Marmot Biology : Sociality, Individual Fitness, and Population Dynamics

Focusing on the physiological and behavioral factors that enable a species to live in a harsh seasonal environment, this book places the social biology of marmots in an environmental context. It draws on the results of a forty-year empirical study of the population biology of the yellow-bellied marmot near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in the Upper East River Valley in Colorado, USA. The text examines life-history features such as body-size, habitat use, environmental physiology, social dynamics, and kinship. Considerable new data analyses are integrated with material published over a fifty-year period, including extensive natural history observations, providing an essential foundation for integrating social and population processes. Finally, the results of research into the yellow-bellied marmot are related to major ecological and evolutionary theories, especially inclusive fitness and population regulation, making this a valuable resource for students and researchers in animal behavior, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation. Marmot Biology Sociality, Individual Fitness And Population Dynamics-- Introduction -- Part I. The Diversity And Evolutionary History Of Marmots. 1. Marmots In Human Culture : From Folklore To Research ; 2. Marmots : Their History And Diversity ; 3. Marmot Habitats ; 4. Use Of Resources ; 5. Evolution Of Sociality ; 6. Body-mass Variation ; 7. Hibernation Energetics And The Circannual Rhythm -- Part Ii. Biotic And Abiotic Environments. 8. The Environment Of The Yellow-bellied Marmot ; 9. Environmental Physiology -- Part Iii. Social Structure And Behavior Of The Yellow-bellied Marmot. 10. The Role Of Kinship : Resource Sharing ; 11. The Role Of Kinship : Social Behavior And Matriline Dynamics ; 12. Social Behavior : Play And Individuality ; 13. Social Behavior : Communication ; 14. Alarm Responses Of The Yellow-bellied Marmot -- Part Iv. Reproductive Success. 15. Male Reproductive Success ; 16. Female Reproductive Success -- Part V. Population Dynamics. 17. Basic Demography ; 18. Dispersal And Immigration ; 19. Metapopulation Dynamics ; 20. Population Regulation Or Population Limitation -- Part Vi. The Future Of Marmots. 21. Climate Change And Conservation ; 22. Major Life-history Traits. Kenneth B. Armitage (university Of Kansas, Lawrence, Usa). Includes Bibliographical References (pages 355-392) And Index. Focusing on the physiological and behavioral factors that enable a species to live in a harsh seasonal environment, this book places the social biology of marmots in an environmental context. It draws on the results of a 40-year empirical study of the population biology of the yellow-bellied marmot near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in the Upper East River Valley in Colorado, USA. The text examines life-history features such as body-size, habitat use, environmental physiology, social dynamics, and kinship. Considerable new data analyses are integrated with material published over a 50-year period, including extensive natural history observations, providing an essential foundation for integrating social and population processes. Finally, the results of research into the yellow-bellied marmot are related to major ecological and evolutionary theories, especially inclusive fitness and population regulation, making this a valuable resource for students and researchers in animal behavior, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation Reporting the results of a forty-year research project on the yellow-bellied marmot in the Upper East River Valley in Colorado, this book discusses life-history features of marmots and demonstrates how population biology can explain major ecological and evolutionary theories, especially inclusive fitness and population regulation.