Social dynamics of juvenile marmots: Role of kinship and individual variability

Summary A population of eight juvenile female yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) was introduced into a marmot locality from which all other marmots were removed. Social interactions were monitored in the field and the individual behavioral profile of each animal was determined by mirror image stimulation. Social interactions were unequally distributed among the eight juveniles. Neither body size nor kinship were significantly related to frequencies of social interactions. Social interactions were significantly related to individual differences.