Data from: Snow-mediated plasticity does not prevent camouflage mismatch

Global reduction in snow cover duration is one of the most consistent and
widespread climate change outcomes. Declining snow duration has severe
negative consequences for diverse taxa including seasonally color molting
species, which rely on snow for camouflage. However, phenotypic plasticity
may facilitate adaptation to reduced snow duration. Plastic responses
could occur in the color molt phenology or through behavior that minimizes
coat color mismatch or its consequences. We quantified molt phenology of
200 wild snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), and measured microhabitat
choice and local snow cover. Similar to other studies, we found that hares
did not show behavioral plasticity to minimize coat color mismatch via
background matching; instead they preferred colder, snow free areas
regardless of their coat color. Furthermore, hares did not behaviorally
mitigate the negative consequences of mismatch by choosing resting sites
with denser vegetation cover when mismatched. Importantly, we demonstrated
plasticity in the initiation and the rate of the molt and established the
direct effect of snow on molt phenology; greater snow cover was associated
with whiter hares and this association was not due to whiter hares
preferring snowier areas. However, despite the observed snow-mediated
plasticity in molt phenology, camouflage mismatch with white hares on
brown snowless ground persisted and was more frequent during early
snowmelt. Thus, we find no evidence that phenotypic plasticity in snowshoe
hares is sufficient to facilitate adaptive rescue to camouflage mismatch
under climate change.