Scent-deposition behaviour in Alpine Marmots Marmota marmota L.): its role in territorial defence and social communication [Comportement de marquage olfactif chez les marmottes alpines : son rôle dans la défense terriroriale et la communication sociale].

Résumé

Scent-deposition was investigated in Marmota marmota L. at Gran Paradiso National Park. 448 h of focal and scan sampling were performed on 22 marmots in four subsequent years. Results show that: (1) 97.4% of the scent-deposition is done within 25 m of the edge of the territories or of the main burrows (c2 = 100.4, df 9, p <0.001), (2) being a reporducing adult is the most prominent factor in scent-deposition (c2 = 32.4, df = 18, p < 0.0002). The role of factors affecting scent-deposition in territorial defence and social communication is discussed.