Stereotyped behavior of captive Moschus sifanicus in Xinglong Mountain Nature Reserve
兴隆山自然保护区麝场圈养马麝刻板行为的比较

From March 2001 to January 2002, the stereotyped behavior of Moschus sifanicus was studied in a deer farm of Xinglong Mountain Nature Reserve. Focal sampling method was used to observe and record the stereotyped behavior patterns of M. sifanicus and the potential differences among its special populations classified by some variables such as age, gender, and reproduction history, etc. The results showed that abundant stereotyped behavior was formed by the captive M. sifanicus in the farm, and the expression duration of this behavior was less for female than for male, which was supposed to be related to the nursing activity of the former. The deer captured from the wild expressed less stereotyped behavior than that born in captivity , because of the artificial lactating history of the former. Sub-adult M. sifanicus expressed more stereotyped behavior than the adult, and the stereotyped behavior of M. sifanicus older than 5.5 years was most intensive. The key period for the stereotyped behavior formation of M. sifanicus was 2.5 and 4.5 years old, and the individuals with successful reproduction had less stereotyped behavior than those with failed reproduction, although the difference was not significant.