Organisation sociale, utilisation de l'espace et répartition des activités chez la marmotte alpine dans la réserve de la Grande Sassière (parc National de la Vanoise).

Résumé

The behavioural ecology of the alpine marmot is studied in the National Park of Vanoise (French AIps) since june 1990. The aim of this study is to understand the socio-spatial structure of this species and to compare it to that of North-American species in an evolutionary and ecological context (Armitage, 1988) (Barash, 1974). The social unit is the familial group, with animals sharing a common home range. The size of home ranges varies between 0.9 and 2.8 ha, and a slight overlapping rate exists (9 to 12.5 %). The home range is composed by a centre, where is located the hibemaculum, and of peripheric areas. Space utilization and activity distribution along the season are analysed. All activities are performed on the centre, but some of them are specific of it, and almost not realised on other areas peripheric areas are used for foraging. This activity increases in august, and decreases in September, with a tendency to remain more and more on the centre, related with the approach of hibernation period.