Пространственная структура Соколовского поселения байбака (Marmota bobak ) в Удмуртской Республике. [Spatial structure of the Sokolovskij settlement of the bobak marmot (Marmota bobak) in Udmurt Republic. La structure spatiale des colonies de marmottes de Sokolovsky (Marmota bobak) dans la République d\'Oudmourtie].

Résumé

SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF THE SOKOLOVSKIJ SETTLEMENT OF THE BOBAK MARMOT (MARMOTA BOBAK) IN UDMURT REPUBLIC М.N. Zаgumenov, V.I. Kapitonov Udmurt State University: kvi@uni.udm.ru Sokolovskij settlement of the baibak (Marmota bobak) has been formed in 2001-2003 by introduction of the marmots in the gully system near village Sokolovka (N56°17′ E54°03′) in Sarapulskij district of the Udmurt Republic. Nowadays it is the northernmost habitat of baibak. That’s why it can be interesting for investigation of the potential adaptability of this species. Natural researches have been conducted during snowless period of 2009 and 2010 years. We have counted size if marmots’ population using 10-X field glass. In autumn we have mapped winter burrows using GPS navigator “Garmin”. In 2009 in Sokolovskij settlement 68 marmots in 18 family groups were observed. Only one family had juveniles of this year (3 marmots). In 2010 we observed 139 baibaks (77 juveniles). Family groups inhabited slopes of gullies, barren of trees and bushes, which were used for pasture. Population density was about 2,3 marmots/ha (0,6 families/ha) and in 2010 it was about 4,3 (0,7). Marmots preferred to make winter burrows at south-oriented slopes. As we can suppose, the reason is in better insulation of these slopes and earlier melting of snow, which is important for marmots at the north part of range. Also, we have noted that marmots usually made their winter burrows in the lower and center part of gentle (less than 20° of steepness) slope with well developed mesophilic vegetation. Thereby, spatial structure of Sokolovskij settlement of the baibak is characterized by typical for gully localities.