7th World Lagomorph Conference

Photo credit: Michael Hills

Michelle Henley, one of our new Trustees, shares her highlights from the 7th World Lagomorph Conference.

In July, a husk* of people with a shared interest in rabbits, pikas and hares hopped over (some ‘drove’ and some took a ‘trip’) to Queen’s University Belfast to attend the 7th World Lagomorph Conference, organised by the World Lagomorph Society. 

The conference brought together experts and researchers to share information on the evolution, behaviour, ecology, morphology, physiology, genetics, disease, management and conservation of wild lagomorphs across the globe.  Dr Neil Reid, our energetic chair of the local organising committee, noted that the conference was truly international, with delegates from 27 countries and talks on 41 lagomorph species - whose ranges, taken together with the author’s countries, covered 84% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface excluding Antarctica! 

I attended the conference as both a member of the WLS and to present a poster on my current PhD research on mountain hare (Lepus timidus) diet.  I enjoyed the array of presentations from established professors and postdoctoral researchers to new and bright postgraduate research students and an undaunted BSc graduate.  There isn’t enough room here to detail all the wonderfully interesting presentations, but some of the highlights for me were the variety of species represented, learning more about the Irish hare (strongly represented by five presentations), and current research on the impacts of climate change on the persistence of lagomorph species.

The Irish hare (L.t. hibernicus) is closely related to the mountain hare and is the only species of lagomorph native to Ireland.  It is believed that the Irish hare has continuously inhabited Ireland since before the last ice age.  A thought-provoking talk by Emeritus Professor Ian Montgomery explained how their evolutionary history and distinct morphological, ecological and genetic differences to the mountain hare supports the classification of the Irish hare as a species rather than a sub-species.  For example, mountain hares inhabit high-elevation habitats, whilst the Irish hare is found in a variety of habitats from high elevation heaths and bogs to low-lying grasslands and coastal habitats.  Furthermore, the Irish hare does not turn entirely white in the winter, unlike its mountain hare cousin.  Why is this important?  Sub-species are not offered the same level of legal protection or given as much conservation value as a species and thus, we risk losing biodiversity. 

As my research is on mountain hares, I was particularly interested in the talks on mountain hare coat colour mismatch.  Climate-driven reductions in snow cover extent and duration has meant that mountain hare coat colour is mismatched against its environment, making them more visible to predators.  Evidence suggests that mountain hares are unable to adapt fast enough to the shorter winters but research is now being conducted to assess if mountain hares are adopting behavioural changes as a response to reduced snow-cover and coat-colour mismatch. 

Other unexpected and novel highlights of the conference included The Armagh Rhymers, who delighted the delegates with traditional Irish musical folklore and dancing.  But as Neil pointed out, the taxidermized hare was in fact the introduced brown hare (L. europaeus) and not the endemic Irish hare with the audience the only people in the world likely to notice!  I also went on a post-conference field trip to Rathlin Island to look for the legendary golden hare.  These special individuals are Irish hares (introduced to Rathlin Island) which express a homozygous recessive allele for leucism with a golden coat and peculiar mauve eyes rather than the usual russet red summer coat and brown eyes.  Whilst I was disappointed to not see any golden hares, the abundant seals, puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots made up for it – and it just gives me a good reason to visit the beautiful Rathlin Island again. Some delegates were lucky and did, however, see and photograph Irish hares, a leveret and some rabbits whilst on the island.

I would like to thank all the speakers for sharing their interesting research findings and Neil who did an amazing job of organising a brilliant, informative, entertaining and inclusive conference and celebrating the special Irish hare.  Whilst lagomorphs might not excite the appeal and attention given to larger mammals, it is comforting to know that despite the many challenges that lagomorphs face, there is a dedicated group of experts and bright new researchers around the globe working to ensure their conservation and future persistence.

*A husk is the collective noun for a group of hares; a drove and a trip are also used.

Reid, N. (2018). The Irish hare: from the ice age to the present. British Wildlife, 237-243. Available from https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/149454109/British_Wildlife_post_print.pdf

World Lagomorph Society https://www.worldlagomorphsociety.org/

Thank you to Dr. Neil Reid for his review and helpful input on the draft version of this article.

Author: Michelle Henley