Nor Bazilah Razali

Background: Mineral-rich licks are known to provide mineral supplements to wildlife species, including mammals. Artificial salt licks have been provided as habitat enrichment in protected areas and secondary forests in Peninsular Malaysia since 2012. However, few studies have investigated artificial salt licks, particularly their mineral composition and roles in different habitats. We used 40 camera traps to assess mammal species diversity and assemblages at 20 salt licks (nine natural and 11 artificial licks) in three forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia. Nine mineral elements from water and soil samples from natural and artificial licks in primary and secondary forests were analysed. Results: Twenty-nine mammal species were identified across salt licks, with 16 species being salt lick users, including eight herbivorous, five frugivorous and three carnivorous mammals, most of which moved in groups and solitarily. The mammal species assemblages across both salt lick and habitat types demonstrated a predominantly nested pattern, with herbivorous and frugivorous mammals being the primary users. The artificial salt licks in both habitats showcased the same feeding guilds including species that are resilient to habitat changes. The visitation frequency at both types of licks and habitats suggests that each salt lick user had its own preferences for minerals from salt lick water and soil. Conclusions: This study suggests that artificial licks may be as effective as natural licks in providing minerals to many mammal species both in primary and secondary forests. Thus, they could be used to enrich degraded habitats. Enriching degraded habitats is essential for supporting the ecosystem, especially in carbon reduction, biodiversity conservation and connectivity between degraded forests and intact forests.

Mineral reservoirs or salt licks are commonly used by wildlife to regulate the concentration of salt and minerals in their bodies. Salt lick utilisation is known to be influenced by the chemical composition, but information on their physical properties, particularly vegetation surrounding the salt licks is scarce. In this study, physical factors and wildlife utilisation at two natural salt licks (SPU and SPS) located in Perak, Malaysia, were determined. Wildlife visitation data were retrieved from camera traps. SPU exhibits two reservoirs represented by rocky and clay substrate, with minimally dense vegetation dominated by hardwood species and climbers. SPS encompasses muddy topsoil, open canopy cover, with highly dense forest floor vegetation. The wildlife survey shows a higher frequency of visitation in SPS, especially by ungulates, potentially due to dense understorey foliage that provides foraging sites for these animals. SPU exhibits more diverse but less frequent wildlife species, particularly primates, carnivores, and avian groups. High emergence and closed canopy cover at this lick serve as perching sites for primates and birds, while less dense understory vegetation could aid in prey detection among carnivore. Regardless of their physical assemblages, salt licks are an essential local hotspot for wildlife, therefore, elucidating the need to prioritise conservation areas by maximising the complementarities of salt licks.