Effects of wet season mineral nutrition on chital deer distribution in northern Queensland

Tony Pople and colleagues have just published “Effects of wet season mineral nutrition on chital deer distribution in northern Queensland” in Wildlife Research. Chital deer is an Asian introduction to northern Queensland  that has occupied specific areas over several decades. This study compared mineral concentrations in the soil and food plants of areas that chital occupy in high and low densities and assessed mineral levels in blood sera of 46 animals. Chital density varied markedly, with higher mineral concentrations found in soil (phosphorus) and food plants (nitrogen, sodium, magnesium, manganese and iron) in areas of high chital density. The concentrations of sodium and zinc in grasses were suboptimal for chital and serum zinc concentrations also suggested a marginal deficiency in most of the animals sampled. It was concluded that mineral deficiencies of key nutrients may be sufficient to influence density and distribution and may be a determinant of their current distribution and a predictor of the habitats they may successfully colonise in the future.

Watter, K., Baxter, G.S., Pople, T. and Murray, P.J. 2019. Effects of wet season mineral nutrition on chital deer distribution in northern Queensland. Wildlife Research 46(6): 499-508.