Impatto umano sul comportamento della marmotta alpina. Human impact on marmot behaviour [Impact humain sur le comportement de la marmotte].

Résumé

In the University of Berne we studied the influence of tourism on the behaviour of alpin marmota in the region Grindelwald/First in the Swiss Alps. The daily activities of animals in the vicinity of highly frequented hiking paths were compared with those animals in remoter areas. The marmots in disturbed surroundings spend more time in the burrrows and less time foraging than animals in remote areas. In highly frequented areas the flight distance of the marmots was greater and they disapeared more frequently in their burrows when they were confronted with hikers off the paths than with hikers on the paths. The utilisation of habitat as well as experiments to establish flight distances and the time until marmots reappear after fleeing, show, that adaptation is only possible up to a certain degree. Influence on fitness parameters like mortality and natality will be discussed.