Camera trap photographs of mountain hare Lepus timidus per month Scotland (S1A)

The research presented in this paper provides an insight into the
behavioural ecology of mountain hares on heather moorland in the
Lammermuir Hills of south east Scotland. We examine the seasonal and diel
activity patterns using camera traps over a period of 12 months. The rate
of camera detections was calculated for the different divisions of the 24h
cycle (daylight, dusk, night and dawn). During autumn and winter (October
– February), the activity pattern was crepuscular with greater activity at
dusk than at dawn. Daylight activity was relatively low and there was a
regular pattern of small peaks of activity during the night. In spring and
summer (March – September), peaks of crepuscular activity remained evident
but daylight activity was much more prevalent than during autumn and
winter, and night activity was lower. We discuss the problematic
definition of twilight and present an explanation for seasonal changes in
the pattern of diel activity that is linked to the reproductive cycle of
the mountain hare.