Population Trend and Distribution of Mountain (Lepus Timidus) and Brown Hares (Lepus Europaeus) in Central ALPS (N-Italy, 1980-2020)

Abstract

Abstract Mountainous regions are very vulnerable to climate changes, as they experience higher temperature increases than the surrounding environments. A general movement of species towards higher altitudes, in search of suitable sites, is being observed. In the case of the Italian Alps, an expansion of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is possible within the zones occupied by the mountain hare (Lepus timidus), which frequents higher altitudes. The risk is an increase in the hybridization and a contraction of the mountain hare’s range. In this study we analysed the hunting bags of brown and mountain hares from the period 1980-2020, in the province of Sondrio, in northern Lombardy (N-Italy), with the aim of: i) identify the environmental variables that influence the distribution of the two species, ii) create suitability maps of the study area, iii) identify the changes of the ranges of the two species, iv) highlight any population trends in relation to climate change. The results indicate that the two species select different altitudes, with the exception of the altitudes between 1000-1400 and 1800 m a. s. l. Both species select pastures and coniferous forests. The brown hare also selects mixed and broad-leaved forests, while the mountain hare high-altitude grasslands. No significant trends in population size, altitude, or spatial overlap of the two species were observed over the period investigated. Considering the period between 2000 and 2020, however, a moderate increase was highlighted for the brown hare. In all cases, weather variables do not seem to have influenced population trends.