Determination of habit perferences and population trends of the snowshoe hare in Nova Scotia

Pellet density was determined on a total of 743 plots placed along 14.86 kilometers of transect lines to determine the relative habitat preferences of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus struthopus Bangs) in Kings County, Nova Scotia. Habitat preferences were correlated with the seral stages of the spruce (Picea spp.) - fir (Abies balsamea) forest. The patchy nature of the preferred earlier succession seres is a result of the high interspersion of both open-grown spruce, which serve as food and "refugia", and important browse plants. Ecotone preference was positively correlated (P<.05) with sere quality. The nature of ecotones is discussed. It is suggested that the low use areas, where balsam fir may be abundant, are used disproportionately for travel and cover while feeding effort is concentrated in the highest quality seres and their ecotones. Habitat units of less than 4 hectares demonstrated a continuous zone of edge influence. Habitat quality decreases through late succession as a result of tree height and crown-closure interactions. Aspects of habitat or vegetational quality includs diversity, abundance, palatability, growth form, heterogeneity, productivity, and accessibility. The effects of the low interspersion of essential habitats on hare density regulation are discussed along with the use of the technique.as a simple yet viable tool to monitor population fluctuations.