EFFECT OF SEASONAL VARIATION ON MINERAL NUTRIENT OF FORAGE IN HABITAT OF PRZEWALSKI'S GAZELLE (PROCAPRA PRZEWALSKII)

摘要

Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) is endemic wildlife to the Chinese Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Mineral elements are essential nutrients for the growth and life activities of animals, in order to carry out the protection work of Przewalski's gazelle, we are systematically studied the seasonal variation of mineral nutrient of alpine meadows in Hudong area of Qinghai Lake Basin. The results showed that the Hudong area belongs to selenium and molybdenum deficiency area, and the selenium and molybdenum content in the mixed forage was significantly lower than the reference value. The nutrient content of the mixed pasture has obvious seasonality, the mineral nutrient content of the mixed pasture in seedling stage and withering period was significantly higher than that in fast growth period, but there is no significant difference between seedling stage and withering period for pasture. The mineral nutrient contents of different forage varieties were also significantly different, Achnatherum splendens, Clematis tangutica and Artmisia desertorum were the main high selenium plants, among which the selenium content of Achnatherum splendens was the highest. Meanwhile, Achnatherum splendens was the basic food of Przewalski's gazelle, which accounted for 14.650% of the total food, but it was not the favorite plant for Przewalski's gazelle (Ei = -0.876). Therefore, increasing the proportion of high selenium plants and the selenium content of the mixed forage in the habitat of the Przewalski's gazelle are the main measures to protect the Przewalski's gazelle.