Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores

Abstract The 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 Der...

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Main Author: Stoklasová, Lucie
Other Authors: Hejcmanová, Pavla
Format: Dissertation
Language:English
Published: Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze
Online Access:http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-256953
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spelling ndltd-nusl.cz-oai-invenio.nusl.cz-2569532018-10-04T15:29:42Z Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores Stoklasová, Lucie Hejcmanová, Pavla Pavlů, Vilém Abstract The 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. Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-256953 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
collection NDLTD
language English
format Dissertation
sources NDLTD
description Abstract The 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.
author2 Hejcmanová, Pavla
author_facet Hejcmanová, Pavla
Stoklasová, Lucie
author Stoklasová, Lucie
spellingShingle Stoklasová, Lucie
Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
author_sort Stoklasová, Lucie
title Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
title_short Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
title_full Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
title_fullStr Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
title_full_unstemmed Soils in Africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
title_sort soils in africa as source of mineral nutrition for large herbivores
publisher Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze
url http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-256953
work_keys_str_mv AT stoklasovalucie soilsinafricaassourceofmineralnutritionforlargeherbivores
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