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Molecular Approaches Revealing Prehistoric, Historic, or Recent Translocations and Introductions of Hares (Genus Lepus) by Humans

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Human Evolution

Abstract

Although only of medium size, and thus of little nutritional value compared to big game such as mammoths and ungulates, hares (Lepus spp.) probably have always been a food source for humans, as documented in archaeological finds. Nowadays, hares, particularly such species as the brown hare (L. europaeus), are among the most important game species in many European countries. For hunting, perhaps religious reasons, and in connection with certain myths, hares have been and are still being intentionally translocated. Ancient translocations by humans can be inferred from the presence of hares on islands that had no mainland connections, at least during the Pleistocene, the major evolutionary period of the genus Lepus. We review some of the literature on anthropogenic translocations of hares. We focus on three examples [the brown hare (L. europaeus), the Corsican hare (L. corsicanus), and the Sardinian hare (L. capensis)], where some molecular data could be used to trace the translocation routes and possible origins of introduced hare populations. Certain molecular marker systems, such as sequences of the hypervariable part I (HV-1) of the mitochondrial control region, show high variability in hare species and are thus promising for tracing both recent and ancient origins of translocated hares. Some other molecular marker systems as well as caveats connected with the use of such marker systems in the genus Lepus are also discussed.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Mrs Anita Haiden for laboratory assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Res. Inst. of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1, A-1160, Vienna, Austria

    F. Suchentrunk

  2. Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Immunologie et Biotechnologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire El Manar, 2029, Tunis, Tunisia

    H. Ben Slimen

  3. Deparment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, 26 Ploutonos Str., 41221, Larissa, Greece

    C. Stamatis & Z. Mamuris

  4. Fen-Edebiyat Fakultesi Biyoloji Bolumu, Akdeniz Universitesi, 07058, Kampus, Antalya, Turkey

    H. Sert

  5. Department of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 25, I-07100, Sassari, Italy

    M. Scandura & M. Apollonio

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  1. F. Suchentrunk
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Suchentrunk, F., Ben Slimen, H., Stamatis, C. et al. Molecular Approaches Revealing Prehistoric, Historic, or Recent Translocations and Introductions of Hares (Genus Lepus) by Humans. Human Evolution 21, 151–165 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11598-006-9016-7

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