Captive Alpine Musk Deer Community Conflicts And Rank In

For studying on the relevance of social conflict, social hierarchy and hormone level in fecal in captive endangered Alpine musk deer, behaviors were observed, fecal samples were collected and hormone (testosterone, estradiol, cortisol) were tested by radio-immunity analysis (RIA) involved about 13 different shelters of Alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus) in July, August, October and November of 2009 in musk deer farm of Alpine musk deer in Gansu Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve. For every specific shelter of captive Alpine musk deer, social hierarchy was calculated and degree of linearity was analyzed; this study also included the relevance between sex, age, point-selected and social hierarchy; the effect of population density on social conflict, hormone level and social hierarchy. The research results are as follows:1. Threatening, fighting and displacing happened in shelters of male and female Alpine musk deer in Xinglongshan musk deer farm of Alpine musk deer. The result showed that there were characteristic and stable linear hierarchy (Landau's index of linearity were all close to 1).2. For mixed female and male shelters of captive Alpine musk deer, male social hierarchy was higher than female, and the difference was extremely significant (P<0.01). The effect of age on hierarchy was extremely significant (P<0.01). Adult hierarchy was the highest, Old was the second, Sub-adult was the last. There were special point selections in shelter in different hierarchy animals, and the difference was extremely significant (P<0.01). Animals with higher hierarchy tend to get first possession for dominance point-resources.3. The differences of conflict frequency and duration in captive Alpine musk deer of different population density were extremely significant (P<0.01). There were stronger conflict behavior in too high (5 heads/shelter) or too low (2heads/shelter) population density. There were a few of conflict frequency and duration in shelter of moderate density (3-4 heads/shelter). In different density of captive Alpine musk deer, the difference of frequency and duration of mild conflict behavior was significant (P<0.05). The mild conflict behavior was stronger when population density was 5 heads/shelter or 2 heads/shelter. The mild conflict behavior was weaker when population density was 3 heads/shelter or 4 heads/shelter. The difference of warm conflict behavior in different population density was non significant (P>0.05). There were no significant difference of the frequency success index in different population density (P>0.05).4. The difference of testosterone level in different population density of captive Alpine musk deer was non significant (P>0.05). The difference of cortisol level and estradiol level were significant (P<0.05). There were higher levels of cortisol and estradiol when population density was 4-5 heads/shelter. The correlation between cortisol level in fecal of captive Alpine musk deer and conflict behavior was non significant (P> 0.05). Cortisol and conflict behavior was negative correlation (P<0.01). The effect of conflict behavior on male was non significant. The level of cortisol and conflict behavior, the level of estradiol and conflict frequency were negative correlation (P<0.05). The difference of estradiol level of female and conflict duration was non significant (P>0.05). There were no significant relevance between steroidal hormone in fecal and different dominance hierarchy.5. Suggestion:Animal collocation in one shelter should consider fighting between individuals in order to reduce the number of intense fighting to improve productivity; Considering the existing shelter area, the best population density should be 4 heads/shelter; The conflict level and environmental factors of captive Alpine musk deer can effect its productivity (musk secretion and reproduction).