Effective thiafentanil immobilization and physiological responses of free-ranging moose ( Alces alces ) in northern Sweden

Understanding how moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) are affected by temperature is critical for determining why populations have recently declined at the southern extent of their North American range. Warm-season heat-stress thresholds of 14 and 20 °C are commonly used to study moose, but the variable response of free-ranging moose to temperatures above these thresholds suggests that moose may be more tolerant to heat. We studied zoo-managed cow and bull moose to identify factors that influence warm-season heat stress. We found clear behavioral and physiological responses to thermal conditions. Moose selected shade, indicating solar radiation affects heat stress. Temperature and wind influenced respiration rates. Heat-stress thresholds for moose occurred at 17 °C when bedded under calm conditions and 24 °C when bedded under wind, demonstrating that the onset of heat stress is sensitive to wind and incorporating wind velocity into analyses would improve investigations of heat stress. Moose showing symptoms of gastrointestinal illness selected wind at lower temperatures than healthy moose, suggesting the effects of climate change will be compounded for health-compromised moose. Determining why moose are declining at the southern extent of their range may require understanding how temperature interacts with wind, moose health, and other factors.

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Behavioural and physiological responses to simulated predator-induced stress in the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-bja10008 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 387-398

Author(s):

Victoria L. Preston ◽

Jessica M. Vannatta ◽

Matthew Klukowski

Keyword(s):

Physiological Responses ◽

Plasma Corticosterone ◽

Seasonal Effects ◽

Graded Response ◽

Box Turtles ◽

Eastern Box Turtles ◽

Lactate Levels ◽

Terrapene Carolina Carolina ◽

Almost All ◽

Free Ranging

Abstract In spite of the fully-hinged shell being the defining characteristic of box turtles, few studies have quantified the behavioural use of the shell in response to predator encounters. While it is often assumed that box turtles simply withdraw into their shell in response to threats, we expected variability among individuals in shell usage and in the degree of head and limb retraction because withdrawal is likely to be costly. We tested the behavioural and physiological responses of free-ranging eastern box turtles to stimuli of varying intensity: observation only, a visual stimulus, a poke on the leg, or a pinch on the leg before being flipped. The more intense the simulated predatory stimulus, the more likely turtles were to fully close their shell. However, stimulus intensity did not affect plasma corticosterone or lactate levels. This may be due to too brief or weak of a stimulus, increased parasympathetic activity, or seasonal effects. Upon capture and during handling, almost all turtles withdrew into their shells and closed their anterior plastron, although fewer closed their posterior plastron, and a few engaged in other behaviours such as biting and urinating. Older, larger turtles were able to close their shells with greater strength than younger and smaller turtles. Our results indicate that in spite of their fully closable shell, box turtles exhibit a graded response to perceived threats. This suggests that full closure of the shell is likely to be costly and occurs only in response to the most intense stimuli.

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DETECTION OF ANTI-PARELAPHOSTRONGYLUS TENUIS ANTIBODIES IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED AND FREE-RANGING MOOSE (ALCES ALCES)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases ◽

10.7589/0090-3558-38.4.796 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 796-803 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Oladele A. Ogunremi ◽

Murray W. Lankester ◽

Shaun J. Dergousoff ◽

Alvin A. Gajadhar

Keyword(s):

Alces Alces ◽

Parelaphostrongylus Tenuis ◽

Free Ranging

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Improvement of arterial oxygenation in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) immobilized with etorphine-acepromazine-xylazine

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/s13028-014-0051-5 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marianne Lian ◽

Alina L Evans ◽

Mads F Bertelsen ◽

Åsa Fahlman ◽

Henning A Haga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alces Alces ◽

Arterial Oxygenation ◽

Free Ranging

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Sick Bats Stay Home Alone: Social distancing during the acute phase response in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

10.1101/2020.07.06.189357 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kelsey R. Moreno ◽

Maya Weinberg ◽

Lee Harten ◽

Valeria B. Salinas Ramos ◽

L. Gerardo Herrera M. ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Fruit Bats ◽

Fruit Bat ◽

The Social ◽

Sickness Behaviors ◽

Group Members ◽

Contact Free ◽

Free Ranging

AbstractAlong with its many advantages, social roosting imposes a major risk of pathogen transmission. How social animals, and especially free-ranging mammals, reduce this risk is poorly documented. We used lipopolysaccharide injection to imitate bacterial sickness in both a captive and a free-ranging colony of an extremely social, long lived mammal – the Egyptian fruit bat. We monitored behavioral and physiological responses using an arsenal of methods, including on-board GPS and acceleration, video, temperature and weight measurements, and blood samples. Sick-like bats exhibited an increased immune response, as well as classical illness symptoms including fever, weight loss, anorexia, and lethargy. Notably, they also isolated themselves from the group by leaving the social cluster and avoiding contact. Free-ranging individuals ceased foraging outdoors for at least two nights. Together, these sickness behaviors demonstrate a strong, integrative immune response which promotes recovery of infected individuals while protecting their group members from transmission of pathogens, and at the same time, reducing spillover events outside the roost.

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