Socio-spatial organisation of the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota, L. 1758) in the Nature Reserve of « La Grande Sassière » (Vanoise National Park) [Organisation socio-spatiale de la marmotte alpine (M. marmota) dans la réserve de la Grande Sassière].

Résumé

The behavioural ecology of the alpine marmot (Marmota marmota, Linnaeus 1758) is studied in the French Alps since springtime 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). Four neighbouring familial groups (according to Zelenka 1965, Naef-Danzer 1985, Arnold, 1985) were studied. We described the social composition of these groups using Capture-Marking method for individual recognition. Ad libitum and scan sampling observations (Altmann, 1974) were used to establish the ethogram. From early june to the onset of hibernation (october), we observed the behaviour of marmots, including social interactions and spatial-time budget. The social structure of Marmota marmota seems to be closer to that of Marmota caligata and Marmota olympus, as predicted by Barash, than to that of Marmota flaviventris and Marmota monax. The size of the home-range of each group varies between 0.9 and 2.8 ha, and home-range may overlap (9 to 12.5 %). Distribution and use of burrows are analysed.