СОСТОЯНИЕ МОНГОЛЬСКОГО СУРКА (ТАРБАГАНА) (MARMOTA SIBIRICA RADDE, 1862) НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ РОССИИ В НАЧАЛЕ XXI В. Status of Mongolian Marmot (Tarbagan) (Marmota sibirica Radde, 1862) in Russia in the beginning of the XXI century [Situation de la Marmotte de Mongolie (Tarbagan) (Marmota sibirica Radde, 1862) en Russie au début du XXI e siècle].

Résumé

Data are presented on modern distribution, range structure, population density and estimated numbers of Mongolian Marmot (Tarbagan) (Marmota sibirica Radde, 1862). Three main range parts of Mongolian Marmot in Tuva, Buriatia and Chita region are distinguished. Status of the species as a whole in each of the main regions is observed. The population status in the three main range parts differs significantly. In the South-East Zabaicalie (Chita region) marmot populations consist of distinctly separate mosaic small sized metapopulations, the square of inhabited sites being very small and insignificant compared with potentially useful. Status of the species here may be estimated as crucial. Overall number of the species consists 2—3 thousand animals. Tarbagan status in Tuva is better than that in Chita region but only due to the south-western part of the Republic, where Tarbagan inhabits comparatively small area. Approximate number of the species in Tuva is 7—8 thousand. Percent of inhabited dens in the last years has significantly fallen, and number of members in family groups became lower. Taking into consideration that in the 70-ies of the XX century the species number reached 40 thousand, the modern status may be considered adverse. On the contrary, in Buriatia the Marmot number is observed to have risen in comparison with the depression of the 60-ies. According to different estimations growth of population number here is up to 300% and overall number reaches 17—19 thousand. There are places where density of colonies became optimal (about 1,0 families/ga). Most Tarbagan potential habitats are already occupied by it.