Proximal Causes of Dispersal in Yellow-Bellied Marmots.

The relative importance of adult-yearling interaction, and individual behavioral phenotypes, on dispersal of yearling yellow-bellied marmots was investigated. Two marmot colonies near Gothic, Colorado were studied; one was treated as an experimental colony from which all adults were removed, the second as a control was left undisturbed. Analysis of dispersal patterns and behavioral observations indicated that agonistic behavior between adults and yearlings is not necessary for dispersal to occur. Dispersal of male yearlings appears to be independent of adult-yearling interactions, although dispersal of female yearlings probably is mediated by social interactions. Individual behavioral phenotypes could not be used to predict which animals dispersed, nor the relative timing of their departure.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

1984

Author dc:creator

• Brody, Alison K.

• Marmots
• Dispersal

Statement dc:rights

• This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1808/34881

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/34881