Marmot Biology

Focusing on the physiological and behavioral factors that enable a species to live in a harsh seasonal environment, this book places the social biology of marmots in an environmental context. It draws on the results of a 40-year empirical study of the population biology of the yellow-bellied marmot near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in the Upper East River Valley in Colorado, USA. The text examines life-history features such as body-size, habitat use, environmental physiology, social dynamics, and kinship. Considerable new data analyses are integrated with material published over a 50-year period, including extensive natural history observations, providing an essential foundation for integrating social and population processes. Finally, the results of research into the yellow-bellied marmot are related to major ecological and evolutionary theories, especially inclusive fitness and population regulation, making this a valuable resource for students and researchers in animal behavior, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation.Introduction; Part I. The Diversity and Evolutionary History of Marmots: 1. Marmots in human culture: from folklore to research; 2. Marmots: their history and diversity; 3. Marmot habitats; 4. Use of resources; 5. Evolution of sociality; 6. Body-mass variation; 7. Hibernation energetics and the circannual rhythm; Part II. Biotic and Abiotic Environments: 8. The environment of the yellow-bellied marmot; 9. Environmental physiology; Part III. Social Structure and Behavior of the Yellow-Bellied Marmot: 10. The role of kinship: resource sharing; 11. The role of kinship: social behavior and matriline dynamics; 12. Social behavior: play and individuality; 13. Communication; 14. Alarm responses of the yellow-bellied marmot; Part IV. Reproductive Success: 15. Male reproductive success; 16. Female reproductive success; Part V. Population Dynamics: 17. Basic demography; 18. Dispersal and immigration; 19. Metapopulation dynamics; 20. Population regulation or population limitation; Part VI. The Future of Marmots: 21. Climate change and conservation; 22. Major life-history traits; References; Index.