scholarly journals An exploratory investigation of glucocorticoids, personality and survival rates in wild and rehabilitated hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Denmark

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Lund Rasmussen ◽  
Otto Kalliokoski ◽  
Torben Dabelsteen ◽  
Klas Abelson
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rates ◽  
European Population ◽  
Spatial Behaviour ◽  
Personality Tests ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
Exploratory Investigation ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Abstract Background The European population of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) is declining. It is therefore essential to optimise conservation initiatives such as the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs. Wild animals placed in captivity may be prone to chronic stress, potentially causing negative health effects. Therefore, the effects of these rehabilitation efforts should consequently be evaluated. Furthermore, hand-raising orphaned hedgehogs is a laborious and costly task, and it is therefore relevant to document whether they have equal post release survival rates compared to their wild conspecifics. The objectives of this research were therefore to conduct an exploratory study of glucocorticoid levels in hedgehogs from different backgrounds and compare the post release survival of translocated, rehabilitated and wild, juvenile hedgehogs as well as the possible effect on survival of differences in shy or bold behaviour (personality) exhibited by individuals. Results We measured glucocorticoid levels in 43 wild-caught (n = 18) and rehabilitated (n = 25) hedgehogs and compared the post release survival and spatial behaviour of 18 translocated juvenile hedgehogs (eight hand-raised and ten wild) until hibernation. The possible effect on survival of differences in shy or bold behaviour (personality) exhibited by 17 juvenile individuals (seven hand-raised and ten wild) was also examined. Rehabilitated individuals and females had higher levels of faecal corticosterone metabolites compared to wild individuals and males, respectively. Rehabilitated individuals showed higher levels of saliva corticosterone than wild. The personality tests labelled 13 individuals as shy and 11 as bold. Post release survival was 57% for rehabilitated and 50% for wild individuals. Neither background nor personality affected post release survival. Home range measures were 3.54 and 4.85 ha. Mean dispersal length from the release sites was 217 ± 100 m. Conclusion The higher levels of corticosterone observed in rehabilitated compared to wild hedgehogs calls for consideration of the duration of admission to wildlife rehabilitation centres to reduce stress levels in the patients. Hand-raised juveniles appear to have the same prospects as wild, and personality does not seem to affect post release survival in hedgehogs, indicating that hand-raising of orphaned juvenile hedgehogs is a relevant contribution to the conservation of this species.

scholarly journals Variation in faecal corticosterone metabolites in an Arctic seabird, the Little Auk (Alle alle) during the nesting period

Polar Biology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Kidawa ◽  
Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas ◽  
Dariusz Jakubas ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Lech Stempniewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Little Auk ◽  
Alle Alle ◽  
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

scholarly journals Effects of bio-loggers on behaviour and corticosterone metabolites of Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) in the field and in captivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr ◽  
Matthias-Claudio A. Loretto ◽  
Josef Hemetsberger ◽  
Tanja Czerny ◽  
Johannes Gschwandegger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Captivity ◽  
Geronticus Eremita ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

scholarly journals Hibernation Patterns of the European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, at a Cornish Rescue Centre

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1418
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. South ◽  
Kelly Haynes ◽  
Angus C. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Monitoring Protocols

The European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, is frequently admitted to rescue centres in the UK. With many overwintering in captivity, there is cause to investigate hibernation patterns in order to inform and improve husbandry and monitoring protocols. Thirty-five hedgehogs were studied over two winters. Weight change during hibernation for the first winter was used to test for effects of disturbance on different aspects of hibernation, including total duration, frequency and duration of spontaneous arousals. There was no significant difference between the two winters for any of the four aspects studied. Significant positive correlations demonstrated that weight-loss increased with the duration of the hibernation period and with percent of nights spent asleep, but not with the number of arousal events. Thus, weight-loss appears more strongly associated with the proportion of time spent asleep than with the number of arousal events. This was surprising given the assumed energetic expense of repeated arousal and was potentially due to availability of food during arousals. In contrast with previous studies, larger hedgehogs lost less weight per day than did smaller hedgehogs. They also woke up more often (i.e., had more opportunities to feed), which may explain the unexpected pattern of weight-loss. Hibernatory behaviour in captivity differs from that in the wild, likely because of non-natural conditions in hutches and the immediate availability of food. This study provides a basis for further research into the monitoring and husbandry of hedgehogs such that it can be adapted for each individual according to pre-hibernation weight and behaviour during hibernation.

