Background:Grazing circuits and resources consumed differ strongly throughout the year and within a territory. For this reason, animals' diet composition, as well as their exposure to metals, is variable. No studies have been performed on how habitat use affects the metal concentrations to which sheep and goats reared in serpentine soil areas are exposed. Objective:The aim of the present study was to investigate the metal exposure of grazing animals raised in a serpentine soil area of the north-east of Portugal, taking into account the spatial distribution of metal concentrations in soils and plants. Methods:The habitat use and foraging behaviour of six flocks of sheep and goats were studied. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, Mn, Cr and Ni were determined in the soils and plant species most consumed by those animals. Results:The highest Mg, Mn, Cr and Ni concentrations were found in the soils of the ultramafic complex. Ni concentrations above the recommended threshold for agricultural soils (30 μg/g) were found in some sites. A positive correlation between Ni concentration in soils and plants was found (0.634). Ni concentrations higher than 10 µg/g were found in some samples of the following plant species: Sorghum × drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase,Quercus rotundifolia Lam., Cytisus multiflorus (L'Hér.) Sweet, Cistus ladanifer L. and Erica scoparia L. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in metal concentrations of the plants most consumed by each flock were observed. Conclusion:Grazing circuits have an important role in the metal exposure of animals raised in this serpentine soil area. 96 The Open Agriculture Journal, 2018, Volume 12 Ramalhosa et al.No studies have been performed on how habitat use affects metal concentrations to which sheep and goats reared in serpentine soil areas are exposed. In order to get knowledge on this subject, in the present work, six herds (three of sheep and three of goats) were followed to find out their grazing circuits and diets. At the same time, soil and vegetation samples were collected, and the metal concentrations (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cr and Ni) in them determined in order to evaluate the animals' metal exposure. In more detail, we want to find out which plant species and grazing circuits are more problematic to animals in terms of heavy metals, namely chromium and nickel. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area and Flock DescriptionThe present study was carried out in the Morais region (41° 29' N, 6° 46' W), a serpentinic area in the north-east of Portugal (Fig. 1). The mean annual temperature is 11.9 °C and the mean rainfall is 636 mm [24]. The dry period occurs mainly in July and August. Morais geomorphology is characterized by an undulating plateau (mean altitude 600 m), cut by two rivers, the Azibo and Sabor [25].Extensive livestock farming is one of the main economic activities based on common lands, native pastures and byproducts of agriculture. Subsistence farming is the dominant type of agriculture. Winter cereals (wheat and rye) and spring crops (maize, potatoes or vegetables) are p...
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