scholarly journals Birth season glucocorticoids are related to the presence of infants in sifaka ( Propithecus verreauxi )

2009 ◽  
Vol 276 (1663) ◽  
pp. 1855-1863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane K. Brockman ◽  
Amy K. Cobden ◽  
Patricia L. Whitten
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Birth Season ◽  
Propithecus Verreauxi ◽  
Group Stability ◽  
Dispersal Events ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Plural Breeding

The responses of plural breeding mammals to environmental stressors are little understood in free-ranging populations, but recent studies of singular breeders suggest that ecological factors and social milieu influence the variable physiological stress responses observed among individuals. Our previous studies examining faecal glucocorticoid (fGC)–behaviour interactions in plural breeding male sifaka ( Propithecus verreauxi ) show that fGC elevations coincide with specific dispersal events, particularly the eviction of subordinates by resident alpha males. This study examined the utility of fGC assays for assessing the stress responses of male sifaka to demographic changes in the population during the birth season. Analyses were based on 889 faecal samples collected over five birth seasons from 124 adult males residing in 55 different groups at Beza Mahafaly, Madagascar. Results show that fGC levels in males are unrelated to age, residence, group stability or rank, but are significantly and positively correlated with the presence of infants, annual elevations in weekly mean fGC concentrations in males paralleling increasing numbers of infants born annually in the population. These data are the first to show that in seasonal plural breeding species such as sifaka, elevated fGC in males reflects specific events related to reproduction rather than states or social context during the birth season.

scholarly journals Hot days are associated with short-term adrenocortical responses in a Southern African arid-zone passerine bird

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesedi L. Moagi ◽  
Amanda R. Bourne ◽  
Susan J. Cunningham ◽  
Ray Jansen ◽  
Celiwe A. Ngcamphalala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Physiological Mechanism ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Hot Days ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractNon-invasive methods for investigating the biological effects of environmental variables are invaluable for understanding potential impacts of climate change on behavioural and physiological stress responses of free-ranging animals. Foraging efficiency, body mass maintenance and breeding success are compromised in Southern pied babblers Turdoides bicolor exposed to air temperatures between ~35°C and ~40°C. We tested the hypothesis that these very hot days are acute stressors for free-ranging babblers by quantifying the relationship between daily maximum air temperature (Tmax) and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels. We collected naturally-excreted droppings from free-ranging pied babblers and analysed fGCM levels. Levels of fGCMs in droppings collected after 3pm were independent of same-day Tmax < 38 °C and averaged 140.25 ng g−1 Dry Weight ± 56.92 ng g−1 DW (mean ± SD) over this range. Above an inflection Tmax = 38 °C, however, fGCM levels increased linearly with same-day Tmax and averaged 190.79 ng g−1 DW ± 70.13 ng g−1 DW. There was no relationship between Tmax on the previous day and fGCM levels in droppings collected the following morning. Group size, breeding stage, sex and rank did not predict variation in fGCM levels. These results suggest that very high Tmax may be linked to acute, but not chronic, heat stress responses. The fGCM levels we measured are likely to represent a biologically meaningful response to an environmental stressor (high Tmax), suggesting a physiological mechanism underlying observed changes in behaviour and reproductive success at high temperatures in this species.

Emotions and health: The impact of emotions, emotions regulation, music, and acculturation on health

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Bongard ◽  
Volker Hodapp ◽  
Sonja Rohrmann
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Anger Expression ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Cardiovascular Stress ◽  
Expression Behavior ◽  
Cardio Vascular ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Our unit investigates the relationship of emotional processes (experience, expression, and coping), their physiological correlates and possible health outcomes. We study domain specific anger expression behavior and associated cardio-vascular loads and found e.g. that particularly an open anger expression at work is associated with greater blood pressure. Furthermore, we demonstrated that women may be predisposed for the development of certain mental disorders because of their higher disgust sensitivity. We also pointed out that the suppression of negative emotions leads to increased physiological stress responses which results in a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. We could show that relaxation as well as music activity like singing in a choir causes increases in the local immune parameter immunoglobuline A. Finally, we are investigating connections between migrants’ strategy of acculturation and health and found e.g. elevated cardiovascular stress responses in migrants when they where highly adapted to the German culture.

