Vancouver Island marmot

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Vancouver Island marmot
Marmota vancouverensis 22927340.jpg
In Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Marmota
Subgenus: Marmota (Petromarmota)
Species:
M. vancouverensis
Binomial name
Marmota vancouverensis
(Swarth, 1911)
Marmota vancouverensis map.svg
  Current distribution
  Former distribution

The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) naturally occurs only in the high mountains of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia. [3] [4] This particular marmot species is large compared to some other marmots, and most other rodents. Marmots are the largest members of the Sciuridae family, with weights of adults varying from 3 to 7 kg depending on age and time of year. [5]

Marmota vancouverensis is one of only five land mammals endemic to Canada. [6] Although endemic to Vancouver Island, Marmota vancouverensis now also resides successfully at several captive breeding centres across Canada as well as several sites on Vancouver Island at which local extinction was observed during the 1990s. [7] [8] [9] There was an 80% to 90% loss in population, starting around the 1980s and lasting until the early 2000s. [10] The population has since started to regain its ranks. This is the result of an ongoing recovery program designed to prevent extinction and restore self-sustaining wild populations of this unique Canadian species. [11] [12] Due to the efforts of the recovery program, the marmot count in the wild increased from fewer than 30 wild marmots in 2003, to an estimated 250–300 in 2015. [13] As of the fall of 2021, there were approximately 25 colonies with marmots likely to emerge. [14] These are spread between 2 metapopulations (clusters of colonies that marmots could travel between), and one isolated colony at Steamboat Mountain. [4] There may be marmots in the Schoen Lake area, but there has not been a confirmed sighting in that area for over 5 years. [4]

Description

Vancouver Island marmot skull Marmota vancouverensis skull at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.JPG
Vancouver Island marmot skull

The Vancouver Island marmot is typical of alpine-dwelling marmots in general form and physiology. However this species can be easily distinguished from other marmots by its rich, chocolate brown fur and contrasting white patches. [4] No other marmot species naturally occurs on Vancouver Island. [15] The Vancouver Island marmot, as its name suggests, is geographically restricted to Vancouver Island, and apparently evolved rapidly since retreat of the Cordilleran glaciation some 10,000 years before present. [16] Marmota vancouverensis is distinct from other marmot species in terms of morphology, [17] genetics, [18] behaviour, [19] and ecology. [20]

An adult Vancouver Island marmot typically measures 65 to 70 centimetres from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. However, weights show tremendous seasonal variation. An adult female that weighs 3 kilograms when she emerges from hibernation in late April can weigh 4.5 to 5.5 kg by the onset of hibernation in late September or October. Adult males can be even larger, reaching weights of over 7.5 kg. In general, marmots lose about one-third of their body mass during the six-and-a-half months in which they hibernate during winter. [21]

The marmots on Vancouver Island are exclusively herbivores and burrow dwellers like all marmots. Over 30 varieties of food plants have been observed being consumed by marmots on Vancouver Island, who typically switch from grasses in the early spring to plants like lupines in the late summer. [22] Marmots hibernate for various amounts of time depending upon site characteristics and annual weather conditions. Wild Vancouver Island marmots hibernate, on average, for about 210 days of the year, generally from late September or early October until late April or early May. They generally hibernate for shorter periods in captivity. [23]

Vancouver Island marmots typically first breed at three or four years of age, although some have been observed to breed as two-year-olds. [24] Male marmots have been noticed to mate with 2 or more females during mating season. [25] Marmots breed soon after emergence from hibernation. Gestation is thought to be approximately 30–35 days. Litter sizes average 1–6 pups every other year, and weaned pups generally emerge above ground for the first time in early July. [25]

Systematic marmot surveys have been conducted since 1979, with variable count effort and coverage of the Island. [26] Suitable meadows are rare [27] compared to nearby regions of the British Columbian mainland or the Olympic peninsula of Washington State; habitat scarceness is believed to be the primary reason for the rarity of this marmot species. Most marmots live above 1000 metres elevation in meadows that face south to west. It is believed that populations expanded during the 1980s. Some natural meadows may be kept clear of invading trees by snow-creep and periodic avalanches or fire.

