Chemical elements in mineral licks and associated muskoxen feces in Jameson Land, northeast Greenland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Klein, David R., Thing, Henning
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1989
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Greenland; Jameson Land; ovibos moschatus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z89-154; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z89-154

Chemical analyses of soil from several mineral licks used by muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) showed consistently higher content of sodium than did soil outside the lick sites. Other minerals were more variable in their distribution in the samples, although potassium, magnesium, and iron were often substantially more abundant in soil from the licks than in adjacent soil. Analysis of fecal samples that contained large amounts of soil believed to be from one lick showed higher proportions of sodium, iron, magnesium, and calcium than did fecal samples collected far from any known lick. We believe that sodium is the primary element sought by muskoxen using the mineral licks. This appears consistent with the high seasonal physiological requirements for sodium of ruminants, its relatively low availability in the forage, and the high potassium and water content of forage during the season of lick use, both of which are known to interfere with sodium retention.