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Santamaria F, Palme R, Schlagloth R, Klobetz-Rassam E, Henning J. Seasonal Variations of Faecal Cortisol Metabolites in Koalas in South East Queensland. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1622. [PMID: 34072702 PMCID: PMC8227722 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an endemic marsupial inhabiting four states of Australia. Urbanisation, declining habitat, drought and fires are threatening the survival of this flagship species. These threats may cause acute and chronic stress in koalas, which might also be associated with occurrence of infectious diseases in koala populations. Stress may induce an increase in cortisol reflected in increased faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) values. To be able to use faecal cortisol metabolites to measure stress levels in this species, our aim was to determine baseline values for males and females during breeding and non-breeding season. A total of 351 defecations were collected fortnightly, twice a day, for 12 months from koalas at a wildlife facility in South East Queensland. Samples were analysed with three different enzyme immunoassays (EIAs): a cortisol, 5α-pregnane-3β,11β,21-triol-20-one (37e) and tetrahydrocorticosterone (50c) EIA. The latter, which also reacts with tetrahydrocortisol, the main metabolite in koala faeces, was found to have the highest biological sensitivity and, therefore, is the most suitable EIA to measure stress levels in koalas. Utilising this EIA, we found significant differences (p < 0.05) in FCM values between males and females, breeding and non-breeding season, and between morning and evening samples. Values of faecal cortisol metabolites established in stress-free koalas in this study can serve as a reference for future studies in koalas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Santamaria
- Koala Research-Central Queensland and Flora, Fauna and Freshwater Research, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, North Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia;
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (R.P.); (E.K.-R.)
| | - Rolf Schlagloth
- Koala Research-Central Queensland and Flora, Fauna and Freshwater Research, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, North Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia;
| | - Edith Klobetz-Rassam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (R.P.); (E.K.-R.)
| | - Joerg Henning
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
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Jensen MA, Moseby KE, Paton DC, Fanson KV. Non-invasive monitoring of adrenocortical physiology in a threatened Australian marsupial, the western quoll ( Dasyurus geoffroii). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz069. [PMID: 31687147 PMCID: PMC6822536 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Reintroduction has become an increasingly important conservation tool in Australia, yet the effects of stress on species during reintroduction programs have received little attention. The use of enzyme immunoassays to measure faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) is a useful non-invasive technique to monitor adrenal activity but requires validation before they can be reliably used. As part of a large reintroduction project, the goals of this study were to 1) monitor FGM in 53 western quolls (Dasyurus geoffroii) following capture from the wild and transfer to a holding facility and use this stressor to biologically validate an enzyme immunoassay; 2) determine if biological factors, such as sex, age, weight or source population affect baseline FGM levels; and 3) examine individual variation in the acute adrenal response of quolls to the capture and transfer associated with reintroductions. We successfully validated an assay that targets glucocorticoid metabolites with a 5α-3β,11β-diol structure and found that sex significantly influenced both baseline and peak FGM output in western quolls, whereas age, weight and source population did not. We also observed considerable variation among individuals in the magnitude and duration of their physiological response to capture and transfer. Using the methods described here, FGM analysis may provide further information about the adrenal activity of the western quoll and improve future conservation efforts for this threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Jensen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Katherine E Moseby
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - David C Paton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Kerry V Fanson
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
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Batson WG, Gordon IJ, Fletcher DB, Portas TJ, Manning AD. The effect of pre‐release captivity on the stress physiology of a reintroduced population of wild eastern bettongs. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. G. Batson
- The Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - I. J. Gordon
- The Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- Division of Tropical Environments & Societies James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| | - D. B. Fletcher
- Environment and Planning Directorate ACT Government Canberra ACT Australia
| | - T. J. Portas
- Veterinary and Research Centre Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Canberra ACT Australia
| | - A. D. Manning
- The Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
