Interazioni tra la marmotta alpina (Marmota marmota) ed il gipeto (Gypaetus barbatus) nei pirenei meridionali. Beared vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) interactions in Southern Pyrenees [Interactions entre le gypaète barbu (Gypaetus barbatus) et la marmotte alpine (Marmota marmota) dans les pyrénées du sud].

Résumé

The alpine marmot is part of the beared vulture' (Gypaetus barbatus) diet in the Pyrenees. The marmots are carried, sometimes recently dead, to the nests and are fed to the chicks, or altenatively to somewhere nearby, where they are fed to flying chicks. Subadults have been observed approaching marmots with their claws open but this behaviour has not been observed among adults. It is possible that this behaviour is merely play or inexperienced attacks patterns. Praying has not beeen observed either. Marmots are able to identify beared vulkture's shape and react as to a serious potential danger, but in comparison with the behaviour toward griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the marmots seem to become alarmed to a lesser degree.