Conservation status

Causes of marmot population declines are numerous. Over the long term (i.e., periods involving thousands of years), climate changes have caused both increases and declines of open alpine habitat that constitute suitable marmot habitat. [28] Over more recent time scales, population dynamics may have been influenced by short-term weather patterns and systematic changes in the landscape. In particular, forest clearcutting at low elevations [29] likely altered dispersal patterns. Sub-adult marmots typically disperse from the subalpine meadows in which they were born. Dispersal involves traversing lowland conifer forests and valleys to other subalpine meadows. However, clearcutting has provided marmots with new open areas which constitute habitat. Unfortunately, rapid forest regeneration makes such man-made habitats unsuitable over a few years. One study concluded that clearcuts therefore act as a kind of population "sink" in which long-term reproduction and survival rates are reduced to the point of unsustainability [24] One 2005 study concluded the main cause of recent decline to be predation "associated with forestry and altered predator abundance and hunting patterns". [30] This study also revealed seasonal variations in mortality rates, where the probability of death was low during hibernation, and high in August. [30] Major predators upon Vancouver Island marmots include golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), cougars (Puma concolor) and wolves (Canis lupus). [31]

The population crash may also be due to the Allee effect, named after zoologist Warder Clyde Allee. Allee proposed that social animals require a critical mass in order to survive, because survival requires group activities such as warning of predators and migration. A decline below that threshold precipates rapid decline. Ecologist Justin Brashares suggests that at least some of the marmot's group behavior is learned, so that the loss of marmot "culture" has caused them to become more solitary, and interact aggressively rather than cooperatively when they do encounter each other. [32]

The endangered Vancouver Island marmot remains one of the world's rarest mammals. In 1997 there were so few numbers of marmots on Vancouver Island that managers took the bold step of capturing some to create a "genetic lifeboat" and therefore create the possibility of restoring wild populations. The first marmots went to Toronto Zoo in 1997, but this initial effort was quickly followed by efforts made by the Calgary Zoo and Mountainview Conservation and Breeding Centre in Langley, BC. [8]

In 1998 a new model for species recovery was born involving the government, private industry and public donors. A census in late 2003 resulted in a count of only 21 wild marmots known to be present on four mountains of Vancouver Island. After these findings, marmots were released from captivity in different places to try to get the population back up to a reasonable number.

These marmots are still classified as endangered. [33] The cumulative captive breeding program has steadily grown, with 130 individuals in captivity (2010) and 442 weaned pups born in captivity since 2000. A number of individuals have been released to Strathcona Provincial Park, Mount Cain, Mount Washington and more southern mountains.

Marmot Recovery Foundation

The Marmot Recovery Foundation built a dedicated marmot facility on Mt. Washington, Vancouver Island to further facilitate captive breeding and pre release conditioning. The fundamental idea was to produce marmots in a fashion that would facilitate their eventual return to the wild. From 2003–2010 the Marmot Recovery Foundation and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment have released 308 marmots back into the wild. [34] More releases are expected in the upcoming years to increase the wild population, estimated at 250–300 individuals in 2010, and 350–400 individuals in 2013. The wild population was counted at 250 in 2021. [35] Due to conservation and recovery efforts, the population of Vancouver Island Marmots has increased drastically since 2003 to present day. Nevertheless, Vancouver Island Marmot populations continue to fluctuate due to natural events or increased predation, leading to an inconsistent annual mortality rate. [36]

Based on genetic analyses, the closest relatives of the Vancouver Island marmot are the hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) and the Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus). [37] There is some debate, on genetic grounds, about which of the two nearby mainland species is most closely related to the Vancouver Island marmot or when marmots first arrived on the island. [38] The differences in DNA observed between species is small. In 2009, Nagorsen and Cardini identified, from museum specimens, substantial physical differences between species that can only be explained by rapid evolution in a relatively isolated island context. [39]

Because of their endangered status, Vancouver Island marmots have become a conservation symbol in British Columbia.

