Snowshoe Hare: Winter Coat Mismatch, Shrinking Snow and the…

What is the Snowshoe Hare Cycle?

The snowshoe hare cycle, also known as the lynx cycle, refers to the periodic fluctuations in population sizes of both snowshoe hares and their primary predator, the Canadian lynx. This cycle is driven by a variety of factors including food availability, predation pressure, and environmental changes such as those related to climate.

The cycle typically lasts about ten years, with hare populations peaking when there are enough hares for predators to thrive but not so many that competition for resources becomes intense.

Winter Coat Mismatch

As days grow shorter in autumn, snowshoe hares begin to moult into their white winter coats. This process is triggered by the decreasing day length and not directly by temperature changes. However, climate warming can alter this timing, leading to a mismatch between when hares change color and when snow cover appears.

This mismatch can increase predation rates as hares become more visible against the ground, especially during transitional periods.

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Shrinking Snow Season

Climate warming is leading to earlier spring thaws and later winter snowfalls. This results in a shorter period of time when snow covers the landscape, reducing the duration for which hares can rely on their white coat for camouflage.

The reduction in snow cover also affects the availability of food resources, as plants that hares depend on may not be available at the right times.

Rosenzweig-MacArthur Model

To understand these complex interactions, ecologists often use mathematical models such as the Rosenzweig-MacArthur model. This model helps predict how changes in environmental factors like snow cover and day length can influence population dynamics.

By simulating different scenarios, researchers can better understand the potential impacts of climate change on predator-prey relationships.

Frequently asked questions

How does climate warming affect the snowshoe hare cycle?

Climate warming leads to earlier spring thaws and later winter snowfalls, shortening the period when hares can rely on their white coat for camouflage. This increases predation rates and disrupts the ten-year cycle.

Why is the timing of moulting important for snowshoe hares?

The timing of moulting into a white coat is crucial because it aligns with the appearance of snow. If hares moult too early or too late, they become more visible to predators and face higher predation rates.

What role does food availability play in the hare cycle?

Food availability influences population dynamics by affecting both prey (hare) and predator (lynx) populations. When hares are abundant, lynx can thrive; when hares decline due to predation or other factors, so do lynx.

Can the Rosenzweig-MacArthur model predict future changes in the hare cycle?

Yes, the Rosenzweig-MacArthur model can simulate different scenarios based on changing environmental conditions. This allows researchers to predict how future climate change might affect the ten-year cycle of snowshoe hares and their predators.

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Snowshoe Hare: Winter Coat Mismatch, Shrinking Snow and the Lynx Cycle and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.

▶ Open Snowshoe Hare: Winter Coat Mismatch, Shrinking Snow and the Lynx Cycle simulation