Ecologia e distribuzione della Marmotta alpina (Marmota marmota marmota L., 1758) (Mammalia, Sciuridae) in Valsassina Orientale (Prealpi Lecchesi) [Écologie et répartition de la marmotte alpine dans le Valsassina oriental (Péalpes Lecchesi). Ecology and distibution of the alpine marmot in the western Valsassina (Pealps Lecchesi)].

Résumé

This work explains the results of research that has been conducted since 1999, to study the ecology and distribution of Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota marmota L., 1758) on the Western Orobie Alps and Lecchesi/Bergamasche Prealps. In this area, this species went extinct in the mid 1800 and was reintroduced in the 70s; since then its distribution and ecology has not been studied adequately. The research area occupies 1,265 hectares and surrounds the mountain Zuccone Campelli, between 1,500 and 2,159 meters of altitude. Here we conducted burrows census/mapping; the exam of the main ecological parameters that characterize them; the analysis of the habitat selection in relation to environmental availability and structural analysis of four burrow systems. We have also obtained indicators of suitability, used to develop a model of analysis of environmental suitability, valid, as an anticipatory model, for the western part of Orobie Alps and bordering Prealps.