| Summary: | Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2024 Geophagy, or soil consumption, is a common behavior of several avian and mammalian herbivore species. This activity has been attributed to providing essential nutrients and improving digestion of forage high in plant secondary metabolites. Recently, this behavior has been observed in snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and is thought to influence both their nutritional ecology and population dynamics. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible ecological controls over snowshoe hare visitation rates to mineral licks using a camera trap study at four sites near Wiseman, AK, from 2017 to 2020. Data visualization and modeling showed hare activity was strongly influenced by season and time of day, with visitation rates being significantly higher during the summer and at night. Vegetation cover was linked to higher visitation at some sites, however, the pattern was not consistent across all licks. Knowing that mineral licks influence the distribution and movement of hares, these habitat features may similarly influence the movements of hare predators. Thus, this study provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between snowshoe hares, mineral soil, and the broader ecosystem. Department of Biology and Wildlife, Bonanza Creek LTER, the Calvin J. Lensink Fellowship, and the Institute of Arctic Biology
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