The comparative evaluation of the Marmota baibacina numbers have been held, using two techniques: the registration of the inhabited butanes along the routes and visual registration of the animals on the test sites. The studies have been held during the epizootological inspection of the transboundary Sailyugemsky plague natural focus in the territories of South-Eastern Altai and North-Western Mongolia in 2016–2017. The quantitative registration of inhabited butanes was held during the footpath routes mainly 2 km long and 30 m wide. Visual registration of the animals being on the ground was held on the test sites 3-30 ha. The results of the censuring have been recounted for 1 ha. Two approaches were used when comparing the results. The data for 46 points (on the area 25-100 ha) have been got using the first method, and for 34 test sites – using the second one (their average area is 140 sq. km). The average quantity of the inhabited butanes at the points amounted to 1.37±0.154 for 1 ha (limits 0.0–4.0), the average quantity of the marmots for 1 ha – 1.30±0.145 (0–3.75). The correlation coefficient between the examined values is 0.72 (df = 44, p < 0,001). The average quantity of the inhabited butanes on the test sites is 1.23±0.143 (0–3.30) for 1 ha, the average quantity of the marmots – 1.33±0.131 (0–3.20) for 1 ha. In this case the correlation between the examined values is weaker: the correlation coefficient is 0.39 (df = 41, p < 0,01). The results of the examination reflect the considerable accordance of the Marmota baibacina numbers indices determined by two different techniques. Five gradations for quality estimation of the Marmota baibacina number levels have been marked out according to the quantity of the rodents, detected on the ground during visual registration and the number of the inhabited butanes, counted along the routes.

Korzun Vladimir Mikhaylovich, Doctor of Sciences (Biology), Head of Laboratory, Irkutsk Anti-plague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East of Rospotrebnadzor, 78, Trilisser st., Irkutsk, 664047, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 22–01–37, e-mail: vkorzun@ inbox.ru 

Denisov Aleksey Vasilyevich, Candidate of Sciences (Biology), Head of Laboratory, Altai Anti-Plague Station by Rospotrebnadzor, 13, Zavodskaya st., Gorno-Altaisk, 649002, Russian Federation, tel: (38822) 6–43–20, e-mail: chuma@mail.gorny.ru

Korzun V. M., Denisov A.V. Comparative Evaluation of the Numbers of Altai marmot Marmota baibacina Using Different Census Techniques. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Biology. Ecology, 2018, vol. 26, pp. 41-53. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3372.2018.26.41 (in Russian)

censuring, Marmota baibacina, South-Eastern Altai, North-Western Mongolia

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