Allometry of sodium requirements and mineral lick use among herbivorous mammals

作者：Ethan S. Duvall, Brian M. Griffiths, Marcus Clauß, Andrew J. Abraham · 发表于：Oikos · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1111/oik.10058 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Bat Biology and Ecology Studies、Physiological and biochemical adaptations、Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health

Sodium (Na) plays a critical role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In Na‐poor regions, plant consumers may experience Na deficiency and adapt by seeking supplementary Na resources. This can markedly impact animal behavior, space‐use, and co‐existence, with concomitant impacts on ecosystems. Many studies have noted that Na‐seeking behaviors, such as soil consumption from mineral licks, are predominately observed for larger‐bodied herbivores. However, the mechanisms that drive interspecific variation in Na deficiency and mineral lick use remain poorly understood. Here, we examine whether allometric scaling of Na requirements can explain variation in mineral lick use by herbivorous and omnivorous mammals. We 1) collated data from published literature to derive an allometric scaling of Na requirements in mammals, 2) compared predicted Na requirements to estimated Na intake of mammal communities in three globally distant sites: the Peruvian Amazon, Kalahari Desert, and Malaysian Borneo and 3) examined the relationship between predicted Na deficiency and mineral lick use utilizing camera‐trap and mammal abundance data at each site. We found that minimum daily Na maintenance requirements in mammals scaled allometrically at a higher factor (BM 0.91 (CI: 0.80–1.0) ) than that of food and water Na intake (BM 0.71–0.79 ), indicating that larger species may be more susceptible to Na limitation. This aligned with a positive association between mineral lick use and body mass (...