Some results of marmot’s habitat study in the early Quaternary. Nekotorye rezoultaty izoutcheniya sredy obitaniyasourka v epoxou rannego antropogena. [Quelques résultats d’étude de l’habitat des marmottes du début du Quaternaire].

Résumé

Paleo-ecological studies of the Quaternary sediments incorporating the remains of Marmotinae that were discovered in the Quaternary sediments in the cave site Selengur (the northern slopes of the Alai ridge) give some ideas about natural conditions existing in their earlier habitats. In the process of paleo-ecological studies a special attention was paid to an extent of correlation between the biological population and environment. A main task of the stratigraphic study was to identify natural groups of geological sediments corresponding to the consecutive stages of their formation and allowing paleo-ecologic reconstruction and geo-chronological identification of the existence of certain populations. Like historical and geological data the elementary stratigraphic units reflect specific events - the episodes being evidence of establishing a favourable situation for the development of natural pro cesses in this area at certain time. Thus, at final stages of the Alpine orogeny neo-tectonical risings had played an important role, forming contrast moistening of the mountains. The study also included a spore-pollen analysis that allowed identifying a composition and character of fossil florogenesis and adding to the information about natural alterations consistent with the stages of orogenesis. The floristic analysis helped detect dominating plant species such as Pinus silvestris, Picea schrenkiana, Juniperus, Juglans regia, Ulmus, Quercus robur, Betula Corylus, Alnus Vitis, Humulus Acer, Tilia Carpinus btulus. Therefore, the spore-pollen analysis showed that from the accumulation of sediments containing the remains of fossil marmots the environment had certainly changed and became more arid and so changed the vegetation.