GRAZING BY MOUNTAIN HARES LEPUS-TIMIDUS L, RED DEER CERVUS-ELAPHUS L AND RED GROUSE LAGOPUS-L-SCOTICUS ON HEATHER MOORLAND IN NORTHEAST SCOTLAND

Mountain hares had a similar pattern of feeding throughout the year on a rich moor [Scotland] overlying base-rich rocks where hares were abundant and a poor moor overlying acidic granite where there were few hares. At the poor moor, hares preferred pioneer to developing or mature heather and numbers of droppings on sample sites were inversely correlated with the height of heather. At the rich moor, where there were more hares, there was no difference between classes of heather, although pioneer heather was usually preferred. Red deer used mostly mature heather at both moors. The numbers of droppings on sample sites at the poor moor were positively correlated with the height of heather. Grouse used mostly developing and mature heather. The stomach contents of mountain hares contained less N and P in spring than a similar sample in autumn. The stomach contents of female hares in March contained more N and P than did those of males.