Influence of cereal harvest on adrenocortical activity in European hares (Lepus europaeus)

AbstractAnthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat modifications and machines, are associated with increased levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in mammals, an indicator of a stress response. One human-caused process provoking incisive habitat alterations is harvesting arable crops. We investigated the effect of cereal harvest on fGCM concentrations in European hares (Lepus europaeus) in arable landscapes in lower Austria during the year 2018 by collecting 591 faecal samples before, during and after cereal harvest. fGCMs were analysed using an enzyme immunoassay, and data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models. We found that neither cereal harvest nor farming practice (organic vs. conventional) caused an overall increase in the hares’ stress level. Lower vegetation density and higher proportions of bare ground were negatively correlated with fGCM concentrations, whereas the proportion of stubble fields was significantly positively correlated with fGCM concentrations in European hares. A change to more open landscapes might decrease time spent avoiding predation, and fallen grains may provide a beneficial additional food source for the hares. This indicates that European hares are well adapted to an opening up of the landscape and short-term disturbances such as cereal harvesting. In conclusion, cereal harvest had no large impact on European hares’ adrenocortical activity in an arable landscape with small average field size and enough available non-farmed areas.

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Measuring Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Reindeer

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9110987 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 987

Author(s):

Şeyda Özkan Gülzari ◽

Grete Helen Meisfjord Jørgensen ◽

Svein Morten Eilertsen ◽

Inger Hansen ◽

Snorre Bekkevold Hagen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Responses ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Stress Hormones ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Animal Conservation ◽

Adrenocortical Activity ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Species Specific

Several non-invasive methods for assessing stress responses have been developed and validated for many animal species. Due to species-specific differences in metabolism and excretion of stress hormones, methods should be validated for each species. The aim of this study was to conduct a physiological validation of an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measuring faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in male reindeer by administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH; intramuscular, 0.25 mg per animal). A total of 317 samples were collected from eight male reindeer over a 44 h period at Tverrvatnet in Norway in mid-winter. In addition, 114 samples were collected from a group of reindeer during normal handling and calf marking at Stjernevatn in Norway. Following ACTH injection, FCM levels (median and range) were 568 (268–2415) ng/g after two hours, 2718 (414–8550) ng/g after seven hours and 918 (500–6931) ng/g after 24 h. Levels were significantly higher from seven hours onwards compared to earlier hours (p < 0.001). The FCM levels at Stjernevatn were significantly (p < 0.001) different before (samples collected zero to two hours; median: 479 ng/g) and after calf marking (eight to ten hours; median: 1469 ng/g). Identification of the faecal samples belonging to individual animals was conducted using DNA analysis across time. This study reports a successful validation of a non-invasive technique for measuring stress in reindeer, which can be applied in future studies in the fields of biology, ethology, ecology, animal conservation and welfare.

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Density and reproductive success of Skylarks Alauda arvensis on organic farms—an experiment with unsown Skylark plots on autumn sown cereals

Ornis Svecica ◽

10.34080/os.v21.22613 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 3-10

Author(s):

Åke Berg ◽

Olle Kvarnbäck

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Negative Association ◽

Field Size ◽

Vegetation Density ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Organic Farms ◽

Alauda Arvensis ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Conventional Farms ◽

Cereal Fields

Skylark plots (unsown plots; 10–25 m2 per ha) in autumn cereal fields have had positive effects on Skylark density and reproductive success on conventional farms in Britain. We tested if the same effect could be found in organic farms in Sweden by comparing paired fields with and without unsown plots in similar settings. We found that the plots had no effect. Skylark density was only associated (negatively) with field size and not with occurrence of Skylark plots, vegetation structure, yield or weed harrowing. Number of clutches per territory was affected by yield (negative) and vegetation cover (positive) but not by Skylark plots. Number of fledglings per clutch showed negative association with yield and visibility through the sward. The amount of weed was larger near Skylark plots from the preceding year than in other parts of the field. The yield (and probably vegetation density) was lower on these fields than in conventional autumn sown fields, but still negative effects of the crop (yield levels) were found.