Associations between multisystem stress reactivity and peer nominated aggression in early childhood vary by sex

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1888-1898
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Hagan ◽  
Danielle S. Roubinov ◽  
W. Thomas Boyce ◽  
Nicole R. Bush
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Relational Aggression ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Peer Ratings ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

AbstractThere is emerging evidence that the development of problematic aggression in childhood may be associated with specific physiological stress response patterns, with both biological overactivation and underactivation implicated. This study tested associations between sex-specific patterns of stress responses across the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and peer nominations of aggression among 271 kindergarten children (Mean age = 5.32 years; 52% Female; 44% White). Upon entry to kindergarten, children participated in a multidomain standardized stress paradigm. Changes in pre-ejection period (PEP) and salivary cortisol were assessed. On a separate day, children provided peer ratings of physical and relational aggression in a standardized interview. As expected, there was a significant three-way interaction between PEP, cortisol reactivity, and sex, but only for physical aggression. Among boys, cortisol reactivity was positively associated with physical aggression only for those with higher SNS reactivity. Findings suggest that for boys, asymmetrical and symmetrical HPA/SNS reactivity may be associated with lower and higher risk for peer-directed physical aggression, respectively. Understanding the complex associations between multisystem physiology, child sex and peer-directed aggression in early childhood may offer insight into individual differences underlying the emergence of behavioral dysregulation in early peer contexts.

scholarly journals The benefits of being dominant: Health correlates of male social rank and age in a marmot

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenta Uchida ◽  
Rachel Ng ◽  
Samuel A Vydro ◽  
Jennifer E Smith ◽  
Daniel T Blumstein
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Handicap Hypothesis ◽  
Variation Explained

Abstract The benefits of dominance may not come without costs, particularly for males. For example, the “immunocompetence handicap hypothesis” states that males with enhanced mating success allocate resources to enhance reproductive output at a cost to their current health, whereas the “resource quality hypothesis” predicts that high-ranking males may benefit from increased reproduction and good health. While the predictions from each have been well tested in captive animals and in a variety of highly social primates, fewer studies have been carried out in free-living, facultatively social animals. Using adult male yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), we evaluated predictions of these hypotheses by examining the relationship between social rank and two health indicators–fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels, and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratios–after accounting for variation explained by age, body mass, and seasonality. We found that higher-ranking males tended to have a lower N/L ratio (reflecting good health) than lower-ranking individuals, whereas FCM levels were not significantly related to rank. In addition, heavier male marmots had lower N/L ratios, while body mass was not associated with FCM levels. We also found that older adult males had lower FCM levels (reflecting less physiological stress) but higher N/L ratios than younger adults. Finally, we found that FCM levels decreased as the active season progressed and FCM levels were associated with the time of the day. Overall, our results suggest that socially-dominant male marmots enjoyed better, not worse health in terms of lower N/L ratios.

Social isolation of goats: significance of visual contact with conspecifics on behavioral and physiological responses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Govind Kannan ◽  
Zaira M Estrada-Reyes ◽  
Phaneendra Batchu ◽  
Brou Kouakou ◽  
Thomas H Terrill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Rank Score

