Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose
We studied the mineral nutrition ecology of moose, Alces alces , by a comprehensive examination of concentration levels of 18 elements in browsing plants, and in rumen and distal colon contents, respectively. The plants, in total 14 species, included deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, herbs, gra...
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crwiley:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x 2024-09-15T17:36:17+00:00 Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose Ohlson, Mikael Staaland, Hans 2001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1034%2Fj.1600-0706.2001.940307.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Oikos volume 94, issue 3, page 442-454 ISSN 0030-1299 1600-0706 journal-article 2001 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x 2024-07-11T04:39:01Z We studied the mineral nutrition ecology of moose, Alces alces , by a comprehensive examination of concentration levels of 18 elements in browsing plants, and in rumen and distal colon contents, respectively. The plants, in total 14 species, included deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and aquatic macrophytes. Our study was done in four sites in southern Norway and the plants were sampled in spring, summer, autumn and winter to document seasonal trends. The plants were generally characterized by low concentrations of major elements, very low phosphorus: calcium ratios, and the willow Salix aurita – a preferred browse – had high cadmium concentrations, up to 9 ppm (dry mass). Sodium concentrations in terrestrial plants were significantly under the dietary requirement, while levels were sufficient in aquatic plants, which, however, had high concentrations of toxic heavy metals. We suggest that the moose experience a nutritional dilemma as a strong physiological need for sodium results in an overintake of heavy metals. A selective intake of plants rich in heavy metals was corroborated by high heavy metal concentrations in rumen and distal colon. Over all, the plants were characterized by a marked mineral diversity due to element concentration levels that were highly variable between species and sites. Thus, there is a strong link between plant species diversity and mineral diversity, which has a pivotal role for herbivores. It is concluded that a diversity of plant species is a prerequisite for the mineral diversity that the moose needs to obtain essential minerals, not only in sufficient amounts, but also in physiologically balanced proportions. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Wiley Online Library Oikos 94 3 442 454 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
We studied the mineral nutrition ecology of moose, Alces alces , by a comprehensive examination of concentration levels of 18 elements in browsing plants, and in rumen and distal colon contents, respectively. The plants, in total 14 species, included deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and aquatic macrophytes. Our study was done in four sites in southern Norway and the plants were sampled in spring, summer, autumn and winter to document seasonal trends. The plants were generally characterized by low concentrations of major elements, very low phosphorus: calcium ratios, and the willow Salix aurita – a preferred browse – had high cadmium concentrations, up to 9 ppm (dry mass). Sodium concentrations in terrestrial plants were significantly under the dietary requirement, while levels were sufficient in aquatic plants, which, however, had high concentrations of toxic heavy metals. We suggest that the moose experience a nutritional dilemma as a strong physiological need for sodium results in an overintake of heavy metals. A selective intake of plants rich in heavy metals was corroborated by high heavy metal concentrations in rumen and distal colon. Over all, the plants were characterized by a marked mineral diversity due to element concentration levels that were highly variable between species and sites. Thus, there is a strong link between plant species diversity and mineral diversity, which has a pivotal role for herbivores. It is concluded that a diversity of plant species is a prerequisite for the mineral diversity that the moose needs to obtain essential minerals, not only in sufficient amounts, but also in physiologically balanced proportions. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ohlson, Mikael Staaland, Hans |
spellingShingle |
Ohlson, Mikael Staaland, Hans Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
author_facet |
Ohlson, Mikael Staaland, Hans |
author_sort |
Ohlson, Mikael |
title |
Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
title_short |
Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
title_full |
Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
title_fullStr |
Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
title_sort |
mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1034%2Fj.1600-0706.2001.940307.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Oikos volume 94, issue 3, page 442-454 ISSN 0030-1299 1600-0706 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.940307.x |
container_title |
Oikos |
container_volume |
94 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
442 |
op_container_end_page |
454 |
_version_ |
1810488393334784000 |