Le statut actuel de la population de marmottes du kamtchatka. The current statuts of black-headed marmot population on Kamchatka.

Résumé

The black-headed marmot is distributed in mountain areas from south to northward of the Peninsula. The ice circuses, volcanic plateaus and ancient lava streams, roky seashores are the main marmot habitat. The population density in the favourable sites is more than 20 individuals per 1 km2, in contrast with less than 10 individuals in the unfavourable sites. The available area for marmot inhabitat on Kamchatka is about 15,000 km2. The total number of marmots is not more than 100,000 individuals occured 10%-70% of available habitat. One marmot family consists of 3 to 12 individuals, average 8. The number of juveniles is 3-7 individuals per family, that is 54-56% of marmot colony. Population increase is limited by feed resources, late thawing, disease invasions, catastrophic eruption. Nowever, the grazing of domestic caribous and unpermited hunting are the major limiting factors. Commercial and sport hunting are conducted only in few sites. To protect the black-headed marmot and for rational management optimal terms of hunting and harvest of not more than 20-25% of total abundance are established. One refuge and 3 protective areas are organized on Kamchatka.