Social behavior and foraging strategies of hoary marmots in Alaska [Comportement social et stratégies alimentiares des marmottes de l'Alaska].

Résumé

In South-central Alaska, colonies of hoary marmots are composed of a single adult-female pair and theur two to five youngs. The marmots do not appear agonistic toward any colony resident, but intercolonial encounters may be aggressive. Marmots were observed in flat meadows about 300 m above tree line. They breed every 2 to 3 years. Mating typically occurs within the first 2 weeks of emergence from hibernation. Litter size average two to five. Hibernation begins in September and ends in early May. The female-to-male breeding ratio of hoary marmots may be directly related to vegetation biomass within a colony's home range.