Visitors impact on Alpine marmot foraging behaviour [Impact des visiteurs sur l'affouragement de la marmotte alpine].

Résumé

A study of alpine marmot Marmota marmota) foraging behaviour was carried out in the French Alps under different anthropogenic pressures. Two sites were compared: the Vallon and the Plan. More human pressure was experienced by marmots living in the Vallon with a peak of hikers between 2 and 4:30 p.m. Marmots living at Plan were less in contact with people. Marmot foraging time was longer in Plan, but this difference was compensated from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In September, no hiking was observed and there was no difference in the foraging duration between the two sites. Visitors impact on foraging behaviour of marmots habituated to human pressure is not very important and marmots are able to adapt to exogenous pressure.