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Newediuk L, Mastromonaco GF, Vander Wal E. Associations between glucocorticoids and habitat selection reflect daily and seasonal energy requirements. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:30. [PMID: 38649956 PMCID: PMC11036748 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00475-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoids are often associated with stressful environments, but they are also thought to drive the best strategies to improve fitness in stressful environments. Glucocorticoids improve fitness in part by regulating foraging behaviours in response to daily and seasonal energy requirements. However, many studies demonstrating relationships between foraging behaviour and glucocorticoids are experimental, and few observational studies conducted under natural conditions have tested whether changing glucocorticoid levels are related to daily and seasonal changes in energy requirements. METHODS We integrated glucocorticoids into habitat selection models to test for relationships between foraging behaviour and glucocorticoid levels in elk (Cervus canadensis) as their daily and seasonal energy requirements changed. Using integrated step selection analysis, we tested whether elevated glucocorticoid levels were related to foraging habitat selection on a daily scale and whether that relationship became stronger during lactation, one of the greatest seasonal periods of energy requirement for female mammals. RESULTS We found stronger selection of foraging habitat by female elk with elevated glucocorticoids (eß = 1.44 95% CI 1.01, 2.04). We found no difference in overall glucocorticoid levels after calving, nor a significant change in the relationship between glucocorticoids and foraging habitat selection at the time of calving. However, we found a gradual increase in the relationship between glucocorticoids and habitat selection by female elk as their calves grew over the next few months (eß = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00, 1.02), suggesting a potentially stronger physiological effect of glucocorticoids for elk with increasing energy requirements. CONCLUSIONS We suggest glucocorticoid-integrated habitat selection models demonstrate the role of glucocorticoids in regulating foraging responses to daily and seasonal energy requirements. Ultimately, this integration will help elucidate the implications of elevated glucocorticoids under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Newediuk
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada.
- Current address: Biological Sciences Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | | | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada
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Aguilar XF, Leclerc LM, Mavrot F, Roberto-Charron A, Tomaselli M, Mastromonaco G, Gunn A, Pruvot M, Rothenburger JL, Thanthrige-Don N, Jahromi EZ, Kutz S. An integrative and multi-indicator approach for wildlife health applied to an endangered caribou herd. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16524. [PMID: 37783688 PMCID: PMC10545743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessing wildlife health in remote regions requires a multi-faceted approach, which commonly involves convenient samplings and the need of identifying and targeting relevant and informative indicators. We applied a novel wildlife health framework and critically assessed the value of different indicators for understanding the health status and trends of an endangered tundra caribou population. Samples and data from the Dolphin and Union caribou herd were obtained between 2015 and 2021, from community-based surveillance programs and from captured animals. We documented and categorized indicators into health determinants (infectious diseases and trace elements), processes (cortisol, pathology), and health outcomes (pregnancy and body condition). During a recent period of steep population decline, our results indicated a relatively good body condition and pregnancy rates, and decreasing levels of stress, along with a low adult cow survival. We detected multiple factors as potential contributors to the reduced survival, including Brucella suis biovar 4, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and lower hair trace minerals. These results remark the need of targeted studies to improve detection and investigations on caribou mortalities. We also identified differences in health indicators between captured and hunter sampled caribou, highlighting the importance of accounting for sampling biases. This integrative approach that drew on multiple data sources has provided unprecedented knowledge on the health in this herd and highlights the value of documenting individual animal health to understand causes of wildlife declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Fernandez Aguilar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, NU, X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Amélie Roberto-Charron
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, NU, X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Polar Knowledge Canada, Canadian High Arctic Research Station, 1 Uvajuq Road, PO Box 2150, Cambridge Bay, NU, X0B 0C0, Canada
| | | | - Anne Gunn
- CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA) Network, 368 Roland Rad, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 1V1, Canada
| | - Mathieu Pruvot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Alberta, Canada
| | - Niroshan Thanthrige-Don
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Station H, PO Box 11300, Nepean, ON, K2H 8P9, Canada
| | - Elham Zeini Jahromi
