A conceptual ecological model of an isolated population of Alpine Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster: conservation implications for Chinese musk deer

The reduction in numbers of Chinese musk deer (CMD) has been a loss to the Chinese traditional medical industry, and also to the world?s medical and perfume industries. The sharp decline of CMD has aroused global attention and there is an urgent need to establish the systematic theoretical fundamentals of ecology and conservation biology for musk deer in China. From October 1993 to September 2000, we investigated the abundance of Alpine Musk Deer Moschus chrysogater (AMD) in five isolated forests, and conducted ecological surveys of vegetation, food and water resources, snow-cover, predators, competitors, grazing, and poaching. Based on these data, a conceptual ecological model was proposed to address the population dynamics and conservation of these isolated populations. Our results showed that the densities and size of each population varied with environmental factors. There were four basic characteristics of AMD populations: isolation, crowdedness, vulnerability and ease of recoverability. The major climatic factors affecting AMD were snow cover and drought. Human activities had negative and positive effects on population survival and development of AMD. Reclamation, deforestation and overgrazing had negative effects, responsible for habitat destruction and increasing the impact of drought. Despite the decline in musk deer populations throughout China, high densities of AMD were found in the Xinglong Mountains and Shoulu Nature Reserve as a result of strict management. The decline of CMD could be attributed to two principal factors: the international smuggling of musk and the destruction of habitat by people. There is no doubt that poaching is the major cause of population decline of musk deer throughout China since the 1980s. We suggest ways to protect and recover musk deer populations in China. To conserve CMD more effectively, the administrative system must be reformed. In order to better control musk smuggling and Gansitao-poaching, China should consider lifting restrictions on the price of musk, inventing a musk detector, and training musk-detection dogs.