> Biology > Faculty > Karen Hodges > Population Dynamics

	Karen E. Hodges University of British Columbia Okanagan

Snowshoe hares  in the western US: impacts of fragmentation and isolation on population dynamics

Snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, have a 10 year population cycle, which affects many other species in the boreal and montane forests of North America; they are a keystone herbivore.  I am interested in understanding the causes of the cycle, variation in the cycle across space and time, habitat factors contributing to regional densities and dynamics of hares, and synchrony of snowshoe hare populations across a range of habitat types and locations. Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis, are listed as threatened in the contiguous US. Lynx are a specialist predator on snowshoe hares, but lynx populations in the US have declined over the last several decades.  Habitat fragmentation (via development, fire, and forestry activities) is one possible cause for lynx declines, especially as fragmented landscapes appear to support fewer hares.

I have been collaborating since 2001 with Dr. Scott Mills at the University of Montana, and with several people from state and federal agencies, on these questions.  Our work has involved research areas in Montana (two national forests and Glacier National Park), Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park), and the North Cascades of Washington (Okanogan National Forest). In each area,  habitat quality varies significantly for snowshoe hares, as well as their landscape context. Some areas have relatively large areas of suitable to high quality hare habitat, whereas others are heavily fragmented by fire or by forestry activities and have areas that are essentially unsuitable for hares. We are obtaining demographic and genetic information to address how habitat quality and landscape patterns affect movements, population dynamics, and synchrony among hare populations.  We are also using several modelling approaches to enrich our understanding in these areas.

I am currently interested in accepting graduate students for projects related to this long-term research.

 

Dr. Karen E. Hodges
Associate Professor, Biology
3333 University Way
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Kelowna B.C. V1V 1V7, Canada

Phone: 250 807-8763
Fax: 250 807-8005
karen.hodges@ubc.ca

Study sites in Flathead National Forest, Montana and Okanagan National Forest, Washington.

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Last reviewed 10/21/2011 1:34:04 PM