01350nas a2200133   4500008004100000245012700041210006900168300001100237490000700248520088400255100001601139700002101155856004001176       1995                        eng d00aElemental analysis of mineral lick soils from the Serengeti National Park, the Konza Prairie and Yellowstone National Park0 aElemental analysis of mineral lick soils from the Serengeti Nati  a91 -940 v183 aWe analyzed mineral lick soils and non-mineral lick soils from the Serengeti National Park, the Konza Prairie, and Yellowstone National Park. The concentrations of 14 different elements considered important for ungulate nutrition were analyzed to determine the relative importance of Na vs other elements in attracting animals to lick areas. Only Na was consistently higher in the mineral lick soils of the three ecosystems. Mean Na concentrations were c. 20× greater in Serengeti licks, 10× greater in Konza licks and 3× greater in Yellowstone licks compared to the respective non-lick soils. Despite the numerous elements analyzed for this survey, our results suggest that Na is the primary element initiates mineral lick use in these widely separated ecosystems. The widespread distribution of Na-deficient forage likely explains the importance of Na in most mineral licks.1 aTracy, B.F.1 aMcNaugthon, S.J.  uhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/3683223