Winter browsing of brown hares: evidence for diet breadth expansion

摘要: Summary Foraging theory predicts that diet breadth should expand as food availability decreases. We tested this by looking at the winter browsing behaviour of brown hare Lepus europaeus. predicted selective feeding on different woody plant species, generalisation under increasingly severe conditions and a rank preference between items. Following period conditions, we censused marks hares plants six sites situated altitudes (340 – 600 m a. s. l.) in Upper Franconia, Germany. assumed access to ground vegetation, which is general hares, was more restricted with higher snow cover. The results provided support for all our predictions: Feeding intensity varied strongly species indicating selectivity feeding. number also percentage browsed positively correlated altitude study site wider situations where less available. On basis model choice evaluated an independent data set, conclude show regard groups species. Our findings assumption include unfavourable, low quality items into diet.