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- Title
Variation in survival rates for the alpine marmot (Marmota marmota): effects of sex, age, year, and climaticfactors.
- Authors
Farand, É.; Allainé, D.; Coulon, J.
- Abstract
We examined variation in annual survival rates in a population of alpine marmots, Marmota marmota, according to intrinsic factors like sex and age, and extrinsic factors such as year and climate in the French Alps between 1990 and 1997. We tested predictions concerning a sex effect in a monogamous non-dimorphic species, age structure of survival rates in a mesomammal, and the annual variability effect and the contribution of stochastic climatic factors, especially snow cover, frost, and rainfall. In mammal species, the major extrinsic causes of variation in mortality rates are stochastic weather variations, diseases, and variations in size of predator populations, while sex and age are the main intrinsic factors. Here we present a capture-recapture analysis of survival rates. Sex was determined by means of anogenital morphology. The survival rates of alpine marmots did not vary with sex. In the present study there was no significant correlation between spring snow cover and annual survival rates. Our results suggest a potential negative effect of high summer rainfall on survival.
- Subjects
FRANCE; MARMOTS; SURVIVAL analysis (Biometry); HUMAN sexuality; CLIMATE &; biogeography; MAMMALS
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2002, Vol 80, Issue 2, p342
- ISSN
0008-4301
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/z02-004