Splitting hares: Current and future ecological niches predicted as distinctly different for two congeneric lagomorphs

Carlos P.E Bedson,Christian Devenish,Elias Symeonakis,David Mallon,Neil Reid,W Edwin Harris,Richard Preziosi

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2021.103742

Carlos P.E Bedson, Christian Devenish + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2021.103742

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Abstract

The congeneric lagomorphs Lepus timidus and L. europaeus share allopatric distributions in many areas of Europe characterised by competitive exclusion and hybridisation. We investigated prospects for these species under climate change in northern England uplands. We created ensemble models predicting niche realisation for these species, influenced by abiotic and biotic factors, estimating niche overlap in geo-environmental space. The two species occupy distinctly different niches, influenced more by vegetation preferences than climatic differences. The current climate niche for L. timidus featured higher elevations with cooler temperatures and 168 km2 range extent. Its current habitat niche scale was larger at 269 km2, comprised entirely of upland dwarf shrubs: heather, cotton grass, moorland grasses. By contrast, the current climate niche predicted L. europaeus occupying lowland areas with a milder climate and range extent of 252 km2. Its current habitat niche was also greater, 401 km2, being mostly improved grassland. Competition was presently limited. The current niche predictions showed very little geographic overlap between the species. Niche overlap measured by Schoener Index was low: current climate niche 0.16; current habitat niche 0.07. The future climate niches for 2050 (IPCC RCP2.6), predicted L. timidus range contracting to 19 km2, on hilltops and L. europaeus range expanding to 765 km2. Consequently L. timidus range would be wholly within the L. europaeus range. In many contact zones throughout Europe, L. europaeus outcompetes L. timidus; however, in the Peak District their distributions are largely distinct. Future replacement of L. timidus by L. europaeus may be engendered by dietary convergence, should a warmer climate cause a transition of upland dwarf shrub vegetation to grasses.

Highlights

The future climate niches for 2050 (IPCC RCP2.6), predicted L. timidus range contracting to 19 km2, on hilltops and L. europaeus range expanding to 765 km2
Climate change scenarios sug gest L. timidus can be affected by changes in long-term weather patterns (Reid et al, 2021) and will move to higher latitudes and elevations (Anderson et al, 2009; Hof et al, 2012; Leach et al, 2015b), its range in Europe reducing by 70% (Acevedo et al, 2012)
This study predicted two congeneric lagomorph species occupying distinctly different ecological niches in close geographic proximity with virtually no overlap. Their current climate niches predicted by temperature, precipitation and topography, were much smaller than their habitat niches predicted by vegetation productivity and composition

Summary

Introduction

Ecological niche models often predict opposing patterns of distri bution and survival for two European lagomorph species: the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) (Acevedo et al, 2012; Bisi et al, 2015; Leach et al 2015a, 2015b, 2016, 2017). Despite differences in physiological adaptations and re quirements, they often share distributions and compete for resources (Thulin 2003; Jansson et al, 2007). As herbivores both species are important to ecosystems for recycling vegetation nutrients, and are prey for carnivores and raptors (Harris and Yalden 2008; Barbar and Lam bertucci (2018). Climate change scenarios sug gest L. timidus can be affected by changes in long-term weather patterns (Reid et al, 2021) and will move to higher latitudes and elevations (Anderson et al, 2009; Hof et al, 2012; Leach et al, 2015b), its range in Europe reducing by 70% (Acevedo et al, 2012)

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