Distribution and biogeography of the Alaskan hare (Lepus othus)

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016The Alaskan Hare (Lepus othus Merriam 1900) is the largest lagomorph in North America but remains one of the most poorly studied terrestrial mammals on the continent. Its current distribution is restricted to western Alaska south of the Brooks Range, but historical anecdotal accounts of occurrences north of the Brooks Range (the North Slope) have led to confusion over its past, present, and predicted distribution. To clarify the historical range of L. othus, we surveyed North American museum collections and georeferenced voucher specimens (Supplemental File Appendix 1.1). We also located a specimen from the North Slope of Alaska long presumed lost and whose identity had come to be questioned. The rediscovery of this missing specimen suggests the occurrence of at least one Alaskan Hare on the North Slope as recently as the late 1800s. Because unforested ecosystems such as tundra and Arctic grasslands have decreased in Alaska since the last glacial maximum, and L. othus occurs in unforested habitat, we expected to observe low genetic diversity in the mitochondrial control region of L. othus. However, with recently collected specimens from regions in Alaska that were poorly represented in the past (i.e. Alaska Peninsula, Little Diomede, and Kotzebue Sound), we discovered more genetic diversity and population structure than was found in previous studies, including similar haplotypes from the Alaska Peninsula and from eastern Russia. This suggests there may have been 2 distinct colonization events of northern hares in Alaska, or introgression from L. timidus and a mitochondrial sweep that has been restricted to the Alaska Peninsula and Bristol Bay area. Our morphological analyses of the difference between the two subspecies, L. o. othus and L. o. poadromus, were ambiguous, with principal components analysis and simple linear regression indicating the presence of a latitudinal size cline and discriminant function analysis revealing successful group assignment that is not solely based on latitude. Our research clarifies the current and recent distribution of the Alaskan Hare and reveals more genetic diversity than previously suspected in the mitochondrial control region. We also observed a new biogeographic pattern and closer mtDNA association with L. timidus, which, combined with new island specimens and observations, suggests gene flow across the Bering Strait. It also highlights the importance of maximizing sample sizes and sampling widely across a taxon’s geographic distribution

Making Room for Zoom in Focus Group Methods: Opportunities and Challenges for Novice Researchers (During and Beyond COVID-19)

Als die COVID-19-Pandemie über die Welt hereinbrach, waren viele Menschen gezwungen, sich auf online-basierte Routinen einzustellen, darunter auch qualitative Forscher*innen, die nach alternativen Möglichkeiten zur Erhebung aussagekräftiger Daten suchten. Während Fokusgruppen traditionell Face to Face durchgeführt werden, bieten Fortschritte bei Online-Videokonferenzanwendungen neue Methoden zur Datenerhebung, die jedoch bisher nur selten untersucht wurden. In diesem Artikel berichten wir über die Erfahrungen von 12 Doktorand*innen mit der Durchführung von Fokusgruppen unter Verwendung von Zoom im Rahmen eines Kurses zu qualitativen Interviewmethoden. Wir reflektieren Chancen und Herausforderungen, die wir als Moderator*innen und Teilnehmer*innen bei der Nutzung von Zoom erlebten z.B. bei der Vorbereitung oder in Bezug auf Rapport, die Einbindung anderer digitaler Tools und von Internetverbindungen. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass die Durchführung von Online-Fokusgruppen unter Verwendung von Zoom insgesamt eine positive Erfahrung war und mit Face-to-Face-Fokusgruppen vergleichbar ist. Möglichkeiten der Teilnehmer*innenrekrutierung, die Sicherheitsmerkmale von Zoom und die Nutzung von Zoom und allgemeiner neuen Technologien sollten auch jenseits der Pandemie weiter erforscht werden.As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the world, it forced many people to adapt to an online-based routine, including qualitative researchers looking for alternative ways to collect meaningful data. While focus groups are traditionally conducted in-person, advances with online videoconferencing applications present a new method to collect data, however, few studies have explored this. In this article we present 12 doctoral students' experiences with conducting focus groups using the videoconferencing application Zoom during a qualitative methods course on interviewing methods. Through this self-study qualitative analysis, participants reflected on the opportunities and challenges experienced as both moderators and participants using Zoom including: preparation, rapport, incorporating other digital tools, and internet connectivity. In conclusion, doing focus groups online using Zoom was a positive experience overall and comparable to in-person focus groups for collecting qualitative data, despite the introduction of technology. More research on participant recruitment, new technology, Zoom's security features, and Zoom's use outside of a pandemic should be further explored