Keeping healthy status is the primary condition in endangered captive breeding of alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster, AMD), and that captive breeding program is beneficial to the ex-situ conservation and wild population recovery of musk deer. Therefore, regulating the health status of captive musk deer is the premise of musk deer resource utilization. Meanwhile, gut microbiota is essential for host health, survival and environmental adaptation. However, the changes of feeding environment and food affected the composition and function of gut microbiota in musk deer. Here, 16S rRNA was used to reveal the composition and function variations between wild and captive AMD. Wild AMD had higher alpha diversity of gut microbiota, with higher relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes, and dominant genera UCG-005, Christensenellaceae R7 group, Monoglobus, Ruminococcus, and Roseburia, which conducive to the wild AMD more effective absorption and utilization of nutrients, stability of intestinal microecology, and adaption to complex natural environment. Captive individuals had higher metabolic functions, with higher relative abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes, and dominant genera Bacteroides, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, NK4A214 group and Alistipes, which contributed to the metabolic activities of various nutrients. Furthermore, 11 potential opportunistic pathogens in captive AMD were higher than those in wild AMD, with higher enrichment of disease-related functions. Compared with wild populations, captive musk deer had a higher risk of intestinal diseases. The results can provide a theoretical basis for healthy breeding of musk deer, and a guidance for evaluating the health status of wild release and reintroduction of musk deer.

Habitat connectivity is indispensable for the survival of species that occupy a small habitat area and have isolated habitat patches from each other. At present, the development of human economy not only squeezes the living space of wild animals, but also strongly interferes and hinders the migration of species. Therefore, we need to enhance the habitat connectivity of species in broken habitats, which would facilitate the proliferation of species, enhance gene exchange between populations and improve the ability of species to respond to environmental changes. Przewalski's gazelle, as one of the world's most endangered ungulate mammals, has historically experienced a significant reduction in population and severe habitat shrinkage. At present, even though the population of this species has recovered to a certain extent, humans Infrastructure severely hindered the gene flow between several patches of this species. Therefore, we used habitat suitability index model combined with Przewalski's gazelle movement characteristics to establish 11 habitat patches, and used the least cost path and circuit theory based on resistance model to jointly simulate the landscape network pattern of this species. In addition, we also analyzed and selected important patches and key migration paths as important references for establishing corridors. Overall, our research aims to provide habitat networks and maintain landscape connectivity to achieve the fundamental goal of protecting and revitalizing Przewalski's gazelle populations.