Gan, Chin Keong (2007) Nutrients content of the soils in mud wallow of bearded pig (Sus barbatus) in Danum Valley, Lahad Datu, Sabah. Universiti Malaysia Sabah. (Unpublished)
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Abstract
This thesis describes the nutrients content of soils in the mud wallows of bearded pig (Sus harbatus). The purposes are to determine the nutrients content in the mud wallows and the potential of wallows as a source of nutrients for bearded pigs. A total of 64 soil samples were collected from 32 wallows found in the primary and logged forest in and around the Danum Valley Field Center, within the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve 5° 0' N, 117° 30' E. Lahad Datu, Sabah. The soil samples were collected in June - July 2006 from the walls and the bottoms of each wallow using the stainless steel soil auger. Soil samples were analyzed for six elements of nutrients namely Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). Soil pl-I was measured using pH meter. Results showed that among the nutrients analyzed, Fe was the most abundant nutrient in the soil of mud wallows with a mean concentration of 29316.880 ± 10252.315 μg/g (mean f standard deviation), followed by K (1659.689 ± 959.663 μg/g), Mg (803.108 t 199.483 μg/g), Na (199.828 ± 74.300 μg/g), Zn (38.067 ± 19.425 pg/g), and Cu (25.091 ± 17.979 μg/g). The mean pH of the soils was 5.012 + 0.382 (mean ± standard deviation). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between nutrients content in the wall and bottom of the mud wallows. The comparisons between wallows from logged and primary forest showed that only K and soil pH were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in logged forest. Comparisons between control soil (i. e., soils from outside wallows) and soils from the wallows showed that the concentrations of Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn were higher in wallows' soils. The higher concentrations of nutrients in mud wallows suggest that mud wallows have the potential as the natural source for geophagy (soil eating behavior) for bearded pigs, as well as the other animals.
| Item Type: | Academic Exercise |
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| Keyword: | Soil, Mud, Pig--Sus barbatus. |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301-705.5 Biology (General) > QH540-549.5 Ecology |
| Department: | SCHOOL > School of Science and Technology |
| Depositing User: | ADMIN ADMIN |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Mar 2011 18:14 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Oct 2017 13:29 |
| URI: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/2070 |
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