Histoire de la colonisation récente des marmottes dans les Alpes orientales. History of the recent marmot colonization in the Eastern Alps.

Résumé

The recent distribution of Marmota m. marmota in Austria was determined by a census carried out through 1990-9l. The occurrence or absence of marmots was recorded by local hunters. Almost all massifs of the alpine zone are inhabited by marmots except some of the isolated lime stone mountains at the northern and southern margins of the distribution range. The distribution of 38 excavation sites of fossil remains was also recorded. The majority of these sites is found along the margins of the present range. Most of the fossils stem from the Upper Pleistocene, 1 from the Middle Pleistocene and 1 (identified as M. primigena) from the Lower Pleistocene. After the last glaciation marmot populations colonized the entire region of the inner Alps. In the eastern part of Austria (east of Sill and Eisack) marmots got extinct, only the western part harbours autochthonous populations. From about 1860 attempts were made to reestablish marmot populations in these areas. 119 re-introduction efforts could be documented for the period between 1860 and 1990. Although the number of individuals released in particular areas was quite low (median = 5) most of the re-introductions proved successful and stable populations developed quickly.