Communal pellet deposition sites of himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) and associated vegetation composition

Abstract

The Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), found in the sub-alpine and alpine vegetation of the Himalayan region, is one of the endangered deer species of Nepal. This study conducted in the Langtang National Park, Nepal analyzed how the musk deer select their communal pellet deposition sites, compared vegetation at the pellet deposition sites with adjacent sites (5-10m from a pellet site) and control sites (30 m from pellet site without pellet groups) and explored the potential role of musk deer as an agent of seed dispersal. The results depicted that altitude, cattle grazing, rock cover and distance to settlements influenced on selecting communal pellet deposition sites by the musk deer. The pellet deposition sites had lower mean richness of forbs and seedlings species. The evenness and mean density of forbs species were also lower but graminoid diversity and evenness of shrubs and seedlings were higher at the pellet sites compared to control sites. No unique plant species were dependent on musk deer for the dispersal of seeds. This study suggested that human and their domestic cattle disturbances should be minimized in order to conserve musk deer and its habitats.