MINERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL SALT LICKS IN SARAWAK, THE NORTHWEST OF BORNEO ISLAND

Sim, Siong Fong and Mohd Azlan, Jayasilan and Nurul Asna Hidayah, Mior Abdul Rahman and Samuel, Lihan and Kang, Pei Ling (2020) MINERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL SALT LICKS IN SARAWAK, THE NORTHWEST OF BORNEO ISLAND. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 15 (8). pp. 53-62. ISSN 2672-7226

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Abstract

Animals lick at the salt lick for mineral supplements. There is no scientific information available on the mineral compositions of salt licks in Sarawak. This paper reports the concentrations of Na, K, Mg and Ca in salt licks of Sarawak and their horizontal variability. Soil samples were collected from nine salt licks and at a distance of 100 – 500 m away. The samples were digested and analysed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Samples from a non-salt lick site were also analysed, serving as the control. The concentrations of Na (nd – 136 mg/kg), K (454 – 1834 mg/kg), Ca (nd – 1017 mg/kg) and Mg (450 – 3627 mg/kg) in the nine-salt licks varied considerably. The sites observed with sodium craving species (leeches and butterflies) were confirmed with profound Na (90 – 117 mg/kg), higher than that in the control (45.65 mg/kg). The mineral concentrations in the salt licks were reduced as the horizontal distance increased. At 500 m, the mineral concentrations in most salt licks were found below the control. The findings in this study can be used to recommend a suitable buffer distance for wildlife conservation and sustainable management of the salt lick deposits in this region.

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