Trace elements in native shrubs consumed by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in northeastern Mexico

Abstract

The contents of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn were seasonally determined in the leaves of the native shrubs Á Castela erecta, Celtis pallida, Forestiera angustifolia, Lantana macropoda, and Zanthoxylum fagara Á that are browsed by the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The study was conducted at the Tamaulipan thornscrub region, northeastern Mexico, between summer 2004 and spring 2006. Leaf tissues were collected from three county sites (China, Linares, and Los Ramones). Mineral contents were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. All minerals, in all plants, were significantly different among sites, seasons, and years, as well as the double and triple interactions. In general, plants at the Linares site, that had the highest rainfall, had higher trace element content. Moreover, during the second year, all plant species were higher in micromineral content. Furthermore, during summer were also higher. Regardless of spatiotemporal variations, all plants had suitable levels of Fe and Mn to satisfy the adult range of white-tailed deer requirements. The Cu and Zn presented marginal deficiency in some plants especially during dry seasons (winter and spring). Seasonal variations in minerals could be associated to soil water deficits, excessive irradiance during summer, and extreme low temperatures during winter and spring that could have affected leaf development and micromineral concentrations.

Micro minerales en hígado de Ovis canadensis mexicana Merriam, y Odocoileus hemionus eremicus Mearns en Sonora, México

“…El borrego cimarrón y el venado bura (Ovis canadensis mexicana y Odocoileus hemionus eremicus) son las especies de fauna silvestre de mayor valor económico en el noroeste de México, sus poblaciones pueden estar afectadas por deficiencias o excesos de microelementos minerales (Flueck, 1994;McKinney et al, 2006), los cuales son esenciales para que los animales lleven a cabo sus funciones fisiológicas vitales en forma adecuada (McDowell, 2003). En zonas áridas, el aporte de minerales por las plantas a los ungulados silvestres es variable, ya que su contenido depende del suelo, de la especie vegetal, de su estado de madurez y del clima (Alvarado et al, 2013). Los desbalances de macro y microminerales en suelo y forraje pueden causar problemas productivos, reproductivos, pobre respuesta inmunológica y baja supervivencia (Wilson y Grace, 2001;McDowell y Arthington, 2005;Chihuailaf et al, 2014).…”