Snowshoe hares display limited phenotypic plasticity to mismatch in seasonal camouflage

摘要: As duration of snow cover decreases owing to climate change, species undergoing seasonal colour moults can become mismatched with their background. The immediate adaptive solution this mismatch is phenotypic plasticity, either in phenology or behaviours that reduce its consequences. We observed nearly 200 snowshoe hares across a wide range conditions and two study sites Montana, USA, found minimal plasticity response between coat moult varied sites, likely due differences photoperiod climate, but was largely fixed within only during the spring white-to-brown moult. also no evidence modify behaviour mismatch. Hiding fleeing resting spot preference were more affected by variables related season, site concealment vegetation, than conclude insufficient for adaptation camouflage mismatch, suggesting any future change will require natural selection on behaviour.