SCENT-DEPOSITION BEHAVIOR IN ALPINE MARMOTS (MARMOTA-MARMOTA L) - ITSROLE IN TERRITORIAL DEFENSE AND SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

Scent-deposition was investigated in Marmota marmota L. at Gran Paradi se National Park. 448 h of focal and scan sampling were performed on 2 2 marmots in four subsequent years. Results show that: (1) 97.4% of th e scent-deposition is done within 25 m of the edge of the territories or of the main burrows (chi(2) = 100.4, df 9, p < 0.001); (2) being a reproducing adult is the most prominent factor in scent-deposition (ch i(2) = 32.4, df = 18, p < 0.002). The role of factors affecting scent- deposition in territorial defence and social communication is discusse d.