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Hare today but tomorrow? Experts fear climate change is existential threat for mountain hares left wearing wrong coats in warmer winters
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MAN WITH TWO DOGS: The crows know - when signs of spring are a cause for celebration
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A new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B has revealed that mountain hares in Scotland are exposed to more predators due to climate change. Normally, the mountain hares’ fur changes from dark brown to bright white when it starts to snow. The shedding of fur is significant, because it helps the animals camouflage into their surroundings and hide from predators. The study, led by Marketa Zimova of the University of Michigan, shows that climate change has altered snow patterns. The researchers analyzed over six decades of data and found a steep decline of 37.14 annual snow days between 1990 and 2016. Although some animals have been adapting to less snow cover, the mountain hares have failed to acclimate. These animals are still shedding their dark fur at the same time each year, but less snow is coming, and it is coming later. Their white fur stands out in the snowless landscape. Related: Why should the Scottish woodlands be protected? There is cause for alarm,
Less snowy winters produce camouflage mismatch in mountain hares
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Mountain hares in Scotland that rely on camouflage to escape predators are becoming increasing mismatched to their surroundings due to less snowy winters, a new study shows.
Mountain hares are one of several species that molt from a dark coat in summer to a white coat in winter to maintain camouflage against snowy landscapes. But due to climate change, the duration of snow cover is decreasing creating a “mismatch” in seasonal camouflage that could expose the hares to predators.
“If we want species to persist in a rapidly changing world, we need to understand their responses to climate change.”
“Organisms have important life events that are timed to seasonal changes in the environment, like bird migration or hares molting to a white coat in winter,” says Sean Giery, postdoctoral research fellow at Penn State at an author of the paper.