In 2023 the Vancouver Island marmot was featured on a United States Postal Service forever stamp as part of the Endangered Species set, based on a photograph from Joel Sartore's Photo Ark. The stamp was dedicated at a ceremony at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota. [44]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groundhog</span> Species of mammal (rodent in the marmot genus)

The groundhog, also known as the woodchuck, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. The groundhog is a lowland creature of North America; it is found through much of the Eastern United States, across Canada and into Alaska. It was first scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marmot</span> Genus of mammals (large ground squirrels)

Marmots are large ground squirrels in the genus Marmota, with 15 species living in Asia, Europe, and North America. These herbivores are active during the summer, when they can often be found in groups, but are not seen during the winter, when they hibernate underground. They are the heaviest members of the squirrel family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ground squirrel</span> Type of ground-dwelling rodent

Ground squirrels are rodents of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) that generally live on the ground or in burrows, rather than in trees like the tree squirrels. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less bushy-tailed ground squirrels tend to be known as chipmunks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoary marmot</span> Species of rodent

The hoary marmot is a species of marmot that inhabits the mountains of northwest North America. Hoary marmots live near the tree line on slopes with grasses and forbs to eat and rocky areas for cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-bellied marmot</span> Species of rodent

The yellow-bellied marmot, also known as the rock chuck, is a large, stout-bodied ground squirrel in the marmot genus. It is one of fourteen species of marmots, and is native to mountainous and semi-arid regions of southwestern Canada and western United States, including the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and the Great Basin, often living above 2,000 metres. The fur is mainly brown, with a dark bushy tail, yellow chest and white patch between the eyes, and they weigh up to approximately 5 kilograms. They live in burrows in colonies of up to twenty individuals with a single dominant male. They are diurnal and feed on plant material, insects, and bird eggs. They hibernate for approximately eight months starting in September and lasting through the winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine marmot</span> Species of rodent

The alpine marmot is a large ground-dwelling squirrel, from the genus of marmots. It is found in high numbers in mountainous areas of central and southern Europe, at heights between 800 and 3,200 m (2,600–10,500 ft) in the Alps, Carpathians, Tatras and Northern Apennines. In 1948 they were reintroduced with success in the Pyrenees, where the alpine marmot had disappeared at end of the Pleistocene epoch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic marmot</span> Rodent in the squirrel family from the U.S. state of Washington

The Olympic marmot is a rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae; it occurs only in the U.S. state of Washington, on the middle elevations of the Olympic Peninsula. The closest relatives of this species are the hoary marmot and the Vancouver Island marmot. In 2009, it was declared the official endemic mammal of Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Himalayan marmot</span> Species of rodent

The Himalayan marmot is a marmot species that inhabits alpine grasslands throughout the Himalayas and on the Tibetan Plateau. It is IUCN Red Listed as Least Concern because of its wide range and possibly large population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobak marmot</span> Species of rodent

The bobak marmot, also known as the steppe marmot, is a species of marmot that inhabits the steppes of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is a social animal and inhabits steppe grassland, including cultivated field borders. It hibernates for more than half the year. Litter sizes average about five offspring and it takes three years for the young marmots to reach sexual maturity. Male offspring leave the home colony after their second winter, and about 60% of mature females give birth in any one year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Washington (British Columbia)</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Mount Washington is a mountain on the eastern edge of the Vancouver Island Ranges of British Columbia and the site of Mount Washington Alpine Resort, popular for skiing and many other activities. It is located approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the Comox Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-tailed marmot</span> Species of rodent

The long-tailed marmot or golden marmot is a marmot species in the family Sciuridae. It occurs in mountainous regions in the central parts of Asia where it lives in open or lightly wooded habitats, often among rocks where dwarf junipers grow. It is IUCN Red Listed as Least Concern. As suggested by its name, it is a relatively long-tailed species of marmot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray marmot</span> Species of rodent

