Niche overlap of mountain hare subspecies and the vulnerability of their ranges to invasion by the European hare; the (bad) luck of the Irish

Niche conservatism is the tendency of related species to retain ancestral tolerances after geographic separation. We used Ecological Niche Modelling and Principal Components Analysis of bioclimatic and habitat variables to describe the extent of the species niche, and degrees of bioclimatic\u2013habitat niche conservatism within the mountain hare (L. timidus) clade. Mountain hare niche space was contrasted with that of the European hare (L. europaeus), to shed light on species interactions in contact zones throughout Europe. All five subspecies of mountain hare had quantifiably distinct niches. Fennoscandian (L.t. sylvaticus, L.t. timidus) and highland (L.t. scoticus, L.t. varronis) subspecies, however, were most similar, exhibiting greatest apparent niche conservatism. They inhabit tundra, boreal forest and uplands, and, hence are presumed most similar to the ancestral form. The Irish hare was distinct, being consistently distinguished from other mountain hares in both 2D and nth dimensional (4D) niche space. The ecological distinctiveness of the Irish hare provides further evidence that it is an Evolutionarily Significant Unit, particularly vulnerable to displacement by introduced European hares with which it competes and hybridises. Projections under global climate change suggest that, by 2070, bioclimatic space for invasive European hares in Ireland will expand (by 79%) but contract for endemic Irish hares (by 75%), further facilitating their replacement. The near complete species replacement of the heath hare (L.t. sylvaticus) in southern Sweden, where the European hare has also been introduced, may suggest a similar fate may be in store for the Irish hare

Mountain hare transcriptome and diagnostic markers as resources to monitor hybridization with European hares

We report the first mountain hare (Lepus timidus) transcriptome, produced by de novo assembly of RNA-sequencing reads. Data were obtained from eight specimens sampled in two localities, Alps and Ireland. The mountain hare tends to be replaced by the invading European hare (Lepus europaeus) in their numerous contact zones where the species hybridize, which affects their gene pool to a yet unquantified degree. We characterize and annotate the mountain hare transcriptome, detect polymorphism in the two analysed populations and use previously published data on the European hare (three specimens, representing the European lineage of the species) to identify 4 672 putative diagnostic sites between the species. A subset of 85 random independent SNPs was successfully validated using PCR and Sanger sequencing. These valuable genomic resources can be used to design tools to assess population status and monitor hybridization between species

Population assessment of the mountain hares (Lepus timidus) of England: distribution, abundance and genetics

In the 1870s a small founder group of mountain hares (Lepus timidus) was translocated from Scotland to the Peak District moors, England. They succeeded as a pioneer of rewilding for 150 years, playing important ecological roles within the upland ecosystem,. Nonetheless these mountain hares frequently went unmonitored. From 1971 to 2002 only four formal studies attempted distribution or abundance assessments. Subsequently there were doubts regarding the persistence of the population. In 2008 the species was added to UK Biodiversity Action Plan, which recommended ongoing monitoring. The aim of the thesis was to provide a fundamental assessment of this mountain hare population, informing conservation status reviews and enabling subsequent potential population viability analysis. The research draws upon a considerable amount of newly collected field observations, citizen science records, geographic information and laboratory investigations. I employ new survey methods, quantitative ecology, geospatial analysis and genetic techniques to describe the distribution, abundance and genetic structure of this population This work presents evidence that Peak District mountain hares occupy a geographically confined set of hills comprising ~360km2. They favour cold environments at high elevations and appear completely dependent on heather for food and shelter. Mountain hares frequent different habitats than their sister species, the European brown hare (L. europaeus), because of different climatic and dietary preferences. Accordingly, the main threats to mountain hares are climate change which may reduce their range by ~80%; and impending competition with European brown hares. Surveys of mountain hares are notoriously challenging, since this nocturnal cryptic creature may hide by day to avoid predators. To evaluate day and night time survey methods, I compared daylight transect surveys with night-time thermal imaging and camera traps operating 24 hours per day for 5 months. Census surveys using daylight visual sampling are shown to be highly effective and statistically reliable. Consequently, some 800km of surveys were conducted, covering much rugged difficult ground, with sufficient encounter rates to enable robust estimation of density, based on high detection probability, observing ~20% of the sampled hares to a range of 520m. These surveys showed the mountain hares as a stable population of ~3,500 individuals (winter adults), with one population centre concentrated on a few square kilometres. Densities are not randomly distributed and appear influenced by anthropogenic land use. Numbers in restored blanket bog areas are highest; upon managed grouse moors numbers are two thirds less. This finding notably contradicts most preceding mountain hare research from the UK. Research sourced genetic material, mostly roadkill mountain hares, provide matter for DNA extraction and microsatellite sequencing. Owing to technical challenges, results were partial yet appeared to indicate the mountain hare population is mostly randomly mating, having a diverse genetic population structure. There appears to be a low level of hybridisation with European brown hares. Continued monitoring of this Peak District mountain hare population is necessary to support UK biodiversity conservation goals. The mountain hare population experiences the normal ecological factors that govern natural population fluctuations: weather, food availability, predators, parasites, disease and population cyclicity. There is substantial human caused mortality from roads and persecution. These could be greatly reduced, if society were willing. This thesis may serve as primary reference for conservation assessments

Risk of Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) introduction and spread in CCHF-free countries in southern and Western Europe: A semi-quantitative risk assessment

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne viral zoonotic disease caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). The disease is usually asymptomatic in domestic and wild animals, both of which may act as reservoirs of the virus. CCHF is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. During the last decade, the emergence or re-emergence of CCHF was described in several countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with an increasing risk of extension into new areas. Given the public health importance, this study undertakes a semi-quantitative risk assessment to analyse the likelihood of entry and exposure of CCHFV into 9 CCHF-free countries in Southern and Western Europe. Based on a framework outlining the probability of the virus entry and exposure, the risk estimates were assessed for each individual country. The risk assessment was performed using information from public databases and the available scientific literature. The likelihood of entry was conducted considering 3 main pathways: infected tick vectors, wildlife and livestock. The likelihood of exposure was assessed considering the probability of survival of the infected ticks once introduced in CCHF-free countries (depending on abiotic and biotic factors), and the exposure of resident uninfected susceptible ticks to infected imported wildlife and livestock. The risk estimates (combined CCHFV introduction and exposure) were low for the majority of the countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia and Switzerland) and medium for France and Italy, if accounting only for animal health consequences. Considering the public health consequences only, the risks were rated low for all the countries, except for Italy where it was assessed to be medium

Invasive Birds: Global Trends and Impacts

This 381-paged book covers the biology, ecology, impact and management of 34 common alien invasive species, with reviews on the history and context of avian introductions and invasions in five major regions (Oceania, Africa, Europe (including the Middle East, Asia and South America)), as well as management challenges and the potential of citizen science for monitoring alien birds. The book pitches at the introductory level and is ideal for readers to gain a quick and comprehensive view of the current status of global avian invasions. It has brought the records and research of avian invasion one step ahead of other alien invasive animal taxa. Many chapters contain distribution maps and data tables on the diet and morphology of the species, providing a good reference for the species and its management issues. Each chapter also contains a rich list of references that could help readers dive further into the topic