Immigration of a pregnant female in an alpine marmot family group: Behavioural and genetic data
Résumé
The acceptance of a pregnant female by the dominant male of a family group of alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) (population of La Grande Sassiere, Parc national de la Vanoise, French Alps) teas revealed by the combined results from microsatellite polymorphism analysis and behavioural studies. These first results seem to indicate that the mating system of the alpine marmot is more complex than previously thought, that polygyny cannot be excluded and that adult females can join neighbouring groups. This acceptance would have been interpreted as an extra-pair fertilization if complete field data had not been available.