scholarly journals Potential Impact of Construction Noise on Selected Zoo Animals

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob-Hoff ◽  
Kingan ◽  
Fenemore ◽  
Schmid ◽  
Cockrem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Construction Period ◽  
Sound Exposure ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Focal Animal ◽  
Zoo Animals ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

In anticipation of a major construction project in an urban New Zealand zoo, a study was initiated to assess the response to construction noise of selected animal species (elephant, giraffe, emu and alligator) previously observed to be sensitive to this kind of noise. The overall aim was to detect any signs of aversive responses to this noise to enable keepers to recognize these and take any necessary mitigating actions during the construction period. The experimental approach involved the creation of acoustic maps of each focal animal enclosure, a series of 90-min video recordings of the animals’ behavior in response to ambient noise (control) and amplified broadcast of pre-recorded continuous and intermittent construction noise. Concentration of fecal corticosterone metabolites was also measured for the emus. Key findings were that giraffes, elephants and emus appeared to show an increase in behaviors that could indicate stress or agitation including vigilance and locomotion and may prefer quieter regions of their enclosure during sound exposure. Giraffes also increased close contact with conspecifics when exposed to construction noise. While alligators did not show clear evidence of noise-related stress, our findings indicated that all focal species showed some behavioral responses to recorded construction noise.

scholarly journals Non-Invasive Monitoring of Adrenocortical Activity in Three Sympatric Desert Gerbil Species

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Álvaro Navarro-Castilla ◽  
Mario Garrido ◽  
Hadas Hawlena ◽  
Isabel Barja
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Endocrine Status ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The study of the endocrine status can be useful to understand wildlife responses to the changing environment. Here, we validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to non-invasively monitor adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in three sympatric gerbil species (Gerbillus andersoni, G. gerbillus and G. pyramidum) from the Northwestern Negev Desert’s sands (Israel). Animals included into treatment groups were injected with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate adrenocortical activity, while control groups received a saline solution. Feces were collected at different intervals and FCM were quantified by an EIA. Basal FCM levels were similar in the three species. The ACTH effect was evidenced, but the time of FCM peak concentrations appearance differed between the species (6–24 h post-injection). Furthermore, FCM peak values were observed sooner in G. andersoni females than in males (6 h and 18 h post-injection, respectively). G. andersoni and G. gerbillus males in control groups also increased FCM levels (18 h and 48 h post-injection, respectively). Despite the small sample sizes, our results confirmed the EIA suitability for analyzing FCM in these species as a reliable indicator of the adrenocortical activity. This study also revealed that close species, and individuals within a species, can respond differently to the same stressor.

scholarly journals Frequent serial fecal corticoid measures from rats reflect circadian and ovarian corticosterone rhythms

2005 ◽  
Vol 184 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Cavigelli ◽  
S L Monfort ◽  
T K Whitney ◽  
Y S Mechref ◽  
M Novotny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Temporal Acuity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Laboratory Rodents ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Single Animal ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Surge ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The circadian glucocorticoid rhythm provides important information on the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals. Frequent repeated blood sampling can limit the kinds of studies conducted on this rhythm, particularly in small laboratory rodents that have limited blood volumes and are easily stressed by handling. We developed an extraction and assay protocol to measure fecal corticosterone metabolites in repeated samples collected from undisturbed male and female adult Sprague–Dawley rats. This fecal measure provides a non-invasive method to assess changes in corticosterone within a single animal over time, with sufficient temporal acuity to quantify several characteristics of the circadian rhythm: e.g. the nadir, acrophase, and asymmetry (saw-tooth) of the rhythm. Males excreted more immunoreactive fecal corticoids than did females. Across the estrous cycle, females produced more fecal corticoids on proestrus (the day of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge) than during estrus or metestrus. These results establish a baseline from which to study environmental, psychological, and physiological disturbances of the circadian corticosterone rhythm within individual rats.

scholarly journals Comparison of experimental wound healing in quail using two types of commercial hemostatic dressings

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-152
Author(s):  
Tainá M. P. Chiquito ◽  
Margarete K. Falbo ◽  
Rafael V. Soares ◽  
Roberta A. Marcondes ◽  
Jayme A. Peres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Leukocyte Count ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Total Leukocyte Count ◽  
Expected Time ◽  
Post Procedure ◽  
Superficial Skin ◽  
Hemostatic Dressing ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The use of powdered hemostatic products and propolis-based preparations has become increasingly common to control bleeding and aid healing. This study evaluated two hemostatic dressings, one based on propolis (Alveolex®) and the other on ferric subsulfate powder (Quick Blood Stopper®), on experimental wound in quails. The experiment was conducted with 36 quails assigned to three groups: control, propolis-based hemostatic dressing and ferric subsulfate-based hemostatic dressing, on two types of wounds, superficial (skin and subcutaneous) and deep (skin, subcutaneous and muscle). Pre- (day-7) and post-procedure (days 2 and 10) examinations showed a tendency to reduce hematocrit values on day 2 and a tendency to increase fibrinogen levels and total leukocyte count on the same day. Visual assessment of wound healing indicated that birds using Quick Blood Stopper® showed signs of poor healing, while the group treated with Alveolex® had uncomplicated healing within the expected time. The groups treated with hemostatic based on ferric subsulfate showed a tendency to increase the values of fecal corticosterone metabolites on day 10, suggesting an increased level of stress in these animals. During the surgical procedure, both hemostatic products controlled bleeding, but Alveolex®was more efficient and easy to handle.

