[Structure des groupes familiaux et espace utilisés par les marmotes des steppes (Marmota bobac) : résultats préliminaires. Structure of family groups and space use by steppe marmots (Marmota bobac): Preliminary results.

Résumé

The structure of family groups on the basis of observation on individually tagged marmots (Marmota bobac Müller) is described. In all 48 captured animals from 11 permanent burrows (including 17 adult females and 26 adult males) were tagged during 1994-1997. Density of families in the biotope of intensive grazing is 12.9 family/ha. In late summer the home range area of one of the group under observation was 0.36 ha. In the biotopes of moderate grazing the density is 0.8 family/ha. The home range area of one the group during the same observation period was 0.53 ha. In the biotopes of low anthropic influence the population density is less than 0.3 family/ha. The home range area of one the groups is 0.83 ha. Observation show that in most cases a family group consisted of an adult female with offspring or without it and 2 to 3 adults males. Groups are relatively unstable: during one month observation period there were registered a number of animals’ passages from one group to another separated by a rather great distance (more than 300 m). Marmots visit neighbouring home ranges and in some cases move to those become free for some reasons.