Life and Death of the Mountain Hare in the Boreal Forest of Sweden

摘要: The mountain hare (Lepus timidus) is historically one of Sweden’s most appreciated game species. Nevertheless, little known about how the lives its life, especially in main habitat, boreal forest. This probably due to challenges involved studying an animal with a low population density and solitary life style. objective this thesis was estimate several basic, so far unknown, demographic parameters relevance dynamics hare. based on data from captured radio-marked wild hares (73 adults 48 leverets). In addition, study also includes 65 released captive-reared leverets. Leveret survival low. From two weeks age they exposed themselves became easy targets for wide range predators. Once had established home their comparable that adult hares. Adult showed high annual rates. lowest seasonal found males during mating season spring. Predation, by red fox, cause mortality both leverets Mountain synchronized abundance small rodents; as vole decreased, increased. My results suggest, accordance other studies, forest Sweden are driven predation suggested alternative prey hypothesis. Even though large ranges, species may still show very local dynamic patterns. During study, none moved initial range, only proportion clearly dispersed birth place. An individual’s contribution coming generations will thus mainly be made area where it born. I suggest hare’s accumulated experience area, rather than physical resources, explain hares’ annually sedentary behaviour and, effect, rate. Within “area experience”, however, tracked changing resource availability between seasons.