The gray marmot, grey marmot, or Altai marmot is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is one of the larger marmots in the genus Marmota. It occurs in mountainous grasslands and shrub lands of central Asia, and is one of the 9 Palearctic (Eurasia) species. It is found in Xinjiang Province in China, southeastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and in the Altai and Tien Shan Mountains in southeastern Siberia in Russia. In the Mongolian Altai, its range overlaps with that of the Tarbagan marmot. Gray marmots form social groups, live in burrows, and hibernate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska marmot</span> Species of rodent

The Alaska marmot, also known as the Brooks Range marmot or the Brower's marmot, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. Once considered to be the same species as the hoary marmot, it is now known to be unique. Alaska marmots are found in the scree slopes of the Brooks Range, Alaska. Specifically, they prefer to dwell on rocky, mountainous terrain, generally near lakes. They eat vegetation found on mountainsides, such as grasses, seeds, and lichen. Their relatively thick bodies are covered in dense, grey fur. They live in large colonies that consist of multiple families. During the winter, they hibernate for long periods of time in burrows. While not well researched, they are not believed to be particularly threatened, by human activity or otherwise. The Alaskan government has designated February 2 as "Marmot Day," a holiday intended to recognize the prevalence of marmots in the state, similar to the more widely celebrated American holiday of Groundhog Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-capped marmot</span> Species of rodent

The black-capped marmot is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the Russian Far East, but its range is discontinuous and divided into three main parts, each with its own subspecies. The black-capped marmot lives in arctic tundra and alpine habitats from near sea-level to an altitude of 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Depending on exact subpopulation, they hibernate for 6–8 months each year, which is long for a marmot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menzbier's marmot</span> Species of rodent

The Menzbier's marmot is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae from Central Asia. Its name commemorates Russian zoologist Mikhail Aleksandrovich Menzbier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarbagan marmot</span> Species of mammal

The tarbagan marmot is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in China, northern and western Mongolia, and Russia. In the Mongolian Altai Mountains, its range overlaps with that of the Gray marmot. The species was classified as endangered by the IUCN in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endangered species</span> Species of organisms facing a very high risk of extinction

An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, and invasive species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List lists the global conservation status of many species, and various other agencies assess the status of species within particular areas. Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species which, for example, forbid hunting, restrict land development, or create protected areas. Some endangered species are the target of extensive conservation efforts such as captive breeding and habitat restoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizzly bear</span> Subspecies of brown bear

The grizzly bear, also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America.

Diandrya is a genus of cestode parasites that are known from marmots in North America. The species Diandrya composita, described along with the genus by J. G. Darrah in 1930, is known from all North American marmots except the woodchuck. The species D. vancouverensis, described by T. F. Mace and C. D. Shepard in 1981, is only known from the Vancouver Island marmot, an island endemic on Vancouver Island. Subsequent research confirmed D. vancouverensis to be genetically unique from D. composita.

Diandrya composita is a species of cestode parasites that is known from marmots in North America. Described along with the genus Diandrya by J. G. Darrah in 1930, is known from all North American marmots except the woodchuck. This particular parasite have known to possess a combination of various organs – the interproglottidal and the pedunculated glands which were thought to be a part of the Anoplocephalidae family

