Morphological features of the white hare — stable informative indicators for assessing genome stability and compiling a species cadastre

Abstract

The increasing use of natural resources leads to the need of a more effective monitoring of their condition. The animal world, including game species is very sensitive to various kinds of adverse effects. In recent decades, there has been a significant decrease in the number of the white hares in the hunting grounds across many regions of Russia. To improve the situation, it is important to monitor the condition of each population or group of the white hare and take appropriate measures. That means it is necessary to have reliable and detailed information about biology and ecology of each taxon. The animal body formation occurs under the influence of a wide range of environmental and hereditary factors. Therefore, animals from different populations and geographical areas have their own characteristic features. The study of the white hare morphological features and their variability will make it possible to elaborate a modern standard for each geographical group on the basis of which an express test can be developed to establish origin of the individuals at their lifetime. The express test is likely to become a convenient tool for monitoring the white hare’s origin during their transportation and introduction. Thus, as a result of a large-scale detailed study of morphological features and their variability, systematic information can be obtained that will assist in establishing a genetic status of the individuals as well as their belonging to a population or a group. Some standard morphological features (including craniometric indicators) and their variability in adult white hare males and females of the Tver and Kostroma population groups are examined in the article. The results obtained can be used to develop a population standard, to create a species cadastre (Lepus timidus L.) as well as to improve a hunting resource register