The nutrient composition of salt licks taken by leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus sp.)

Taman Utama Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, is an area that c ontains concentrated mineral concentrations such as Na, Mg,K, and Ca. This study examined the composition of salt nutrients used by leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus sp.) in Taman Utama Port Dickson, Malaysia. This research focused heavily on the analysis of major minerals such as Na, Mg, Ca, and K in soil samples collected from three subplots, namely Mango tree, Coconut tree, and Rambutan tree, which were abbreviated as PM, PK, and PR. The physicochemical properties of the soil were also examined, such as texture, temperature, gravimetric water content, bulk density, porosity, water-filled pore space (WFPS), pH, and organic content. The results showed a significant difference after being studied in the laboratory, namely the mineral content between the three subplots, with PM having a very high content of Mg (50.55 mg/L) and Ca (41.20 mg/L) compared to PR and PK. Soil texture was homogeneous across all subplots, and the main components were sand (47.92%), silt (32.08%), and clay (20.00%). Variance in temperature also occurred, and PM had a high average temperature of 30.40°C. The findings indicate that salt licks play an important role as a complementary source in the diet of leaf monkeys that can supplement deficiencies in their natural diet. It demonstrates the ecological importance of salt licks for primate health and underscores the need to maintain such features in degraded environments.