortaeformis populations in the hare; numbers tended to be low during the winter months and high throughout the summer. Paranoplocephala wimerosa was reported for the first time from the British Isles and Trichostrongylus axei was recorded for the forst time in the mountain hare.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The occurrence and abundance of helminth parasites of the mountain hare Lepus timidus (L.) and the wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Boag¹,

Iason

1986

J. Helminthol.

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“…However, other factors, such as predator abundance, size and condition of female hares, food abundance and weather/climate may also be responsible for the variation in hare population dynamics, irrespective of the phase of the hare cycle (Flux 1970, Angerbjörn & Hjernquist 1984, Hewson 1985, Angerbjörn 1986, Danell & Hörnfeldt 1987, Marcström et al 1989. For instance, Hewson (1985) and Angerbjörn & Hjernquist (1984) found that population declines were due to low survival rate of adult hares caused by harsh weather and, consequently, a shortage of food. Low food availability caused by thick snow cover also resulted in big loss of embryos and, thus, low productivity among mountain hares (Flux 1970).…”

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confidence: 99%