scholarly journals Effect of Ground Transportation on Adrenocortical Activity in Prepuberal Female Mice from Five Different Genetic Backgrounds

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Sonja Rumpel ◽  
Christina Scholl ◽  
Anja Göbel ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Esther Mahabir
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Background ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Research Facility ◽  
Embryo Production ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Specific experimental protocols necessitate transportation, a potentially stressful event that could confound results. We determined adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs), as a stress marker, in prepuberal (three-week old) female C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NCrl, FVB/NCrl, Crl:CD1(ICR), and BALB/cAnCrl mice. On each transport day, five female cage mates per genetic background were weaned and transported in stable groups via truck from the breeding to the research facility. Fecal pellets were collected on Days 0, 1, and 4. Mice were superovulated for embryo production to determine if repeated fecal collection impacts this procedure. The average duration of transportation over 600 km and from packing to unpacking of mice was 7.24 and 22.62 h, respectively. FCM levels increased from Day 0 to Day 1 and decreased on Day 4 in all genetic backgrounds except in FVB/NCrl, but only B6N showed significantly higher FCM levels on Day 1. Furthermore, embryo production was not affected by repeated feces collection. The results show that weaning and immediate transport of prepuberal mice from the breeding to the research facility led to temporal and genetic background-dependent increases of adrenocortical activity in four of the five genetic backgrounds investigated, which returned to baseline levels within four days.

scholarly journals Concentration of fecal corticosterone metabolites in dominant versus subordinate buffalo heifers

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 1726-1730
Author(s):  
F. Madella-Oliveira Aparecida ◽  
R. Quirino Celia ◽  
Pacheco Aline ◽  
L. D. da Costa Ricardo ◽  
T. Beltrame Renato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

scholarly journals No island-effect on glucocorticoid levels for a rodent from a near-shore archipelago

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan D. Stewart ◽  
Gabriela F. Mastromonaco ◽  
Gary Burness
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Island Effect ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Thousand Islands ◽  
Island Syndrome ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Stress Biomarker ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Island rodents are often larger and live at higher population densities than their mainland counterparts, characteristics that have been referred to as “island syndrome”. Island syndrome has been well studied, but few studies have tested for island-mainland differences in stress physiology. We evaluated island syndrome within the context of stress physiology of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) captured from 11 islands and five mainland sites in Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario, Canada. Stress physiology was evaluated by quantifying corticosterone (a stress biomarker), the primary glucocorticoid in mice, from hair and its related metabolites from fecal samples. White-footed mice captured in this near-shore archipelago did not display characteristics of island syndrome, nor differences in levels of hair corticosterone or fecal corticosterone metabolites compared with mainland mice. We suggest that island white-footed mice experience similar degrees of stress in the Thousand Islands compared with the mainland. Although we did not find evidence of island syndrome or differences in glucocorticoid levels, we identified relationships between internal (sex, body mass) and external (season) factors and our hormonal indices of stress in white-footed mice.

scholarly journals The association between continual, year-round hunting and bellowing rate of bison bulls during the rut

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald J. Sarno ◽  
Melissa M. Grigione ◽  
Alessandra Higa ◽  
Eddie Childers ◽  
Trudy Ecoffey
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Bison Bison ◽  
Trophy Hunting ◽  
Focal Animal ◽  
Selective Harvest ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact

The impact of hunting (selective harvest, trophy hunting) on the demography of mammals is well documented. However, despite continual year-round hunting of bison in some populations, little is known about how the behavior of survivors may be altered. Therefore, in this initial study, we used focal-animal observations in adjacent populations of continually hunted and protected Plains bison (Bison bison bison) in western South Dakota, to examine the potential impact of hunting on bellowing rate—an important behavior that serves to intimidate rival bulls and potentially influences mate choice by females. In addition to hunting, we investigated how the number of attendant males, number of adult females, group size, and number of days from the start of rut influenced bellowing rate. Bulls bellowed an order of magnitude more often in the protected population than in the hunted populations, whereas bellowing rate was not significantly different in the hunted populations. Hunting was significantly and negatively associated with bellowing rate, while all other predictors were found to be positively associated with bellowing rate. Furthermore, the impact of hunting on bellowing rate became more pronounced (i.e., dampened bellowing rate more strongly) as the number of attendant males increased. Changes in bellowing behavior of bulls (and possibly mate choice by cows) can alter breeding opportunities. Therefore, our data suggest the need for studies with broader-scale geographical and temporal replication to determine the extent that continual year-round hunting has on bellowing rate of bison during the rut. If reduced bellowing is associated with human hunting on a larger scale, then wildlife managers may need to adjust hunting rate and duration, timing (season), and the time lag between hunting events in order to insure that bison are able to express their full repertoire of natural mating behaviors.

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