Holarctic Marmots as a factor of Biodiversity.
Rumiantsev V.Yu;, Nikol'skii A.A. & Brandler O.V. eds.,
Abstracts, 3d Conference on Marmots (Cheboksary, Russia, 25-30 August 1997),
Moscow ABF 1997, 216p., 82 (Russian), 182-183 (English).


SPACE STRUCTURATION IN ALPINE MARMOTS IN ANCIENT HABITATS AND NEW COLONIZATION SITES


R. Ramousse, O. Giboulet

Laboratoire de Socioécologie et Conservation Bâtiment 403, UCBL1, Villeurbanne Cedex, France


In France, especially in Rhône-Alpes region, the important number of population re-introductions and re-inforcements of alpine marmot stressed the difficulty to follow the evolution of these translocated populations. We propose to use a sampling method of sign indices of these animals and to compare the results obtained in different environments: old colonized environments and new ones following a re-introduction.

Four habitats in protected areas (Nature Reserve or Park) were sampled: three ancient occupied areas (two in Savoy and the 3rd in Hautes-Alpes), the last area was colonized thirty years ago after an introduction.

Quadrates (50x50 m) were localized, every 100 m, along a line. Frequency and position of presence indices were localized in each quadrate. The sampled presence signs were: burrows (depth > 1 m), shelters, external latrines, isolated faeces and soil scratchings.

Frequencies of all marmot signs in ancient habitats were always the highest. However, among these habitats, those under a touristic or/and farming pressure showed a low number of latrines and faeces and a high number of soil scratchings. The new colonized habitat was characterised by a low frequency of burrows, shelters and scratchings and the absence of latrines and faeces.

The tested sampling method gave a characteristic global picture for each habitat, but did not allowed a detailed analysis of their differences. After discussion of the functions of the different signs of presence of the marmot, we suggest that spatial organization of re-introduced marmots is perhaps the result of a low level of social and territorial competition.


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