Assessment of mineral nutrition of forage in the natural habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii)

doi:10.11686/cyxb2017166

Abstract

Abstract: Mineral nutrition is essential for higher forms of animal life. This study investigated mineral nutrition distributions in the habitats of Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii). Dietary analysis of the Przewalski’s gazelle has already been done by microanalysis. Mineral concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. We found that concentrations of selenium in the soil and forage of the gazelle’s habitats were significantly lower than that in healthy areas. The copper nutrition of forage was also significantly lower than that in healthy areas during the herbage growing period. The contents of copper and selenium in forage in the seeding period were significantly higher than in the growing period (Cu, F_2,27=3.27, P=0.008; Se, F_2,27=3.27, P=0.009). There were no significant differences in the mineral contents of forage between the seeding and withering periods. Ramulus clematidis (Clematis tangutica), sand sagebrush (Artemisia desertorum) and shining speargrass (Achnatherum splendens) were found to be rich in selenium, with shining speargrass having the highest selenium content. Speargrass is not a preferred forage plant for Przewalski’s gazelle (selectivity indices=-0.886, food from shining speargrass made up 13.68%). Artemisia abrotanum (Artemisia anethifolia), artemisia frigida willd (Artemisia frigida) and Stipa purpurea were found to be rich in copper, with S. purpurea having the highest content. S. purpurea is not a preferred forage plant for Przewalski’s gazelle (selectivity indices=0.037, food from S. purpurea made up 9.40%). This study shows that there is a severe selenium deficiency in Przewalski’s gazelle’s habitats in the Qinghai Lake watershed area. The copper content of forage is rich in the seeding and withering periods. There are significant temporal dynamics in the mineral contents of herbage. Shining speargrass increases the selenium content in Przewalski’s gazelle’s food, and S. purpurea adds copper content. Approaches to restocking the Przewalski’s gazelle population should include increased percentages of such selenium and copper rich plants.

SHEN Xiao-yun, HUO Bin, MIN Xiao-ying, WU Ting, LIAO Jian-jun, CAI Ping, ZHANG Yu, HE Yu-bang, SUN Jian-qing, WU Yong-lin. Assessment of mineral nutrition of forage in the natural habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii)[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2018, 27(3): 108-115.

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