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Comparison of the Glucocorticoid Concentrations between Three Species of Lemuridae Kept in a Temporary Housing Facility

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10061013 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1013

Author(s):

Martina Volfova ◽

Zuzana Machovcova ◽

Eva Voslarova ◽

Iveta Bedanova ◽

Vladimir Vecerek

Keyword(s):

Polyclonal Antibodies ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Temporary Housing ◽

Standard Operation ◽

Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Lactating Females ◽

Brown Lemurs ◽

Lemur Species ◽

Housing Facility

We compared the glucocorticoid concentrations in response to various types of potential stressors present during standard operation of a temporary housing facility between three species, namely, ring-tailed lemurs, collared brown lemurs and white-headed lemurs. The levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) were measured non-invasively on a daily basis during a 30-day period. A total of 510 faecal samples were collected. Concentrations of immunoreactive glucocorticoid hormone metabolites were measured in the obtained extracts by using an enzyme immunoassay. The polyclonal antibodies used in this assay were directed against the metabolite 11-oxo-etiocholanolone I. We found all three monitored lemur species to respond to specific potentially stressful situations by increasing (p < 0.05) the FGM levels within one to two days after the event. Although housed in the same room, differences in response to potentially stressful situations were found in white-headed lemurs compared to ring-tailed lemurs. Increased mean levels of the FGMs were found more frequently in white-headed lemurs than in ring-tailed lemurs. The results suggest that this species may be more sensitive to changes in its surroundings. In general, the levels of the FGMs showed a similar pattern during 30 days of monitoring suggesting that all groups of lemurs responded in a similar manner to the same events. However, we recorded the differences in the absolute values of glucocorticoid concentrations between the monitored species likely due to the differences in sex ratios in the groups and presence of lactating females in the ring-tailed lemurs.

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Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Live Microbial Cultures on Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Safari Asian Elephants

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-4124 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

D. Chharang ◽

S. Choudhary ◽

V. Kumar ◽

S. Sharma ◽

P. C. Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Control Group ◽

Asian Elephants ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Microbial Cultures ◽

Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Conservation Of Endangered Species

Background: Wildlife tourism has been shown to increase stress in a variety of species and can negatively affect the survival, reproduction, welfare, and behaviour of individuals. The use of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites has favoured the development of non-invasive methods to study physiological conditions and could aid in successful and effective strategies for the management and conservation of endangered species. Methods: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of live microbial cultures to find patterns of physiological stress hormone in faeces of 18 safari Asian elephants of 30-62 years age and body weight (3495 ± 133.34 Kg) for two months. They were randomly divided into three groups, with six elephants in each, i.e. control with no probiotic (T1) and the other two with probiotics, which contained 1 × 109 CFU/g concentrate of Lactobacillus acidophilus (T2) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (T3) @ every 50 kg body weight per day. Faecal samples were taken on 0, 30th, 40th and 50th day of the experiment. Result: It was observed that the mean faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, demonstrated by the elephants of T2, and T3 groups were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the control group (T1) and remained unaffected on the supplementation of live microbial cultures.

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Does harvesting arable crops influence the behaviour of the European hare Lepus europaeus?

Wildlife Biology ◽

10.2981/wlb.1996.036 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 83-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Eric Marboutin ◽

Nicholas J. Aebischer

Keyword(s):

Lepus Europaeus ◽

European Hare ◽

Arable Crops

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Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites as an indicator of adrenocortical activity in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and recommendations for future studies

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-021-02917-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Malin Larm ◽

Anne Lene Hovland ◽

Rupert Palme ◽

Anne-Mathilde Thierry ◽

Andrea L. Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Negative Relationship ◽

