Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains

Abstract Shanxi Province is the northernmost distribution range of Chinese forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), with wild populations scattered across Zhongtiao (ZT), Lüliang (LL), and Taiyue (TY) mountain ranges. Using line transect surveys and local guide assistance, coupled with infrared camer...

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Main Authors: Luyao Hai, Yixin Li, Xianna Lan, Zhengwei Luo, Chao Pei, Defu Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89478-z
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author Luyao Hai
Yixin Li
Xianna Lan
Zhengwei Luo
Chao Pei
Defu Hu
author_facet Luyao Hai
Yixin Li
Xianna Lan
Zhengwei Luo
Chao Pei
Defu Hu
author_sort Luyao Hai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Shanxi Province is the northernmost distribution range of Chinese forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), with wild populations scattered across Zhongtiao (ZT), Lüliang (LL), and Taiyue (TY) mountain ranges. Using line transect surveys and local guide assistance, coupled with infrared camera data, this study systematically collected fecal samples from wild forest musk deer from five nature reserves across the three mountain ranges. Genetic diversity was analyzed using the mtDNA control region, which yielded 129 effective sequences of 656 bp and 20 distinct haplotypes. Haplotype and nucleotide diversities were 0.916 and 0.01505, respectively, indicating a relatively high overall genetic diversity in the studied populations. Significant genetic differentiation was observed between the Lüliang–Taiyue (LLTY) and ZT mountain range populations, with most of the genetic variation existing within the populations. No significant correlation was detected between the geographical and genetic distances of the samples, which may have resulted from historical agricultural activities in Shanxi impeding gene flow among populations. Therefore, genetic exchange programs are recommended to improve the genetic diversity and population fitness of forest musk deer in this region to facilitate their recovery and growth.
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spelling doaj-art-42f823dd8ea948819ebec7a80132eac02025-08-20T02:43:11ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-89478-zInsight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountainsLuyao Hai0Yixin Li1Xianna Lan2Zhengwei Luo3Chao Pei4Defu Hu5School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversitySchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry UniversityAbstract Shanxi Province is the northernmost distribution range of Chinese forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), with wild populations scattered across Zhongtiao (ZT), Lüliang (LL), and Taiyue (TY) mountain ranges. Using line transect surveys and local guide assistance, coupled with infrared camera data, this study systematically collected fecal samples from wild forest musk deer from five nature reserves across the three mountain ranges. Genetic diversity was analyzed using the mtDNA control region, which yielded 129 effective sequences of 656 bp and 20 distinct haplotypes. Haplotype and nucleotide diversities were 0.916 and 0.01505, respectively, indicating a relatively high overall genetic diversity in the studied populations. Significant genetic differentiation was observed between the Lüliang–Taiyue (LLTY) and ZT mountain range populations, with most of the genetic variation existing within the populations. No significant correlation was detected between the geographical and genetic distances of the samples, which may have resulted from historical agricultural activities in Shanxi impeding gene flow among populations. Therefore, genetic exchange programs are recommended to improve the genetic diversity and population fitness of forest musk deer in this region to facilitate their recovery and growth.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89478-zForest musk deermtDNA CRGenetic diversityHaplotypeMantel test
spellingShingle Luyao Hai
Yixin Li
Xianna Lan
Zhengwei Luo
Chao Pei
Defu Hu
Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains
Scientific Reports
Forest musk deer
mtDNA CR
Genetic diversity
Haplotype
Mantel test
title Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains
title_full Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains
title_fullStr Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains
title_full_unstemmed Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains
title_short Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains
title_sort insight into mtdna diversity of wild forest musk deer moschus berezovskii in shanxi province mountains
topic Forest musk deer
mtDNA CR
Genetic diversity
Haplotype
Mantel test
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89478-z
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