Ecological correlates of Himalayan musk deer Moschus leucogaster

Abstract

Himalayan musk deer (Moschus leucogaster; hereafter musk deer) are endangered as a result of poaching and habitat loss. The species is nocturnal, crepuscular, and elusive, making direct observation of habitat use and behavior difficult. However, musk deer establish and repeatedly use the same latrines for defecation. To quantify musk deer habitat correlates, we used observational spatial data based on presence–absence of musk deer latrines, as well as a range of fine spatial‐scale ecological covariates. To determine presence–absence of musk deer, we exhaustively searched randomly selected forest trails using a 20‐m belt transect in different study sites within the Neshyang Valley in the Annapurna Conservation Area. In a subsequent way, study sites were classified as habitat or nonhabitat for musk deer. A total of 252 plots, 20 × 20 m, were systematically established every 100 m along 51 transects (each ~0.5 km long) laid out at different elevations to record a range of ecological habitat variables. We used mixed‐effect models and principal component analysis to characterize relationships between deer presence–absence data and habitat variables. We confirmed musk deer use latrines in forests located at higher elevations (3,200–4,200 m) throughout multiple seasons and years. Himalayan birch (Betula utilis) dominated forest, mixed Himalayan fir (Abies spectabilis), and birch forest were preferred over pure Himalayan fir and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) forest. Greater crown cover and shrub diversity were associated with the presence of musk deer whereas tree height, diameter, and diversity were weakly correlated. Topographical attributes including aspect, elevation, distance to water source, and slope were also discriminated by musk deer. Over‐ and understory forest management can be used to protect forests likely to have musk deer as predicted by the models to ensure long‐term conservation of this rare deer.

Habitat preference of Himalayan musk deer (Moschus leucogaster Hodgson, 1839) at Lapchi of Bigu Rural Municipality, Gaurishankar Conservation Area

“…In this study, musk deer pellets were most abundant in areas near water sources, indicating that distance to water source has importance in habitat selection by musk deer. These findings are also supported by study of Singh et al (2019), which concluded that topographical attributes including aspect, elevation, distance to water source, and slope were also discriminated by musk deer.…”

“…Nep J Environ Sci (2021), 9(1), 21-28 https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v9i1.37844 preferred by musk deer at Sagarmatha National Park whereas west and east in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, north, north-west and south-west from Langtang National Park (Sharma et al, 2008) and recorded more in North-west (NW), south (S) and south-east (SE) slope at Annapurna Conservation Area (Aryal, 2006;Singh et al, 2019). Statistically, on applying the χ 2 -test showed a significant difference in musk deer signs distribution among different aspects at GCA (χ 2 = 15.25, at 95% level of significance, d.f.…”

“…Musk deer is an ecologically and economically important species native to Asia. Four species of musk deer are reported in Nepal: Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Himalayan Musk deer (M. leucogaster), black musk deer (M. fuscus), and Kashmir musk deer (M. cupreus) (Jnawali et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2019). The habitat of Himalayan musk deer and Alpine musk deer are overlapped in Nepal ((Jnawali et al, 2011).…”

Projected distribution and climate refugia of endangered Kashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus in greater Himalaya, South Asia

“…In water scarce environments, a small difference in moisture availability can make a difference in habitat quality. Such ecological expectations can also be inferred from the fact that forest cover is an important factor to KMD given their timid nature 30 and vegetation growth is largely influenced by moisture in dry environments [60][61][62][63][64] . These deer occur sparsely if there is inadequate dense vegetation cover (>40% crown cover) to hide within during the day 30 .…”

Habitat selection of Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus leucogaster (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Moschidae) with respect to biophysical attributes in Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal

“…In Api-Nampa Conservation Area, the slopes of 21-30º are highly preferred followed by slopes >40º by Musk Deer and avoid the slope of 0-10º (ANCA 2018). The study carried by Singh et al (2018b) recorded the majority of latrines of Musk Deer in the slope of 20-40º in ACA. Our study in ACA coincides with these two studies as the principally preferred slope lie at 20-30º and completely avoid the slopes of 0-10º and >41º.…”