Time Lags ◽

Vulpes Lagopus ◽

Adrenocortical Activity ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽

Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽

Arctic Foxes ◽

In The Wild ◽

Fecal Glucocorticoid

AbstractMeasuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) is a widely used, non-invasive method for studies of stress in vertebrates. To study physiological responses in wild Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) to perceived stressors such as fluctuating food availability, occurrence of competitors and predators and disturbance from human activities, a species-specific physiological validation of a method to evaluate adrenocortical activity is needed. Here we used 15 captive Arctic foxes (both males and females and juveniles and adults) to investigate fGCM concentrations following ACTH injection (physiological validation), or handling alone and compared them with their respective baseline concentrations prior to the treatments. A 5α-pregnane-3ß,11ß,21-triol-20-one enzyme immunoassay measured significant fGCM increases following both treatments. The time lags to reach peak fGCM values were 9.3 ± 1.3 h and 12.8 ± 1.7 h for ACTH and handling treatment, respectively. Concentrations of fGCMs varied a lot between individuals, but not attributed to sex nor age of the foxes. However, we found a negative relationship between boldness and fGCM concentrations. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites concentrations did not change significantly over a period of 48 h in samples kept at temperatures reflecting winter and summer means. This would allow the collection of samples up to two days old in the wild regardless of the season. We conclude that our successfully validated method for measuring fGCMs can be used as a non-invasive tool for studies exploring various stressors both in wild and captive Arctic foxes.

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The effects of transport stress on the behaviour and adrenocortical activity of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata)

Acta Veterinaria Brno ◽

10.2754/avb201988010085 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 85-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Martina Volfová ◽

Zuzana Machovcová ◽

Franz Schwarzenberger ◽

Eva Voslářová ◽

Iveta Bedáňová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Direct Observation ◽

Activity Analysis ◽

Adrenocortical Activity ◽

Black And White ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Before And After ◽

Transport Stress ◽

Baseline Levels ◽

Ruffed Lemur ◽

Positive Effect

The aim of this study was to assess behavioural and glucocorticoid changes in black-and-white ruffed lemur females transported for breeding purposes between Czech ZOOs. The frequency of the presented behaviour elements was recorded via direct observation. The faecal samples were collected from the floor and subsequently the faecal glucocorticoid values were determined using specifically designed assays for faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) analysis. While the frequency of certain comfort behaviour patterns decreased (P < 0.05) in response to transport and change of the environment, grooming, resting, sleeping as well as playful behaviour (chasing, climbing) were not affected (P > 0.05). No changes were found in the frequency of behaviour connected to metabolic events with the exception of defecation. Lemur females defecated more frequently (P < 0.05) in their new environment. The frequency of neither fear nor exploratory behaviour differed (P > 0.05) before and after transport. The positive effect of the novelty was shown by the reduction (P < 0.01) of behavioural signs of frustration and stereotypical behaviour after transport. In response to transport, a significant (P < 0.05) increase of FGM levels was found the second day after the transport, reaching peak levels in the morning and starting to decline to baseline levels in the afternoon. The results of both behaviour and adrenocortical activity analysis suggest that despite some presented changes in the monitored indices prior and after transport, the transportation under the studied conditions presented only a mild stressor with limited behavioural and glucocorticoid responses.

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Non-invasive monitoring of adrenocortical activity in European badgers (Meles meles) and effects of sample collection and storage on faecal cortisol metabolite concentrations

Animal Biology ◽

10.1163/157075612x642914 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 419-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Isabel Barja ◽

Gema Escribano-Ávila ◽

Carlos Lara-Romero ◽

Emilio Virgós ◽

Javier Benito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Lapse ◽

Meles Meles ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Acth Stimulation ◽

