Studies On Population Ecology Of Forest Musk Deer (Moschus Berezovskii) In Fengxian Shaanxi Province

Forest musk deer is one of the smallest deers, belonging to Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Moschidae, Moschus. It is listed in in the First Category of the List of State Key Protected Wild Life. Smuggling and poaching of musk deer are banned by China government. Forest musk deer is one of the most important mammal species in forest ecosystem of western Qinling Mountain. Fengxian is a county which possessed of abundant musk resources in the history. In China decades ago musk deer have been hunted for musk, and musk purchasing has been conducted in rural markets or via local medicine company. And now the international market price of musk is so high that about 3～5 times to the price of gold. So some mountain hunters still approach forest musk deer and smuggle musk regardless of the protection law. So the musk resources in Fengxian have decreased in recent decades.Research on the distribution pattern, population number, habitat selection of forest musk deer were carried out in the November and December 2004, August to October 2005, April to June 2006 in Fengxian county. The results showed that:1,Distribution investigation of forest musk deer was conducted between July to October in the year of 2005 via the questionnaire and the wild trace identification. We found that forest musk deer distributed in the mountain areas near the boundary of county to county. And the distribution areas were isolated by rivers and roads. From the north to south Fengxian county, we named these areas as Xinjiashan-kuantan area Ⅰ , Matoutan area Ⅱ, Pingmuyinggoumen areaⅢ, Bafanshan-Yuhuangshan areaⅣ, Zibaishan areaⅤ, Wuliangshan areaⅥ, Hujiayao areaⅦ, Sigou areaⅧ, Xinhongpu area Ⅸ, Longwangou areaⅩ, Panjiawan areaⅪ, Liangshangou areaⅫ.According to 141 sampled forest musk deer fresh traces, we concluded that the altitude distribution of musk deer was 1 863±205ra ( n = 141) , ranging from 1 500m to 2 500m. About 70.92 percent of fresh traces were in the altitude from 1 600m to 2 000m.2, Research on habitat characters of forest musk deer was carried out from April to May in 2006 in Fengxian county Shaanxi province. Fourteen ecological factors (including altitude, tree density, canopy cover, brush density, bamboo density, brush cover, slope direction, slope degree, hiding cover, ground character, fallen log density, stump density, ungulate disturbance, human distance) were selected and recorded in 20 ×20 square meters centered the fresh tracks of forest musk deer in the different mountains. Based on 41 raw data of the fresh tracks, the results indicated that forest musk deer preferred the broad-leaved habitat at the altitude from 1 700 to 2 100 meter which was with characters of the slope degree not less than 40°, lower shrub density , lower bamboo density, lower fallen log density, lower stump density, lower ungulate disturbance, half sunny and half shady slope, far from human distance. Other ecological factors such as hiding cover, canopy cover, tree density, brush density seemed to be moderate selected. The factor analysis showed that there were seven variables influenced spring habitat preference of forest musk deer. They were respectively brush cover, stump density, tree density, ground character, hiding cover, human distance and bamboo density. Their accumulative ratio of contribution was up to 76. 63%. These seven variables would interpret by and large the character of spring habitat of forest musk deer.3,Research on population density of forest musk deer was carried out in Fengxian county Shaanxi province from 2004 to 2006. The advanced pellet group counting(PGC) was adopted. The results indicated that forest musk deer mainly distributed in remote mountains which located in the boundary of this county. The population density of forest musk was 1.20 ± 0.94 ind/km~2 in WuliangshanⅥRegion, 0.52 ± 0.20 ind/km~2 in MatoutanⅡregion, 0. 39 ± 0. 11ind/km~2 in ZibaishanVregion, 0. 35 ± 0. 11 ind/km~2 in Bafangshan -Yuhuangshan Ⅳregion, 0. 11 ± 0. 06ind/km~2 in Xinjiashan-Kuantan Ⅰ region. But there were not any fresh or old traces of forest musk deer in Yinggoumen Ⅲ region. According to our field survey, the average population density of forest musk deer was 0. 08 ± 0. 01 ind/km~2 in the whole Fengxian county, and the evaluated number of musk deer was 255. 37 ± 22. 03 individuals which just occupied 6. 89% of the number recorded in 1985. The average annually declining rate of wild population was 11.44 %(t=22). Forest musk deer population has been declining due to over-hunting for natural musk and the loss and isolation of habitats. 4> It is the right time that some measures should be taken to conserve wild forest musk deer now. Based on the results of our research, we give some suggestion. Firstly, we should revise the local law of protecting musk deer. Secondly, we should protect the habitat of musk deer. Thirdly, We should construct the ecological corridor for the communication of population gene. At last we should reset the national nature reserve to conserve the musk deer.