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Hayward KM, Clemente-Carvalho RBG, Jensen EL, de Groot PVC, Branigan M, Dyck M, Tschritter C, Sun Z, Lougheed SC. Genotyping-in-thousands by sequencing (GT-seq) of non-invasive fecal and degraded samples: a new panel to enable ongoing monitoring of Canadian polar bear populations. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:1906-1918. [PMID: 35007402 PMCID: PMC9305793 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Genetic monitoring using noninvasive samples provides a complement or alternative to traditional population monitoring methods. However, next‐generation sequencing approaches to monitoring typically require high quality DNA and the use of noninvasive samples (e.g., scat) is often challenged by poor DNA quality and contamination by nontarget species. One promising solution is a highly multiplexed sequencing approach called genotyping‐in‐thousands by sequencing (GT‐seq), which can enable cost‐efficient genomics‐based monitoring for populations based on noninvasively collected samples. Here, we develop and validate a GT‐seq panel of 324 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) optimized for genotyping of polar bears based on DNA from noninvasively collected faecal samples. We demonstrate (1) successful GT‐seq genotyping of DNA from a range of sample sources, including successful genotyping (>50% loci) of 62.9% of noninvasively collected faecal samples determined to contain polar bear DNA; and (2) that we can reliably differentiate individuals, ascertain sex, assess relatedness, and resolve population structure of Canadian polar bear subpopulations based on a GT‐seq panel of 324 SNPs. Our GT‐seq data reveal spatial‐genetic patterns similar to previous polar bear studies but at lesser cost per sample and through use of noninvasively collected samples, indicating the potential of this approach for population monitoring. This GT‐seq panel provides the foundation for a noninvasive toolkit for polar bear monitoring and can contribute to community‐based programmes – a framework which may serve as a model for wildlife conservation and management for species worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Hayward
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Evelyn L Jensen
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marsha Branigan
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | - Markus Dyck
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada
| | | | - Zhengxin Sun
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Marozzi A, Cantarelli V, Gomez F, Panebianco A, Leggieri L, Gregorio P, Ponzio M, Carmanchahi P. A predictive model to diagnose pregnancy in guanacos ( Lama guanicoe) using non-invasive methods. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy status is usually not included in ecological studies because it is difficult to evaluate. The use of non-invasive methods to determine pregnancy, without physically restraining individuals, would enable pregnancy to be included in population studies. In this study, we evaluated sex steroid hormones in plasma and fecal samples from pregnant and non-pregnant females to develop a pregnancy predictive model for guanacos (Lama guanicoe (Müller, 1776)). Samples were obtained during live-shearing management (i.e., capture, shear, and release) of guanacos. Enzyme immunoassays were used to evaluate progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentrations in plasma and pregnanediol glucuronides (PdG) and conjugated estrogens (EC) in feces. Mean hormonal and fecal metabolite concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant females than in non-pregnant females. A linear relationship was found between each hormone and its fecal metabolite. Finally, hormonal data were combined with an independent source of pregnancy diagnosis such as abdominal ballottement to develop a logistic regression model to diagnose pregnancy in non-handled individuals. The use of predictive models and non-invasive methods might be suitable to incorporate pregnancy information in large-scale population studies on guanaco and other free-ranging ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Marozzi
- Grupo de Investigación de Eco-Fisiología de Fauna Silvestre (GIEFAS), INIBIOMA, CONICET, AUSMA, UNCo, Pasaje de la Paz 235, 8370 San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - V.I. Cantarelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU Córdoba, Argentina
| | - F.M. Gomez
- Universidad Nacional del Comahue (UNCo), CONICET, AUSMA, Pasaje de la Paz 235, 8370 San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - A. Panebianco
- Grupo de Investigación de Eco-Fisiología de Fauna Silvestre (GIEFAS), INIBIOMA, CONICET, AUSMA, UNCo, Pasaje de la Paz 235, 8370 San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - L.R. Leggieri
- Grupo de Investigación de Eco-Fisiología de Fauna Silvestre (GIEFAS), INIBIOMA, CONICET, AUSMA, UNCo, Pasaje de la Paz 235, 8370 San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - P. Gregorio
- Grupo de Investigación de Eco-Fisiología de Fauna Silvestre (GIEFAS), INIBIOMA, CONICET, AUSMA, UNCo, Pasaje de la Paz 235, 8370 San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - M.F. Ponzio
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Santa Rosa 1085, X5000ESU Córdoba, Argentina
| | - P.D. Carmanchahi
- Grupo de Investigación de Eco-Fisiología de Fauna Silvestre (GIEFAS), INIBIOMA, CONICET, AUSMA, UNCo, Pasaje de la Paz 235, 8370 San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
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Hanya G, Naito S, Namioka E, Ueda Y, Sato Y, Pastrana JA, He T, Yan X, Saito M, Costa RFP, Allanic M, Honda T, Kurihara Y, Yumoto T, Hayakawa T. Morphometric and Genetic Determination of Age Class and Sex for Fecal Pellets of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon). MAMMAL STUDY 2017. [DOI: 10.3106/041.042.0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Goro Hanya
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Senri Naito
- Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | | | - Yosuke Ueda
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yo Sato