References

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  2. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Igawa, Momoko; Kato, Makoto (2017-09-20). "A new species of hermit crab, Diogenes heteropsammicola (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae), replaces a mutualistic sipunculan in a walking coral symbiosis". PLOS ONE. 12 (9): e0184311. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1284311I. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184311 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   5606932 . PMID   28931020.
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  7. ↑ Aaltonen, K; A.A. Bryant; J.A. Hostetler & M. K. Oli (2010). "Reintroducing endangered Vancouver Island marmots: Survival and cause-specific mortality rates of captive-born versus wild-born individuals" (PDF). Biological Conservation. 142 (10): 2181–2190. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.04.019 . Retrieved 2009-07-14.
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  12. ↑ Janz Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team (2004). "National Recovery Plan for the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) in British Columbia" (PDF). Victoria, BC: B.C. Ministry of Environment. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  13. ↑ Marmot Recovery Foundation (2015). "The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis)". Nanaimo, BC. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
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  16. ↑ Nagorsen, D.W. & A. Cardini (2009). "Tempo and mode of evolutionary divergence in modern and Holocene Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis)". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 47 (3): 258. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00503.x .
  17. ↑ Cardini, A.; Thorington, R.W. Jr & Polly, P.D (2007). "Evolutionary acceleration in the most endangered mammal of Canada: speciation and divergence in the Vancouver Island marmot (Rodentia, Sciuridae)". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 20 (5): 1833–46. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01398.x . PMID   17714301. S2CID   13288283.
  18. ↑ Kruckenhauser, L.; W. Pinsker; E. Haring & W. Arnold (1999). "Marmot phylogeny revisited: molecular evidence for a diphyletic origin of sociality". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 37: 49–56. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0469.1999.95100.x.
  19. ↑ Blumstein D.T. (1999). "Alarm calling in three species of marmots". Behaviour. 136 (6): 731–757. doi:10.1163/156853999501540.
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  24. 1 2 Bryant A.A (1996). "Reproduction and persistence of Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis) in natural and logged habitats" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 74 (4): 678–687. doi:10.1139/z96-076.
  25. 1 2 "Animal Profile – The Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation" . Retrieved 2023-09-21.
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  29. ↑ Wilson, E.O: "The Future of Life", p. 52. Little, Brown, 2002
  30. 1 2 Bryant, A.A. & R.E. Page (2005). "Timing and causes of mortality in the endangered Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis)" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 83 (5): 674–682. doi:10.1139/z05-055.
  31. ↑ Aaltonen, K.; A.A. Bryant; J.A. Hostetler & M.K. Oli (2009). "Reintroducing endangered Vancouver Island marmots: Survival and cause-specific mortality rates of captive-born versus wild-born individuals". Biological Conservation. 142 (10): 2181. Bibcode:2009BCons.142.2181A. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.04.019.
  32. ↑ Platt, John. "Marmot meltdown averted: Vancouver Island species on the brink of extinction regaining social bonds". Scientific American. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  33. ↑ COSEWIC (2008). "COSEWIC assessment and updated status report on the Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) in Canada". Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  34. ↑ "Toronto Zoo > Conservation > Mammals" . Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  35. ↑ "Helping to bring Vancouver Island marmots back from edge of extinction". 27 February 2022.
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  37. ↑ Steppan, S.J.; Akhverdyan, M.R.; Lyapunova, E.A.; Fraser, D.G.; Vorontsov, N.N.; Hoffmann, R.S. & Braun, M.J (1999). "Molecular phylogeny of the marmots (Rodentia: Sciuridae): Tests of evolutionary and biogeographic hypotheses". Systematic Biology. 48 (4): 715–34. doi: 10.1080/106351599259988 . PMID   12066297.
  38. ↑ Kruckenhauser L, Pinsker W, Haring E, Arnold W (1999). "Marmot phylogeny revisited: molecular evidence for a diphyletic origin of sociality". J Zool Syst Evol Res. 37: 49–56. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0469.1999.95100.x.
  39. ↑ Nagorsen D.; Cardini A. (2009). "Tempo and mode of evolutionary divergence in modern and Holocene Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis) (Mammalia, Rodentia)". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 47 (3): 258–267. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00503.x .
  40. ↑ "Van Isle marmots bundling up for prolonged winter, regular forecaster misses annual assignment". NanaimoNewsNOW. Retrieved 5 December 2021. Violet lives at Mount Washington but had a malfunction in her tracker battery so members of the foundation haven't been able to keep tabs on her since the summer.
  41. ↑ Letterio, Amandalina (2021-02-02). "Vancouver Island marmots predict a longer winter - BC News". castanet.net. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  42. ↑ "Van Isle groundhog Violet delivers her 2020 Groundhogs Day Prediction – The Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation". marmots.org. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  43. ↑ "B.C.'s own groundhog Van Isle Violet predicts long winter". INFOnews. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  44. ↑ "Postal Service Spotlights Endangered Species". United States Postal Service. April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.

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