Brown Hare Populations Research Articles

Assessment of genetic structure of Greek brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations based on variation in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

The RAPD method was used to assess the genetic differentiation of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations from Central Greece. Greek wild populations were compared with samples from Austria, Poland, Germany, France, and Bulgaria, as well as with reared/released hares to investigate the impact of the releases on the native populations' genetic structure. The absence of diagnostic bands distinguishing between L. europaeus populations confirmed the high level of gene flow between brown hare populations over long geographic distances reported by other authors. Phylogenetic trees, derived from genetic distances estimated by RAPD band frequencies, suggested one major partitioning event of nuclear DNA lineages found in the samples. The reared individuals clustered with the Austrian, Polish, German, and French populations, whereas the Greek populations clustered apart with the Bulgarian population. Within Greece the distribution of the six wild populations did not follow any geographical trend, since their genetic divergence did not seem to correlate to geographic distances. However, RAPD profiles of some reared and wild specimens were different from the common RAPD pattern observed in the vast majority of sampled hares, probably reflecting an admixture of genetically differentiated individuals. The RAPD analysis indicates that releases might have begun to affect Greek population structure and reinforces the view that appropriate management is needed, adjusted to the local populations' biology and ecology.

Genetic structure of Greek brown hare ( Lepus europaeus) populations as revealed by mtDBNA RFLP-PCR analysis: implications for conserving genetic diversity

The genetic differentiation and the phylogenetic status of brown hare ( Lepus europaeus) populations from central Greece as well as the impact of the releases of reared individuals on the native populations genetic structure was assessed, using mtDNA RFLP-RCR analysis. Data analysis revealed extensive haplotype diversity (42 out of 56 haplotypes were unique) within and among wild populations. Haplotype diversity was equally distributed within and between geographical regions, while significant genetic structuring was evident from heterogeneity of haplotype frequencies among sampling sites. Specific mtDNA profiles clearly differentiated reared from wild individuals and proved highly indicative for reared hares from past releases caught within wild populations. MtDNA analysis suggests the introgression of allochthonous gene pools into the native populations. To conserve indigenous genotypes and to prevent loss of genetic diversity, restocking operations should be stopped and an appropriate management adjusted to the local population dynamics should be developed.

Factors affecting harvest on a Brown hare population ( Lepus europaeus ) in central Italy

Bag data (number of Brown hares shot) related to the 1987 - 1993 period were ob- tained from the hunting preserve management book (1374 hectares, in central Italy, Lazio Region). The correlation between the daily number of hunting teams, shooting days, and non-hunting days for the same period, was performed by means of correlation and ANOVA tests. A first analysis shows a significant direct correlation between daily catches and the daily number of hunting teams. Further analyses showed that, although the number of teams did not vary within the year taken into account, the mean number of hares shot decreased over the shooting season. Moreover, when considering the entire 7-year period, data showed that, while the number of teams fluctuate from year to year, the number of hares shot remains quite stable. A positive (direct) correlation was found between the year- ly number of non hunting days and the number of hares shot in the same year.

Survival Rates in a Nonharvested Brown Hare Population

Survival in the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is poorly documented because only life tables and other nonrobust methods have been used to estimate constant annual survival rates. We used recent developments in mark-recapture analysis to model survival patterns in a Danish hare population monitored from 1957 to 1970. Goodness-of-fit tests revealed that the Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) model was an adequate starting point for adults, and age-dependence was considered in modeling survival of yearlings. We found no differences in annual survival rates (Φ) from 1957 to 1967 in adults, but males survived better than females (Φ males = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.50-0.61; Φ females = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.44-0.56). Yearling survival rates were time dependent and varied with winter severity, sex, and mass. Indeed, body mass strongly influenced the survival of yearling hares: larger animals (≥3 kg) had higher survival rates than smaller animals, in both males and females (Φ = 0.40-0.68 for heavy males and Φ = 0.20-0.44 for lighter males; Φ = 0.31-0.52 for heavy females and Φ = 0.22-0.40 for lighter females). These variations in survival rates were parallel between body mass classes over time (modeled as a function of winter temperature) within each sex.

European brown hare syndrome in free-ranging hares in Poland.

A study of European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) was conducted in Poland (Czempin). From April 1993 until February 1994, 100 blood and 78 spleen samples of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) were tested for prevalence of EBHS and rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV) antibodies and EBHS virus antigen with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits. Thirty-eight of 100 serum samples were positive for EBHS, and six (7.6%) of 78 of the spleen materials were-antigen positive for EBHS virus. Three (3%) of the sera were positive against RHDV, whereas two of these also were seropositive for EBHSV. European brown hare syndrome virus seropositive hares were most frequently found from April to September. Based on negative staining electron microscopy investigations of liver and spleen homogenates of all antigen-positive hares, we observed caliciviruses in only one animal. For histopathological investigations organ specimens were available from 98 hares. Histopathological findings corresponded with the clinical picture of chronic EBHS. A pathohistological picture consistent with EBHS was found in 22 (22%) of investigated hares and corresponded in 50% of the animals which reacted positively in the EBHSV antigen-ELISA and in 29% of the animals which reacted positively in the EBHSV antibody-ELISA. These results from western Poland are the first that caliciviruses are present in European brown hare population in Eastern Europe and may be one of the causes for increased mortality in the Polish hare population over the past 10 years.

Studies on the European hare. 46. Identical cheek tooth anomalies in two Polish brown hare populations

Mandibles of 258 brown hares Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778 from Poland were controlled for abnormal expression of the premolars. In four individuals a reciprocal transposition of the right and left third lower premolars was found. In addition, all the affected premolars were rotaded. The rotation showed bilateral symmetry in each of the four specimens. A genetical basis is suggested for this type of tooth anomaly.

Genetic polymorphism of sorbitol dehydrogenase in the brown hare and the distribution of the variation in Central Europe

A genetic polymorphism of sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH; EC 1.1.1.14) for two allozymes is demonstrated in the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Segregation analysis was performed in a sample of four matings with 12 offspring and confirmed the genetic hypothesis: two alleles at an autosomal locus. The calculated gene frequencies in the brown hare breed studied are Sdha = 0.712 and Sdhb = 0.288. The distribution of the polymorphism in free-ranging brown hare populations from Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland is described.

Studies on the European hare. 40. Relation between haptoglobin polymorphism and the health status of brown hare populations in Poland

During 1986-1990 blood samples of 390 brown hares Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778 were collected in 5 hunting areas in Poland. The blood cells were removed and the resulting serum of plasma protein were separated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels.

Dynamics of a Heavily Exploited Population of Brown Hare in a Large-Scale Farming Area

Taking bare land as the control, this paper studied the effects of different planting modes on the soil permeability of sloping farmlands in purple soil area. For the test six planting modes, the soil permeability was in the order of Eriobotrya japonica > Citrus limon > Vetiveria zizanioides hedgerows +corn >Leucaena leucocephala hedgerows + corn> Hemerocallis fulva > corn> bare land, and decreased with increasing depth. The eigenvalues of soil infiltration were in the order of initial infiltration rate> average infiltration rate> stable infiltration rate. The soil permeability had significant positive linear correlations with soil total porosity, non-capillary porosity, initial moisture content, water holding capacity, and organic matter content, and significant negative linear correlation with soil bulk density. The common empirical infiltration model could well fit the soil moisture infiltration processes under the six planting modes, while the Kostiakov equation could not.