scholarly journals A novel multi-parametric analysis of non-invasive methods to assess animal distress during chronic pancreatitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdelrahman ◽  
Simone Kumstel ◽  
Xianbin Zhang ◽  
Marie Liebig ◽  
Edgar Heinz Uwe Wendt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pancreatitis ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Parametric Analysis ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Nesting Activity

Abstract Ethical responsibility, legal requirements and the need to improve the quality of research create a growing interest in the welfare of laboratory animals. Judging the welfare of animals requires readout parameters, which are valid and sensitive as well as specific to assess distress after different interventions. In the present study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of different non-invasive parameters (body weight change, faecal corticosterone metabolites concentration, burrowing and nesting activity) by receiver operating characteristic curves and judged the merit of a multi-parametric analysis by logistic regression. Chronic pancreatitis as well as laparotomy caused significant changes in all parameters. However, the accuracy of these parameters was different between the two animal models. In both animal models, the multi-parametric analysis relying on all the readout parameters had the highest accuracy when predicting distress. This multi-parametric analysis revealed that C57BL/6 mice during the course of chronic pancreatitis often experienced less distress than mice after laparotomy. Interestingly these data also suggest that distress does not steadily increase during chronic pancreatitis. In conclusion, combining these non-invasive methods for severity assessment represents a reliable approach to evaluate animal distress in models such as chronic pancreatitis.

scholarly journals Fish hatchering and its effects on the morphology of Prochilodus lineatus (Actinopterygii: Prochilodontidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-217
Author(s):  
S. O. Saraiva ◽  
P. S. Pompeu
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Wild Fish ◽  
Prochilodus Lineatus ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Hatchery Fish ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Natural Water Bodies

Abstract The fish stocking in captivity for later release into natural water bodies has historically been applied in Brazil, as a measure to mitigate impacts caused by dams. However, the released fish are adapted to the hatchery environment, which is totally different from the natural, which results in low post-release survival rates and ineffectiveness of stocking as a management measure. Worldwide, several studies have demonstrated the existence of large phenotypic differences between farmed and wild fish, but in Brazil, there is a great need for this kind of study. Based on this, our objective here was to verify if hatchery fish differ morphologically from its wild counterparties, at the same size class. Hence, a population of young Prochilodus lineatus raised in a fish farming station was compared with another from marginal lagoons of the Grande river. The results indicated that the fish farming resulted in morphologically different individuals of P. lineatus and a less diverse population, compared with wild fish. Measures such as environmental enrichment of hatchery tanks should be studied as a way to increase environmental heterogeneity and increase the morphological variability of the fingerlings produced.

scholarly journals Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257675
Author(s):  
Melissa Hanson ◽  
Nicholas Hollingshead ◽  
Krysten Schuler ◽  
William F. Siemer ◽  
Patrick Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
York State ◽  
State Wildlife Agencies ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Annual Reporting ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

