Identification and geographical distribution of wild musk deer species in North China

doi:10.17520/biods.2024505

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: The family Moschidae includes small ruminants endemic to forest environments in East Asia, mainly distributed in China and neighboring countries. In the North China zoogeographical region, records of musk deer species are inconsistent, and systematic research on species identification is lacking. This study aimed to clarify the species identity of musk deer and analyze their geographical distribution in North China.

Methods: From February to October 2023, a total of 210 samples (208 fecal samples and 2 tissue samples) were collected from four mountain ranges: Lüliang, Zhongtiao, and Taiyue in Shanxi Province, and Huanglong in Shaanxi Province. Mitochondrial 16S rRNA and Cytb gene fragments were used, resulting in 272 successfully sequenced fragments. Sequences were aligned and compared with known reference sequences. The geographical distribution, genetic distances, and phylogenetic relationships of musk deer in North China were analyzed.

Results: Molecular analysis identified all sampled individuals as forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), with no Siberian musk deer (M. moschiferus) detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed genetic distances between the North China population and other population of M. berezovskiiwere 0.18% (16S rRNA) and 0.70% (Cytb). Combined with morphological traits and geographical distribution, this suggests the North China population may represent a new geographical sub-species. Geographical distribution analysis revealed that water availability, thermal conditions, vegetation, and human disturbance significantly influence the distribution of forest musk deer in North China. The current distribution is primarily concentrated in mountainous forest belts of the North China region and the Loess Plateau subregion, showing a southwest-northeast (SW-NE) mountain-oriented distribution pattern.

Conclusions: The musk deer population in North China belongs to forest musk deer rather than Siberian musk deer. It may constitute a new subspecies or geographical variant of M. berezovskii whose distribution is significantly influenced by mountain connectivity and hydrothermal conditions.

Key words: forest musk deer, North China, 16S rRNA, Cytb, distribution pattern

Xianna Lan, Yixin Li, Luyao Hai, Zhengwei Luo, Xuelin Jin, Xinghu Qin, Defu Hu, Gang Liu. Identification and geographical distribution of wild musk deer species in North China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(7): 24505.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2024505

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I7/24505

Figures/Tables 3

Fig. 1 Bayesian phylogenetic tree and genetic distance matrix of mtDNA among Moschus spp. species in this study. (a) Bayesian phylogenetic inference and genetic distance analysis of mtDNA 16S rRNA. (b) Bayesian phylogenetic inference and genetic distance analysis based on cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. Nodal support shown as Bayesian posterior probabilities/maximum likelihood bootstrap values, “-” indicate that the value is less than 0.30/30; The genetic distance matrix: K-2p distance in the lower triangle and phylogenetic distance in the upper triangle, red indicate the lower genetic distance, blue indicate the higher genetic distance value, and NA indicate the loss of distance within the group.

Table 1 Fecal sample collection and species identification from the field survey areas

鉴定结果 Identification result	吕梁山系(LL)		太岳山系(TY)	中条山系(ZT)		黄龙山系(HL)	总计 Total (n = 210)
鉴定结果 Identification result	庞泉沟 Pangquangou (n = 41)	芦芽山 Luya Mountain (n = 56)	灵空山 Lingkong Mountain (n = 9)	蟒河 Manghe (n = 26)	历山 Lishan (n = 76)	黄龙山 Huanglong Mountain* (n = 2)	总计 Total (n = 210)
林麝 Moschus berezovskii	5	5	4	23	71	2	110
西伯利亚狍 Capreolus pygargus	34	42	1	-	1	-	78
家羊 Capra hircus	-	1	-	-	-	-	1
未知物种 Unknown species	2	8	4	3	4	-	21

Fig. 2 Habitat suitability and connectivity of Moschus berezovskii in the North China zoogeographical region

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