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | | | - Tianmeng He
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Department of Anthropology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaochan Yan
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Department of Anthropology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miho Saito
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Morgane Allanic
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Takeaki Honda
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kurihara
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Takakazu Yumoto
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Takashi Hayakawa
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Japan Monkey Centre, Inuyama, Japan
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Flasko A, Manseau M, Mastromonaco G, Bradley M, Neufeld L, Wilson P. Fecal DNA, hormones, and pellet morphometrics as a noninvasive method to estimate age class: an application to wild populations of Central Mountain and Boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). CAN J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Determining age structure of populations is a valuable parameter in wildlife management, but is often difficult to obtain. Here, we tested a noninvasive method via fecal DNA, hormones, and pellet morphometrics to distinguish calf from adult in Central Mountain and Boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) populations. Annual surveys of fall-sampled Central Mountain caribou were done in Jasper National Park, Alberta, between 2006 and 2011 and winter-sampled Boreal caribou were surveyed in the North Interlake area, Manitoba, between 2004 and 2010. Samples were amplified at 10 microsatellite loci to identify unique individuals and capture histories were used to identify putative calves and adults. Fecal pellets were measured for length, width, depth, dry mass, and analyzed for progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone concentrations. Results showed significant differences in fecal pellet size between putative calves and adults for both sexes and populations–seasons. Progesterone concentration was significantly higher in Jasper–fall and North Interlake–winter adult females. Testosterone was significantly higher in Jasper–fall adult males. North Interlake–winter males exhibited no significant difference in hormone concentrations between age classes. When applied to the entire Jasper data set, 98% of females and 88% of males were assigned to an age class. This study illustrates the possibilities of using noninvasive methods to determine an age class in wild ungulate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Flasko
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2M6, Canada
| | - Micheline Manseau
- Office of the Chief Ecosystem Scientist, Parks Canada, 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, QC J8X 0B3, Canada; Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2M6, Canada
| | | | - Mark Bradley
- Jasper National Park of Canada, Parks Canada, P.O. Box 10, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
| | - Lalenia Neufeld
- Jasper National Park of Canada, Parks Canada, P.O. Box 10, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
| | - Paul Wilson
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada
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Non-Invasive Assessment of the Interrelationships of Diet, Pregnancy Rate, Group Composition, and Physiological and Nutritional Stress of Barren-Ground Caribou in Late Winter. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127586. [PMID: 26061003 PMCID: PMC4464525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The winter diet of barren-ground caribou may affect adult survival, timing of parturition, neonatal survival, and postpartum mass. We used microhistological analyses and hormone levels in feces to determine sex-specific late-winter diets, pregnancy rates, group composition, and endocrine-based measures of physiological and nutritional stress. Lichens, which are highly digestible but contain little protein, dominated the diet (> 68%) but were less prevalent in the diets of pregnant females as compared to non-pregnant females and males. The amount of lichens in the diets of pregnant females decreased at higher latitudes and as winter progressed. Pregnancy rates (82.1%, 95% CI = 76.0 – 88.1%) of adult cows were within the expected range for a declining herd, while pregnancy status was not associated with lichen abundance in the diet. Most groups (80%) were of mixed sex. Male: female ratios (62:100) were not skewed enough to affect the decline. Levels of hormones indicating nutritional stress were detected in areas of low habitat quality and at higher latitudes. Levels of hormones indicated that physiological stress was greatest for pregnant cows, which faced the increasing demands of gestation in late winter. These fecal-based measures of diet and stress provided contextual information for the potential mechanisms of the ongoing decline. Non-invasive techniques, such as monitoring diets, pregnancy rates, sex ratios and stress levels from fecal samples, will become increasingly important as monitoring tools as the industrial footprint continues to expand in the Arctic.
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Cain SL, Higgs MD, Roffe TJ, Monfort SL, Berger J. Using fecal progestagens and logistic regression to enhance pregnancy detection in wild ungulates: A bison case study. WILDLIFE SOC B 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Morden CJC, Weladji RB, Ropstad E, Dahl E, Holand Ø. Use of faecal pellet size to differentiate age classes in female Svalbard reindeerRangifer tarandus platyrhynchus. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.2981/10-023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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