FIRST DATA ON THE DIET OF ALPINE MARMOTS (MARMOTA-MARMOTA) IN FRANCE

A preliminary study of the diet of 3 groups of alpine marmots has been carried out in the Savoie region (France). Food composition was studi ed by the identification of plant epidermis remnants in faeces. Dicots were prevalent over grasses in the diet. The general composition of t he diet was similar in the three groups but peculiar feeding behaviour s can be associated with specifical environmental features of each gro up. During the whole period of activity, flowers were predominant over vegetative parts and seeds. The ingestion of animal preys has not bee n confirmed by the analysis of droppings. The diet showed low diversit y for a rodent living in an environment rich in plants. Only 1 or 2 pl ant species provided a large part of the nutritional needs. The marmot exerts an active selection on vegetation since plant organs eaten bel ong mostly to plants with a poor ground cover, irregularly distributed over its own territory and often distant from the main burrow. The th ree groups of marmots exhibited an active behaviour in searching suppl emental mineral supplies.