行为综合征指动物行为的跨情景耦联，强调行为表达在功能性情景间的转移及一致性，是分析动物行为发育、行为结构及行为对策的新兴理论体系。麝是濒危资源动物，独居性和领域性极强，深入理解独居性麝在社群性驯养环境的行为综合征、行为对策及与繁殖、麝香分泌和行为内分泌应激响应的关系是对其进行迁地保护和麝香资源保育的关键。本项目拟采用标准化行为测试、行为型配组实验及繁殖成效和麝香分泌监测，对驯养马麝开展大样本的控制性对照实验，结合行为冗余和刻板强度分析、非损伤性类固醇激素放射免疫检测(RIA)和麝香酮气相色谱分析(GC)，确定马麝行为综合征的类型、特征、稳定性和发育机制，及与社群胁迫和行为内分泌应激响应的关系，并揭示马麝行为综合征与其繁殖成效、麝香分泌、驯化度和品系选育的关系。本研究有助于加深对动物的社会性进化、非最适行为对策发育及野生动物驯化过程的理解，并有助于麝类动物的迁地保育、麝香生产和驯养品系选育。

Behavioral syndromes (BS) is the new major area of excitement in animal behavior with important implications for ecology, conservation and management of captive animals. BS emphasize consistent individual differences in behavioral type (BT) that have major effects on individual performanc. A cutting edge area of general interest involves quantifying BS and examining how the mix of BTs in a social group influences social interaction patterns that, in turn, determine individual and group outcomes. We propose to use this framework to study endangered Alpine musk deer. Farming has been an important measure for ex-situ protection of musk deer and for sustainable production of musk. To attain successful farming, it is important to understand the behavioral-endocrine effects of social stress on socially enclosed musk deer that are solitary in nature. BS will be quantified using standardized assay conditions and experiments manipulating the mix of behavioral types in social groups. The project will be, to our knowledge, the first on any system to quantify individual differences in BTs of hundreds of animals, to experimentally manipulate the mix of BTs in dozens of replicate social groups, to track how early experiences affect the development of BTs, to quantify behavioral problems (redundancy, stereotypic behavior), to monitor key hormonal correlates of behavior and muscone level, and to relate all this to individual and group performance (survival and musk production etc.). Integrating these data will allow us to examine numerous important issues including: 1) endocrine correlates of BTs and how these relate to social stress; 2) how individual BTs and the mix of BTs in a social group interact to determine social structure; 3) how individual BTs, hormone profiles, the mix of BTs in a social group relate to behavioral problems, and individual fitness and musk production; 4) how parental BTs and the mix of BTs in the social group determine the early social experiences that shape the development of BTs. Taken together the results should prove invaluable for improving successful musk deer farming. In conclusion, this project should substantially deepen our understanding of both frontline basic issues in behavioral science, and important applied issues about wildlife domestication, in general, and musk deer, in particular. Therefore, the proposed project is of high theoretical and practical importance.