Tissue-Specific Trace Element Distribution in Wild Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from Dovrefjell, Norway

Trace element analysis of animal tissues has proven to be an effective tool for monitoring biotic health but such methods often rely on invasive sampling. Further, the within body distribution of trace elements, the ionome, -within many species remains poorly understood. Using samples from muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus; n = 14) culled in Dovrefjell, Norway, we analyzed essential (Cu, Zn, Se, Mo) and non-essential (As, Cd, Ba, Pb) trace element concentrations across eight tissues to map their internal distribution. We quantified concentrations via TQ-ICP-MS and used multivariate analyses (PCA, PERMANOVA) and correlation tests to assess whether wool can reliably reflect internal trace element concentrations, thus potentially serve as a non-invasive biomonitoring tool. While the selected elements were detectable across all tissues, each element showed distinct distribution patterns with low correlations between tissues. Generally, feces effectively eliminated most non-essential elements (As, Ba, Pb), while Cd accumulated in kidneys. Essential element patterns were more variable and inconsistent across individuals, likely influenced by physiological and demographic factors (age, sex, pregnancy status). Element concentrations in wool showed weak, but not statistically significant, correlations with those in internal tissues. Our findings - albeit based on a small sample-set - thus suggest that while wool may capture certain element profiles, it does not consistently mirror internal tissue concentrations. This highlights the continued need for multi-tissue approaches in ionomic profiling and emphasizes the importance of considering geographical-, population- and individual-level variability in trace element studies conducted in a wildlife health context. Further research is thus needed to fully validate wool as a reliable, standalone, non-invasive monitoring tool for wildlife health.