Possible reasons for the decrease in the abundance of musk deer Moschus moschiferus L. (Cetartiodactyla, Moschidae) in the Ussuriysky Nature Reserve
M. V. Maslov1, M. N. Litvinov2, E. A. Litvinova3, T. O. Markova1
1Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
2Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
3Autonomous non-profit educational organization of higher education “International Veterinary Academy”, Dzerzhinsky, Russia
Keywords: musk deer, sable, hare, predator, victim, winter route census, track-making activity, track counts, abundance, Ussurisky Nature Reserve
Abstract
The 45-year-long observations of variations in the musk deer abundance in the Ussurisky Nature Reserve are summarized. An analysis of winter route censuses has made it possible to assume these variations to be related with the emergence of a “new predator”, sable. The decrease in the musk deer abundance in the reserve occurred simultaneously with an increase in the sable abundance and a decrease in abundance of alternative food supplies for medium- and small-sized predators. From the early 2000s until the present time, the musk deer abundance in the reserve has remained at a level of only “presence” of the species in the fauna.
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