Prior to the human mass production of salt, where did the salt in terrestrial ecosystems come from? Did it all originate in the ocean and get transported long distance by chains of predation? Is there enough salt in the soil or something for plants to uptake in sufficient quantities?
I think it comes from rocks sometimes? I saw a nature documentary once and deep in the rainforest there was a salty rock outcropping that animals would congregate near and just spend minutes at a time licking. It was a treasured resource, like a watering hole in a savanna.
they crave that mineral