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A study of kudurs used by wild animals located on the water sources high in REE content in the Caucasus Nature Reserve

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Abstract

One of the theories explaining the reasons for geophagy, which was proposed earlier by the authors of the article, consists in the assumption that animals need rare-earth elements (REE). In order to test this hypothesis, we studied the chemical composition of spring waters in the territory of the Caucasus Nature Reserve at three kudurs along the Achipsta River, as well as at the Mamaevsky kudur (southwestern slope of the Pshekish mountain). At the Mamaevsky kudur, we also studied the chemical composition of earth consumed by animals, and the species, age and gender composition, seasonal and daily activity of ungulate animals–visitors of the kudur. It was determined that the most active visitors of the Mamaevsky kudur were European bison (Bison bonasus) with one activity peak during the rut, in July. The frequency of visits to the kudur by red deer (Cervus elaphus) was 4 times lower with the highest peak activity in April and a lower peak in August. Only in one of four water sources at the Mamaevsky kudur there was an elevated concentration of Na (by 7 times). In the other three the concentration was comparable to the local river water. The waters of two “sodium-free” springs had increased concentrations of REE (by 5–8 times). Geophagic earths near the Mamaevsky springs are decomposition products of siltstone and sandstone shale rocks of the Jurassic age consisting of clay minerals (illite mixed with smectite, and chlorites)—from 42 to 45%, and quartz and feldspar (in total up to 50%) mixed with Fe and Ca carbonates. The chemical composition of acid extracts (0.1 N HCl, pH = 1.0) from consumed earth showed the highest extractability of Ca and Fe. In trace elements, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, V, light lanthanides, and Y are most actively extracted. Na is extracted at 0.03–0.1 g/kg. The sodium bicarbonate spring water consumed by animals at kudurs on the Achipsta River had Na contents 70–300 times, and REE contents 25–40 times higher than that in the river water. The revealed facts do not contradict the hypothesis that the desire for geophagy in animals in the Caucasus (in addition to the long-known “urge” for Na) can be also related to the properties of lanthanides group elements exchange in the body.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the administration of the Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve for their assistance in this study, as well as the volunteers P. Mudrov and E. Likhodedova. This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 20-67-47005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 7 Radio St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690041

    A. M. Panichev, I. V. Seryodkin, R. A. Makarevich & K. S. Golokhvast

  2. Far Eastern Federal University, 8 Sukhanova St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690091

    A. M. Panichev, I. Yu. Chekryzhov, I. V. Seryodkin, E. A. Vakh, A. S. Kholodov & K. S. Golokhvast

  3. Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories, Russian Academy of Sciences, 37A Inessa Armand St., Nalchik, Russia, 360000

    S. A. Trepet

  4. Far East Geological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 100-Letiya Vladivostoku St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690022

    I. Yu. Chekryzhov, V. V. Ivanov, D. S. Ostapenko & A. S. Kholodov

  5. Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 43 Baltic St., Vladivostok, Russia, 690041

    E. A. Vakh

  6. Caucasus Nature Reserve, 8 Karla Marksa St., Sochi, Russia, 354340

    T. G. Eskina & K. V. Bibina

  7. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskiye Gory, Moscow, Russia, 119991

    T. A. Stolyarova & E. I. Mitina

  8. N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), 42, 44 Bolshaya Morskaya St., St. Petersburgh, Russia, 190121

    K. S. Golokhvast

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  1. A. M. Panichev
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  2. S. A. Trepet
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  3. I. Yu. Chekryzhov
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  4. I. V. Seryodkin
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  6. R. A. Makarevich
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  7. T. G. Eskina
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  8. K. V. Bibina
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  9. T. A. Stolyarova
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  10. E. I. Mitina
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  11. V. V. Ivanov
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  13. A. S. Kholodov
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  14. K. S. Golokhvast
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Correspondence to K. S. Golokhvast.

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Panichev, A.M., Trepet, S.A., Chekryzhov, I.Y. et al. A study of kudurs used by wild animals located on the water sources high in REE content in the Caucasus Nature Reserve. Environ Geochem Health 43, 91–112 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00670-8

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