scholarly journals Prey cortisol affects the usefulness of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration as an indicator of stress in a carnivore

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S. McDonald ◽  
J.D. Roth ◽  
W.G. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Stress Axis ◽  
Glucocorticoid Hormones ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Baseline Cortisol ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Metabolite Concentrations ◽  
Influence Measurement ◽  
Fecal Glucocorticoid

The noninvasive nature of sample collection makes analysis of fecal hormone concentrations useful for examining endocrine responses in free-living wild animals. Glucocorticoid hormones (i.e., cortisol and corticosterone) are frequently measured as an indicator of activation of the endocrine stress axis. However, many factors may influence glucocorticoid concentrations in feces, and the influence of prey glucocorticoids on concentrations in the feces of predators is rarely considered. We tested whether cortisol consumption influenced concentrations of glucocorticoid metabolites in feces of captive Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758)) by adding cortisol (5 mg cortisol per kg fox body mass) to the foxes’ diet. Food supplemented with supraphysiological concentrations of cortisol increased fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations of Arctic foxes by 97% in males and 51% in females, compared with controls. In addition, fecal metabolite concentrations in nontreatment samples were higher for females (22.2 ± 3.3 ng·g−1, mean ± SE) than males (13.3 ± 1.5 ng·g−1), suggesting female Arctic foxes may have higher baseline cortisol concentrations or females may be more sensitive to captivity or relocation. These results indicate that prey cortisol can influence measurement of glucocorticoid metabolites in carnivore feces and suggest caution may be needed when interpreting such measurements in wild carnivores.

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

Polar Biology ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Changes in African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) faecal steroid concentrations post-defaecation

Bothalia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith T. Webber ◽  
Michelle D. Henley ◽  
Yolanda Pretorius ◽  
Michael J. Somers ◽  
Andre Ganswindt
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Metabolite Concentrations ◽  
Endocrine Status ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Sun And Shade

Background: Faecal hormone metabolite measurement is a widely used tool for monitoring reproductive function and response to stressors in wildlife. Despite many advantages of this technique, the delay between defaecation, sample collection and processing may influence steroid concentrations, as faecal bacterial enzymes can alter steroid composition post-defaecation.Objectives: This study investigated changes in faecal glucocorticoid (fGCM), androgen (fAM) and progestagen (fPM) metabolite concentrations in faeces of a male and female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) post-defaecation and the influence of different faeces-drying regimes.Method: Subsamples of fresh faeces were frozen after being dried in direct sun or shade for 6, 20, 24, 48 and 72 h and 7 and 34 days. A subset of samples for each sex was immediately frozen as controls. Faecal hormone metabolite concentrations were determined using enzyme immunoassays established for fGCM, fAM and fPM monitoring in male and female African elephants.Results: Hormone metabolite concentrations of all three steroid classes were stable at first, but changed distinctively after 20 h post-defaecation, with fGCM concentrations decreasing over time and fPM and fAM concentrations steadily increasing. In freeze-dried faeces fGCM concentrations were significantly higher than respective concentrations in sun-dried material, which were in turn significantly higher than fGCM concentrations in shade-dried material. In contrast, fAM concentrations were significantly higher in sun- and shade-dried faeces compared to freeze-dried faeces. Higher fPM concentrations were also found in air-dried samples compared to lyophilised faeces, but the effect was only significant for sun-dried material.Conclusion: The revealed time restriction for collecting faecal material for hormone monitoring from elephants in the wild should be taken into account to assure reliable and comparable results. However, if logistics allow a timely collection, non-invasive hormone measurement remains a powerful and reliable approach to provide information about an elephant’s endocrine status.

