Reaktsiya stepnykh sourkov (Marmota bobac) na kon-i geterospetsifitcheskie zvoukovye signaly [Réactions de M. bobac aux signaux acoustiques con et hétérospécifiques. Responses of Marmota bobac to con- and heterospecific acoustic signals].

Résumé

Alarm calls of three marmot species - Marmota bobac, M. baibacina and M. caudata- were played in field playback experiment to M. bobac. Alarm calls of M. bobac and M. baibacina are quite similar when those of M. caudata strongly differ from the two former. We observed five forms of alerness of adult animals and this year offspring in response to playback. Marmots of all age groups reliably identified signal of M. bobac and M. baibacina as conspecific. Elder marmots absolutely differed conspecific calls from alarm calls of M. caudata, reacting to the latter simply as to noise (loud sound). Offspring responded to calls of M. caudata almost as to conspecific calls but some weaker. This age group was generally notable for higher reactivity to playback alarm calls of all three marmot species