Abstract Social isolation can increase distress in goats, particularly when they cannot maintain visual contact with conspecifics. This experiment was conducted to determine the behavioral and physiological responses in goats during isolation with or without visual contact with conspecifics. Male Spanish goats (uncastrated, 8-mo old, average weight 29.4 ± 0.59 kg) were randomly assigned to a control (CO) group with no isolation or to one of four isolation treatment (TRT) pens (1.5 × 1.5 m) with: (1) open grill panels but with no visual contact with conspecifics (IO), (2) covered grill to prevent visual contact (IC), (3) open grill with visual contact (IV), or (3) covered grill with a 30 × 30 cm window to allow visual contact (IW) for 90 min of social isolation (n = 12 goats/TRT). Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min (Time) from isolated and control goats. The experiment was repeated one week later using the same animals, with each goat being subjected to the same isolation treatment the second time to study the effect of prior exposure to isolation. Friedman’s Two-Way ANOVA by Ranks Test in SAS showed that the median frequency of vocalization (rank score) in goats was high in IO group, low in IV and IW groups, and intermediate in IC group (P &lt; 0.01). Vocalization rank score was also higher (P &lt; 0.01) during the first 30 min of isolation in goats. Median frequency of visual contact was higher in the IW group than in the IV group (P &lt; 0.01). Frequency of climbing behavior was high in IC and IO groups, low in IV group, and intermediate in IW group (P &lt; 0.01). Repeated Measures Analysis using GLM procedures in SAS revealed that plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations tended (P &lt; 0.1) to be the highest in IO group than in CO, IC, IV, and IW groups. Cortisol levels were also higher (Time; P &lt; 0.05) at 0 and 90 min compared to 30 and 60 min. Norepinephrine concentrations decreased (P &lt; 0.05) with Time, and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were affected by TRT × Time interaction (P &lt; 0.01). Overall, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucose, and NEFA concentrations were lower (P &lt; 0.01) and cortisol concentrations and lymphocyte counts higher (P &lt; 0.01) when goats were exposed to isolation the second time. The results showed that goats with no visual contact with conspecifics during social isolation had greater physiological stress responses and spent more time vocalizing or trying to escape the pen, which may indicate distress.

Responses to social evaluative stress in regular cannabis smokers

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112097233
Author(s):  
Richard J Xia ◽  
Thomas Chao ◽  
Divya Patel ◽  
Gillinder Bedi
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Mood States ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Subjective Response ◽  
Negative Mood States ◽  
Stress Responding

Background: Aspects of the canonical stress response differ in stimulant, opioid, and alcohol users relative to controls, and dysregulated responses to stress may contribute to continued use of these drugs. Little prior research has focused on stress responses in regular cannabis smokers. We assessed responses to a standardized laboratory social stress assay (the Trier Social Stress Task; TSST) in regular cannabis smokers (CANs) compared with controls (CONs). Methods: Healthy, non-treatment-seeking adult CANs (⩾4×/week; smoking cannabis as usual) and demographically matched CONs completed the TSST. Outcome measures were subjective mood, heart rate, and salivary cortisol. Results: Nineteen CANs (1 female) and 20 CONs (2 female) participated; groups were matched on trauma exposure, sex, race, and age. CANs smoked cannabis 6.4 ± 1.1 days/week. Eight CANs and one CON smoked tobacco cigarettes daily. Overall, the TSST produced expected increases in anxiety, negative mood states, cortisol, and heart rate. CANs had blunted subjective response to stress relative to CONs, but they did not differ in physiological (cortisol and cardiovascular) stress responding. Conclusion: These results indicate that CANs have blunted mood responses to social stress, but normative physiological stress responding. Observed differences could be due to residual effects of cannabis, reluctance to endorse negative mood states, or to issues related to identifying (i.e., emotional identification) or feeling (i.e., interoception) stress-related affective states. Further research is warranted to characterize the mechanisms of these differences and assess implications for daily functioning and treatment outcomes.

scholarly journals Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Boyle ◽  
Noé U. de la Sancha ◽  
Pastor Pérez ◽  
David Kabelik
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Hair Shaft ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractSpecies that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

scholarly journals Effects of Cage and Floor Pen Management on Behavior, Production, and Physiological Stress Responses of Laying Hens

1986 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1058-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. MENCH ◽  
A. van TIENHOVEN ◽  
J.A. MARSH ◽  
C.C. McCORMICK ◽  
D.L. CUNNINGHAM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Physiological Stress
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