Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores

Bc. Lucie Stoklasová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

AbstractThe aim of this study under the topic, Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores was to analyze soil in two reserves in Senegal. The first one was the Bandia reserve and the second one was the Fathala reserve. At these reserves a concervation program of Western Derby Eland (Taurotragus derbianus) is been run by Czech university of Life Sciences in Prague. The purpose of this research was to find out if these soils can be used as source of minerals for large herbivores practicing geophagy. This phenomen of deliberate ingestion of soil is well documented among wild animals and also among humans. The animals were observed eating soil in the past and in Bandia reserve artifical mineral licks are provided. They are many important factors that are considered for animals which eat soil. Three major ones that were tested include mineral concentrations, pH and clay content. Mineral concentrations were tested by the use of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis, pH was tested by soil pH meter and clay content was established by particle size distribution analysis. Suitability of soil was fulfilled just in two of the factors which are clay content and pH. Mineral concentrations were found to be too low to supply animals needs. It was also proved that there is signifiant difference in soil characteristics between different habitats (dry and wet) and reserves.

Keywords

geophagia, minerals, habitat

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 22. 4. 2016

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: prof. RNDr. Pavla Hejcmanová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / odbor:
Tropical Agriculture / Wildlife Management in the Tropics and Subtropics