The invasion of alien species in their non-native range has resulted in inevitable consequences. Thus, the potential distribution of alien species must be delineated to anticipate and reduce their negative effect on native ecosystems. The potential distribution can be predicted using invasive species distribution models (iSDMs). Thus far, few studies have investigated the human influence on the distribution of alien species when modelling their potential distribution.

The alpine musk deer, Moschus chrysogaster, a small member of family Moschidae, is a primitive deer threatened due to poaching and habitat loss, and therefore classified as Endangered by IUCN and also listed in Appendix I of CITES. Although the species is legally protected in India under Wildlife Protection Act 1972, conservation of the species requires better understanding of its distribution and resource-use pattern; therefore, a study on its feeding and habitat ecology was conducted from February 2011 to February 2014, at Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.

This new study led by an Indian scientist Dr Roxy Mathew Koll, from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune, points out a significant decreasing trend in the summer monsoon rainfall over the central Indian subcontinent during the past century. It suggests an important role of the rapid warming in the Indian Ocean in weakening of monsoon circulation and rainfall.