Adrenocortical Activity ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

European Badgers ◽

And Storage ◽

Cortisol Metabolites

Due to the increasing demand for methods to quantify adrenal activity in response to stressors in wild animals, we evaluated whether stimulation with adrenocorticopic hormone (ACTH) increases faecal cortisol metabolite levels in European badgers. We also conducted several experiments to evaluate the effect of storage time and collection methods on cortisol metabolite levels of faecal samples. Faecal samples were collected from five captive European badgers (Meles meles) and cortisol metabolites were quantified by an enzyme immunoassay. Faecal cortisol metabolite levels increased 1-2 days after ACTH injection and dropped to pre-treatment levels 3 days after ACTH stimulation. We found that cortisol metabolite levels were not affected by the 8-hour time lapse from collection in the field until freezing of faecal samples, environmental exposure (temperature 25.66 ± 2.55°C; range 21.20-32.20) or mean relative humidity 62.77 ± 9.90% (range 42.00-79.00). Cortisol metabolites were not homogenously distributed in the scats. Cortisol metabolite levels were significantly lower when faecal extracts and samples were frozen for long periods of time (14 weeks or more). Thus, the measurement of faecal cortisol metabolites is a suitable method for the non-invasive evaluation of adrenocortical activity in European badgers. However, some aspects related to the collection and storage of faecal samples should be considered in future studies conducted with this species.

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The measurement of glucocorticoid concentrations in the serum and faeces of captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana) after ACTH stimulation : research communication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v71i3.712 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 71 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

S.K. Stead ◽

D.G.A. Meltzer ◽

R. Palme

Keyword(s):

Preliminary Investigation ◽

Serum Cortisol ◽

Blood Collection ◽

Sample Collection ◽

African Elephants ◽

Acth Stimulation ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Cortisol Metabolites

Conventionally, the assessment of adrenal responses to stress relies on blood sample collection. However, blood collection from animals is impossible without restraint or immobilisation that influences results. This study was undertaken to validate recently established enzyme immunoassays that measure faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in elephants, and to perform a preliminary investigation into the biological relevance of this non-invasive method for use in assessing the degree of stress in this species. Four juvenile African elephants were injected i.m. with 2.15 mg synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (Synacthén, Novartis, Switzerland). Blood and faecal samples were collected over 4 h and 7 d respectively. Concentrations of serum cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites were determined using immunoassay. Variability of basal and peak values in blood and faeces was observed among the elephants. After ACTH injection, serum cortisol concentrations increased by 400-700 %. An 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) proved best suited to measure cortisol metabolites (11,17-dioxoandrostanes) when compared to a cortisol and corticosterone EIA in faecal samples. Concentrations of faecal 11,17-dioxoandrostanes increased by 570-1070 %, reaching peak levels after 20.0-25.5 h. Greater levels of glucocorticoid metabolites were measured in faecal samples from elephants kept in small enclosures compared to levels in the faeces of animals ranging over a larger area. The results of this preliminary study suggest that non-invasive faecal monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites is useful in investigating adrenal activity in African elephants.

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A Comparative Study on the Faecal Bacterial Community and Potential Zoonotic Bacteria of Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in Northeast Greenland, Northwest Greenland and Norway

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms6030076 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 76 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Emilie Andersen-Ranberg ◽

Christopher Barnes ◽

Linett Rasmussen ◽

Alejandro Salgado-Flores ◽

Carsten Grøndahl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

High Arctic ◽

Ovibos Moschatus ◽

Habitat Alterations ◽

North East ◽

Fibre Diet ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Considerable Impact ◽

Zoonotic Bacteria ◽

Local Ecology

Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are ruminants adapted to a high-fibre diet. There is increasing interest in the role that gut microbes play in the digestion and utilization of these specialized diets but only limited data available on the gut microbiome of high-Arctic animals. In this study, we metabarcoded the 16S rRNA region of faecal samples from muskoxen of Northeast Greenland, Northwest Greenland and Norway, and quantified the effects of physiological and temporal factors on bacterial composition. We found significant effects of body mass, year of sampling and location on the gut bacterial communities of North East Greenland muskoxen. These effects were however dwarfed by the effects of location, emphasizing the importance of the local ecology on the gut bacterial community. Habitat alterations and rising temperatures may therefore have a considerable impact on muskoxen health and reproductive success. Moreover, muskoxen are hunted and consumed in Greenland, Canada and Alaska; therefore, this study also screened for potential zoonoses of food safety interest. A total of 13 potentially zoonotic genera were identified, including the genera Erysipelothrix and Yersinia implicated in recent mass die-offs of the muskoxen themselves.

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