Gastrointestinal parasites of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and sibling voles (Microtus levis) in Spitsbergen, Svalbard

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (12) ◽  
pp. 3409-3418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Myšková ◽  
Marek Brož ◽  
Eva Fuglei ◽  
Jana Kvičerová ◽  
Anna Mácová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Microtus Levis

Vector-borne pathogens in arctic foxes, Vulpes lagopus, from Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 58-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia E. Mascarelli ◽  
Stacey A. Elmore ◽  
Emily J. Jenkins ◽  
Ray T. Alisauskas ◽  
Mary Walsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Vector Borne

scholarly journals Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in rural and urbanized region

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 480-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Dobrzański ◽  
A. Filistowicz ◽  
P. Przysiecki ◽  
A. Filistowicz ◽  
S. Nowicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Rural Region ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Species Effect ◽  
Mercury Bioaccumulation ◽  
Total Hg ◽  
Urbanized Region

Mercury bioaccumulation in hair and skin of silver and arctic foxes farmed in typically rural and urbanized regions (Wielkopolskie Voivodship, Poland) was assessed. Hair and skin samples were collected and analyzed for total Hg content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Hairs and skin of foxes farmed in the rural region accumulated higher amount of Hg compared to animals from the urbanized one. Species effect (lower Hg concentration in V. lagopus) was noted, females having higher accumulation compared with males. The highest Hg content was observed in hairs of V. vulpes females in the rural region (0.207 mg/kg on average), and in skin of V. lagopus females (0.0082 mg/kg on average). Highly significant correlation (r = 0.796) was noted between Hg content in skin and hairs of farm foxes. The present study confirms the previous finding that non-invasively collected hair samples are a good tool applicable in evaluating heavy metal load of different environments.

scholarly journals Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and alarm calling in free-living yellow-bellied marmots

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T Blumstein ◽  
Marilyn L Patton ◽  
Wendy Saltzman
Keyword(s):  
Present Finding ◽  
Physiological Arousal ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Marmota Flaviventris ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Alarm Calling ◽  
Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Metabolite Concentrations

When individuals of a variety of species encounter a potential predator, some, but not all, emit alarm calls. To explain the proximate basis of this variation, we compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in live-trapped yellow-bellied marmots ( Marmota flaviventris ) between occasions when they did and did not emit alarm calls. We found that marmots had significantly higher glucocorticoid levels when they called than when they did not call, suggesting that stress or arousal may play an important role in potentiating alarm calls. Marmots are sensitive to variation in the reliability of callers. The present finding provides one possible mechanism underlying caller variation: physiological arousal influences the propensity to emit alarm calls.

scholarly journals The Effect of Dietary Methionine Levels on the Performance Parameters of Arctic Foxes (Vulpes Lagopus)

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Gugołek ◽  
Tomasz Wyczling ◽  
Paweł Janiszewski ◽  
Przemysław Sobiech ◽  
Piotr Wyczling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Total Protein ◽  
The Body ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Vulpes Lagopus ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Finnish Type ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Performance Traits ◽  
Fur Quality

The Effect of Dietary Methionine Levels on the Performance Parameters of Arctic Foxes (Vulpes Lagopus)The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary inclusion levels of methionine and cystine on the performance traits and health status of Arctic foxes. The experimental material comprised 60 blue Arctic foxes of the Finnish type. Control group (C) animals were fed diets (CA and CB) with standard concentrations of methionine and cystine. In experimental groups E1 and E2, methionine content was increased by approximately 2 g per 100 g total protein, relative to the recommended intake. Diets for group E1 were supplemented with liquid methionine (E1A and E1B), and diets for group E2 were supplemented with crystalline methionine (E2A and E2B). Diets A were offered during the growing period, and diets B were administered during the furring period. During the growing period, methionine+cystine levels in diets E1 and E2 were 4.19+0.59 g and 4.22+0.53 g per 100 g total protein, respectively. During the furring period, methionine+cystine levels were 4.83+0.68 g in diets E1 and 4.91+0.61 g in diets E2. The body weights of Arctic foxes were determined, their body conformation was evaluated, and the duration of the rearing period was calculated. Blood samples for morphological and biochemical analyses were collected from animals aged 24 weeks, selected randomly from each group. After slaughter, pelt length and fur quality were determined in accordance with the International Trading System. The results of this study indicate that diets for Arctic foxes should be supplemented with methionine. The experimental diets contributed to improving the performance traits of foxes, in particular fur quality, and they had no adverse influence on the health status of animals. It may be concluded that farm-raised Arctic foxes of the Finnish type show an increased demand for methionine.

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