[Données nouvelles sur l'écologie de Marmota menzbieri (Rodentia, Sciuridae). New data on the ecology of the M. menbieri].

Résumé

Nest burrows (constant, winter, temporal summer) and protecting-feeding burrows were found in the familial range of the Menzbier's marmot on the Chatkalsky mountain ridge. It was noted that marmots ate 130 plant species. In spring the marmots ate soil, licked stones and consumed animal food. Sometimes the animals drink water from brooks. The adult marmot eats up to 700 g of plant mass per day in summer. The marmots begin their reproduction after the third hibernation, rarely after the second one. The brood consists of 1 to 5 youngs. The females take part in reproduction even at the age of 13 years. The marmots maintain the integrity of their family and the constancy of their home range by means of a series of behavioral acts and ensure the equal distribution of the families in the colony. The difference in the time of beginning and end of hibernation in the lower and upper layers of habitats attained one month. The duration of moult is the highest in adult males and barren females and the lowest in the youngs of the year and females in reproduction.