Population number of Mongolian marmots (Marmota, Sciuridae, Rodentia) at the beginning of XXI century [Effectif de la population de marmottes mongole (Marmota, Sciuridae, Rodentia) au début du XXI siècle].

Résumé

Census of marmots was made whole around area in Mongolia in 2007 by Russian-Mongolian complex biological expedition. One year estimation of all Mongolian marmots population was made at first. A research route was carried out on a base of previous studied of Mongolian marmots distribution using a map of marmot area (Adiya, 2002). Family plots registered on registration routes and areas. Estimated and potential population densities, average share of living family plots, average size of family group were calculated. Population numbers were estimated for both Mongolian marmot species (M. baibacina and M. sibirica). The marmot distributed territory of Mongolia was divided to 9 zones according to landscape-climatic, plant associations and anthropogenic factors influencing environment conditions of marmots. According to our data current population number of marmots in Mongolia is 8 millions including 930 thousands of M. baibacina. Maximum existed population number was about 21 millions. Thus, there is a quadruple decrease of the whole marmot population during the last years. Whereas Townsend and Zahler (2006) showed tenfold reduction in Eastern part of the country. Comparison with earlier data (Bibikov, 1989; Batbold et al. 2000; Adiya, 2002, etc) for the end of the 20-th century (11.5 – 23 million individuals) may shows periodical fluctuations of the marmot numbers conditioned by social and climatic changes.