Wildlife rehabilitation is a publicly popular practice, though not without controversy. State wildlife agencies frequently debate the ecological impact of rehabilitation. By analyzing case records, we can clarify and quantify the causes for rehabilitation, species involved, and treatment outcomes. This data would aid regulatory agencies and rehabilitators in making informed decisions, as well as gaining insight into causes of species mortality. In New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has licensed rehabilitators since 1980 and annual reporting is required. In this study, we analyzed 58,185 individual wildlife cases that were attended by New York rehabilitators between 2012 and 2014. These encompassed 30,182 (51.9%) birds, 25,447 (43.7%) mammals, 2,421 (4.2%) reptiles, and 75 (0.1%) amphibians. We identified patterns among taxonomic representation, reasons for presentation to a rehabilitation center, and animal disposition. Major causes of presentation were trauma (n = 22,156; 38.1%) and orphaning (n = 21,679; 37.3%), with habitat loss (n = 3,937; 6.8%), infectious disease (n = 1,824; 3.1%), and poisoning or toxin exposure (n = 806; 1.4%) playing lesser roles. The overall release rate for animals receiving care was 50.2% while 45.3% died or were euthanized during the rehabilitation process. A relatively small number (0.3%) were permanently non-releasable and placed in captivity; 4.1% had unknown outcomes. A comparable evaluation in 1989 revealed that wildlife submissions have increased (annual mean 12,583 vs 19,395), and are accompanied by a significant improvement in release (50.2% in the study period vs 44.4% in 1989) (χ2(1) = 90.43, p < 0.0001). In this manuscript, we aim to describe the rehabilitator community in New York State, and present the causes and outcomes for rehabilitation over a three-year period.

scholarly journals What do we know about survival of Common cranes? An elementary introduction with Euring databank

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. Bautista ◽  
Juan C. Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Great Increase ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Apparent Survival ◽  
Elapsed Time ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Species Population ◽  
Grus Grus ◽  
Common Crane

The increase of the western populations of Common cranes (Grus grus) in the last five decades highlights the need to estimate survival rates. According to Euring databank (EDB), the oldest Common crane ever known was 27 years old in year 2017. This lifespan was obtained by means of 24,900 recoveries of 2,124 ringed cranes collected between years 1936 and 2017. Nearly all cranes were ringed and observed in the last 30 years, and therefore the elapsed time was not enough to reach the maximum longevity reported for the species in captivity (43 years, Mitchell 1911). Life expectancy was five years on average after the ring was attached. Here we provide some elementary analyses to calculate the annual apparent survival rate (ϕ = 0.85) and the annual encounter probability (p = 0.45) of Common cranes, as a first step to advance in the knowledge of the species' population dynamics. The great increase of breeding and wintering crane populations in western Europe in the last decades remains largely unexplained.

scholarly journals The Effect of Transport Stress on Corticosterone Metabolites in Pheasant Droppings

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Volfova ◽  
Zuzana Machovcova ◽  
Pavel Forejtek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Iveta Bedanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
Phasianus Colchicus ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Transport Stress ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Abstract BackgroundTransport has been proven to represent a significant stressor for animals. In view of the fact that pheasants are frequently reared in captivity in hatcheries and are then transported for the purpose of their sale or release, it is essential from the viewpoint of welfare and health protection to obtain as much information as possible about their response to this stressor. The aim of this study was to assess changes in corticosterone metabolite (CM) levels related to transport in common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). MethodsSixteen birds aged 17 weeks were crated and transported for 3.5 hours (distance travelled 140 km) to the target customer. Individual droppings were collected during the 2 days prior to transport and 3 days after transport. Concentrations of faecal CMs were determined with a non-commercial EIA (enzyme-immunoassay) kit, cortisone was used as a standard and values were expressed as cortisone equivalents in ng per g of droppings. ResultsTransport represents a major stressor for animals and this was also reflected in increased CM concentrations in the droppings in our study. CM concentrations increased within 24 hours of transport (P < 0.01) as compared to pre-transport levels (533.82 ng/g vs. 228.85 ng/g) and continued to rise for another 24 hours (745.35 ng/g). Three days after transport CM concentrations fell back to baseline levels (297.97 ng/g). ConclusionsThe EIA used in this study proved to be sensitive enough to detect biologically meaningful alterations in the adrenocortical activity of pheasants exposed to procedures related to their transport.

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