Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose
Natural mineral licks and their use by moose (Alces alces) on Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, were studied during 1982-85. The distribution of known licks suggested that they occurred in association with glacial debris, primarily in the western portions of the island. Moose utilized mineral spr...
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Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech
1986
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ftmichigantuniv:oai:digitalcommons.mtu.edu:michigantech-p-23546 2023-05-15T13:13:18+02:00 Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose Risenhoover, K. L. Peterson, R. O. 1986-12-01T08:00:00Z https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/4244 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377330 unknown Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/4244 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377330 Michigan Tech Publications Alces Mineral licks Sodium ingestion Department of Biological Sciences Biology text 1986 ftmichigantuniv https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377330 2022-09-22T17:46:24Z Natural mineral licks and their use by moose (Alces alces) on Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, were studied during 1982-85. The distribution of known licks suggested that they occurred in association with glacial debris, primarily in the western portions of the island. Moose utilized mineral springs extensively during the spring-summer period, and at least 5 licks were used year-round. During summer, a pronounced diel pattern of moose visitation was apparent, with peak use occurring between 0400-0800 h. Although daytime lick use declined by late June, morning and evening use continued to be relatively high throughout the study period. Peak lick use coincided with leaf-emergence in spring. Moose continued to utilize mineral licks despite the availability of ponds containing aquatic plants. Sodium appeared to be the element attracting moose to licks where they ingest copious amounts of water. Observed sodium ingestion rates (0.35 g/min) at licks indicate that licks provide a more concentrated source of sodium compared to aquatic plants (0.023 g/min). Based on the data presented, we reject the conclusions of earlier workers that aquatic plants constitute the only significant source of sodium for Isle Royale moose. Text Alces alces Michigan Technological University: Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech Oecologia 71 1 121 126 |
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Michigan Technological University: Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech |
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Alces Mineral licks Sodium ingestion Department of Biological Sciences Biology |
spellingShingle |
Alces Mineral licks Sodium ingestion Department of Biological Sciences Biology Risenhoover, K. L. Peterson, R. O. Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose |
topic_facet |
Alces Mineral licks Sodium ingestion Department of Biological Sciences Biology |
description |
Natural mineral licks and their use by moose (Alces alces) on Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, were studied during 1982-85. The distribution of known licks suggested that they occurred in association with glacial debris, primarily in the western portions of the island. Moose utilized mineral springs extensively during the spring-summer period, and at least 5 licks were used year-round. During summer, a pronounced diel pattern of moose visitation was apparent, with peak use occurring between 0400-0800 h. Although daytime lick use declined by late June, morning and evening use continued to be relatively high throughout the study period. Peak lick use coincided with leaf-emergence in spring. Moose continued to utilize mineral licks despite the availability of ponds containing aquatic plants. Sodium appeared to be the element attracting moose to licks where they ingest copious amounts of water. Observed sodium ingestion rates (0.35 g/min) at licks indicate that licks provide a more concentrated source of sodium compared to aquatic plants (0.023 g/min). Based on the data presented, we reject the conclusions of earlier workers that aquatic plants constitute the only significant source of sodium for Isle Royale moose. |
format |
Text |
author |
Risenhoover, K. L. Peterson, R. O. |
author_facet |
Risenhoover, K. L. Peterson, R. O. |
author_sort |
Risenhoover, K. L. |
title |
Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose |
title_short |
Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose |
title_full |
Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose |
title_fullStr |
Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mineral licks as a sodium source for Isle Royale moose |
title_sort |
mineral licks as a sodium source for isle royale moose |
publisher |
Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech |
publishDate |
1986 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/4244 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377330 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Michigan Tech Publications |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/4244 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377330 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377330 |
container_title |
Oecologia |
container_volume |
71 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
121 |
op_container_end_page |
126 |
_version_ |
1766257502011260928 |