Daily Activity and Foraging Patterns of Adult Golden Marmots in Pup-Rearing Burrows in Relation to Habitat Disturbance in Karakorum Range Pakistan

Animals may change the temporal dimension of their niche by shifting their activity patterns in relation to anthropogenic disturbances. Yet, few studies have documented these response phenomena in pasture land. We examined the extent to which disturbances related with habitat features altered the timing of foraging and activity patterns of golden marmot (Marmota caudata aurea). Using a scan-sampling observational method, we collected data from 34 pup-rearing marmot burrow sites in the summer pasture area of Shigar Valley, northwest Pakistan. We defined frequency of occurrences index (FOI) of anthropogenic disturbance intensity for each site based on the presence of livestock, herders, distance from livestock corrals or shepherd huts, and density of major tracks, and determined whether marmot time spent aboveground, as well as foraging distance from pup-burrows, was or not between high and low disturbance sites. We found that disturbance intensity influenced the total daily activity time and foraging distance from pup burrows. Our results indicated that marmots adjusted their diurnal patterns of activity and the distances moved from their pup burrows in relation to the timing of anthropogenic activities implying changes to the temporal and spatial dimension of their niche. In areas with high levels of disturbance, marmots were less active during morning periods and more active during midday and compensated by increasing activity when herding activity was less. Foraging activity was less during midday and showed a peak during late evening. Finally, results suggest that grazing intensity of human disturbances may have significant consequences in terms of marmot summer pup-raising periods for energy intake.