Climate change is shrinking mountain hare’s alpine habitat
Researchers predict that the mountain hare’s alpine habitat will shrink by a third every year until 2100
Rolf Giger, WSL
Global warming is making life difficult for the mountain hare in the Swiss Alps. As a result, they are becoming increasingly rare, an international study headed by Swiss scientists has revealed.
The team’s studyExternal link, co-conducted with the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, investigated the influence of climate change on the distribution of hares in the Swiss Alps, analysing over 1,000 animals between 1990 and 2013.
They found that the animal’s habitat will not only shrink, but also become more fragmented. As a result, the populations of mountain hare, also known as the snow hare (Lepus timidus), will become less well interconnected which could lead to a loss of genetic diversity, the WSL said in a press releaseExternal link on Tuesday. Overall, the snow hare’s population is expected to decrease in future, declared the authors of the study, which was published in the scientific journal Global Change BiologyExternal link.
“The loss and increasing fragmentation of habitats means that the species is increasingly endangered,” wrote the study’s main author, Maik Rehnus.
The scientists recommend setting up a national mountain hare monitoring system to help the animals continue to survive – and thrive in the Swiss Alps.
Popular Stories
More
Demographics
Flat-hunting in Switzerland’s cheapest and most expensive municipalities
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
ETH Zurich remains best university in continental Europe
This content was published on
Swiss universities have once again fallen slightly behind in international comparison. In the annual university rankings, they recorded slightly more losses than gains overall. However, three Swiss universities are among the 100 best in Europe.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Alpine flowers fight for food and space
This content was published on
Global warming is affecting the range of alpine flora – creating winners and losers, says a joint study from Swiss and Austrian scientists.
This content was published on
Researchers say three iconic Swiss animal species spend more time at higher elevations in autumn than they did in the past due to climate change.
This content was published on
Because of global warming, trees in the Alps are coming into leaf earlier than they used to – which could have negative consequences.
This content was published on
As temperatures climb and growing seasons change, milk producers must cooperate to improve their grassland management practices.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.