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- Title
Reproductive Characteristics and Musk Secretion of Captive Alpine Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson, 1839 (Artiodactyla: Moschidae).
- Authors
Jing Wang; Weladji, Robert B.; Yong Li; Mi Zhou; Maolin Geng; Yan Sheng; Xiuxiang Meng
- Abstract
Reproduction outcomes affect the population growth, especially for endangered species in ex-situ conservation. Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) is an endangered ungulate that is well-known for the musk secreted by adult males. Despite being captive for years, the reproduction outcome and the musk production of captive populations are not well documented; moreover their growth seems to be declining. To understand the characteristics in reproduction and musk secretion as well as the influential factors, we studied the litter size, parturition date, weaning success and newborns' sex ratio of 897 deliveries in captive alpine musk deer from 2008 to 2018. Additionally, we assessed the relationships between these traits with age and stud's musk secretion using generalized linear mixed modelling. We found that the seasonal parturition lasted for 70±17.86 days with a peak on June 22nd and there were more twins (49.3%) born than singletons (41%) with a female-biased secondary sex ratio. Twinning probability, weaning success and parturition date differed significantly among years, while female age affected positively both twinning probability and parturition date as senile females had late parturition with a tendency to have twins. However, age of males or musk secretion did not affect twinning probability or parturition date, studs with higher musk secretion contributed to a male-biased reproduction, resulting from better body condition and sexual attractiveness. The results enhance our zoological understanding of this endangered species, for which reproduction outcome can be predicted by monitoring maternal age and musk secretion of stud musk deer. Further, our findings have practical implications as they provide a basis for improving musk deer conservation and captive management.
- Subjects
MUSK deer; MOSCHUS chrysogaster; ANIMAL reproduction; ENDANGERED species; CAPTIVE wild animal breeding
- Publication
Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2021, Vol 73, Issue 3, p471
- ISSN
0324-0770
- Publication type
Article