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.