Copper Deficiency in Tule Elk at Point Reyes, California

Abstract

Tule elk (Cervus eiirphus uuuuos serum, x’ 2 1.4 ppm). These levels were consistent with documented coppsr defi- ciency in wild and domestfe ruminants. Copper serum levels increased in response to copper enriched dietary supplements and declined after the elk stopped eating the supplements. Analysis of plant and soil samples showed both are deficient in copper and normal in molybdenum and sulfur-sulfatss. Deficiency in plants and sops at Point Reyes are probably due to low copper levels in the underlyitq granitic parent material. Key Words: Corvus ebhus tumuodes, copper, molybdenum and sulfur levels in elk, vegetation and sops