Study

The successful introduction of the alpine marmot Marmota marmota in the Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula, western Europe

  • Published source details Barrio I.C., Herrero J., Bueno C.G., Lopez B.C., Aldezabal A., Campos-Arceiz A. & Garcia-Gonzalez R. (2013) The successful introduction of the alpine marmot Marmota marmota in the Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula, western Europe. Mammal Review, 43, 142-155.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Release translocated/captive-bred mammals to areas outside historical range

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Release translocated/captive-bred mammals to areas outside historical range

    A review of studies in 1948–2003 in nine mountain grassland sites in the Pyrenees in Andorra, Spain and France (Barrio et al. 2013) found that following translocation to areas outside their native range, alpine marmots Marmota marmota had similar densities and family group sizes to those of populations in their native range. Average marmot densities and family group sizes did not differ significantly between translocated populations (0.9 individuals/ha; 5 individuals/group) and populations within their native range (1.4 individuals/ha; 6 individuals/group). Between 1948 and 1988, around 500 alpine marmots were translocated to multiple sites across the Pyrenees in areas outside their native range. In 1965–2003, nine marmot populations (comprising 2–14 family groups) were monitored for 1–2 years in the introduced range and 11 populations (3–50 family groups) were monitored for 1–13 years in their native range (French, German, Italian and Swiss Alps). Monitoring methods are not provided.

    (Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)

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