Hormonal and behavioural changes during the mating season and pregnancy in Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota).

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in hoary

Microsatellite loci were developed from hoary marmots ( Marmota caligata ) to aid in the investigation of the social structure and mating system of this species. Seven of the microsatellite loci developed were found to be moderately polymorphic with between two and seven alleles per locus. In addition to the microsatellites developed in hoary marmots we also tested markers developed for other s...

Seasonal habituation to human activities in alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) in the Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

AREGU March 47/3

Ortmann, Sylvia, and Gerhard Heldmaier. Regulation of body temperature and energy requirements of hibernating Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota). Am. J. Physiol. Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 278: R698–R704, 2000.— Body temperature and metabolic rate were recorded continuously in two groups of marmots either exposed to seasonally decreasing ambient temperature (15 to 0°C) over the entire ...

Higher risk of gastrointestinal parasite infection at lower elevation suggests possible constraints in the distributional niche of Alpine marmots

Alpine marmots Marmota marmota occupy a narrow altitudinal niche within high elevation alpine environments. For animals living at such high elevations where resources are limited, parasitism represents a potential major cost in life history. Using occupancy models, we tested if marmots living at higher elevation have a reduced risk of being infected with gastro-intestinal helminths, possibly co...

Interplay between plasma oxidative status, cortisol and coping styles in wild alpine marmots, Marmota marmota.

Variation in how individuals cope behaviourally and physiologically with stressors is widespread and can have a significant impact on life-history traits and fitness. Individual coping styles are characterised by differential behavioural and adrenocortical reactivity to various challenges. As stress hormones can affect the production of reactive chemical species and the antioxidant status, indi...