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Narayan EJ. Evaluation of physiological stress in Australian wildlife: Embracing pioneering and current knowledge as a guide to future research directions. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 244:30-39. [PMID: 26686317 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Australia has a rich terrestrial and marine biodiversity and high species endemism. However, the oceanic continent is facing the biodiversity extinction crisis. The primary factors are anthropogenic induced environmental changes, including wildlife habitat destruction through urbanisation and predation by feral animals (e.g. red foxes and feral cats), increased severity of diseases (e.g. chytridiomycosis and chlamydia), and increased occurrence of summer heat waves and bush fires. Stress physiology is a dynamic field of science based on the studies of endocrine system functioning in animals. The primary stress regulator is the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (interrenal) axis and glucocorticoids (corticosterone and/or cortisol) provide stress index across vertebrate groups. This review paper focuses on physiological stress assessments in Australian wildlife using examples of amphibians, reptiles, birds and marsupials. I provide a thorough discussion of pioneering studies that have shaped the field of stress physiology in Australian wildlife species. The main findings point towards key aspects of stress endocrinology research, such as quantification of biologically active levels of glucocorticoids, development of species-specific GC assays and applications of stress physiology approaches in field ecology and wildlife conservation programs. Furthermore, I also discuss the importance of chronic stress assessment in wildlife populations. Finally, I provide a conceptual framework presenting key research questions in areas of wildlife stress physiology research. In conclusion, wildlife management programs can immensely benefit from stress physiology assessments to gauge the impact of human interventions on wildlife such as species translocation and feral species eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Narayan
- Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation & School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
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Fanson KV, Best EC, Bunce A, Fanson BG, Hogan LA, Keeley T, Narayan EJ, Palme R, Parrott ML, Sharp TM, Skogvold K, Tuthill L, Webster KN, Bashaw M. One size does not fit all: Monitoring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in marsupials. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 244:146-156. [PMID: 26478011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Marsupial research, conservation, and management can benefit greatly from knowledge about glucocorticoid (GC) secretion patterns because GCs influence numerous aspects of physiology and play a crucial role in regulating an animal's response to stressors. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) offer a non-invasive tool for tracking changes in GCs over time. To date, there are relatively few validated assays for marsupials compared with other taxa, and those that have been published generally test only one assay. However, different assays can yield very different signals of adrenal activity. The goal of this study was to compare the performance of five different enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for monitoring adrenocortical activity via FGM in 13 marsupial species. We monitored FGM response to two types of events: biological stressors (e.g., transport, novel environment) and pharmacological stimulation (ACTH injection). For each individual animal and assay, FGM peaks were identified using the iterative baseline approach. Performance of the EIAs for each species was evaluated by determining (1) the percent of individuals with a detectable peak 0.125-4.5days post-event, and (2) the biological sensitivity of the assay as measured by strength of the post-event response relative to baseline variability (Z-score). Assays were defined as successful if they detected a peak in at least 50% of the individuals and the mean species response had a Z⩾2. By this criterion, at least one assay was successful in 10 of the 13 species, but the best-performing assay varied among species, even those species that were closely related. Furthermore, the ability to confidently assess assay performance was influenced by the experimental protocols used. We discuss the implications of our findings for biological validation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry V Fanson
- Wildlife Reproductive Centre, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Dubbo, NSW, Australia; Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
| | - Emily C Best
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ashley Bunce
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Benjamin G Fanson
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Lindsay A Hogan
- Wildlife Biology Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia; Native Species Breeding Program (NSBP), Perth Zoo, South Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Tamara Keeley
- Wildlife Biology Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Edward J Narayan
- Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation & School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marissa L Parrott
- Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Trudy M Sharp
- Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station, Centre of Ecosystem Science, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Kim Skogvold
- Conservation Medicine Program, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia; Perth Zoo Veterinary Department, Perth Zoo, South Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Koa N Webster
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Meredith Bashaw
- Wildlife Reproductive Centre, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Dubbo, NSW, Australia; Department of Psychology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA
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Hing S, Jones KL, Rafferty C, Thompson RCA, Narayan EJ, Godfrey SS. Wildlife in the line of fire: evaluating the stress physiology of a critically endangered Australian marsupial after bushfire. AUST J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/zo16082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Australian native fauna are thought to be well adapted to fire-prone landscapes, but bushfires may still pose considerable challenges or stressors to wildlife. We investigated the impact of bushfire on the stress physiology of the woylie (brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata) a critically endangered Australian marsupial, and assessed whether fitness indices (body condition and parasite load) influenced stress physiology before and after the fire. We hypothesised that there would be a significant change in stress physiology indicators (in the form of faecal cortisol metabolites, FCM) following the fire, compared with the months previous. We trapped woylies (n = 19) at Whiteman Park Reserve in Perth, Western Australia, two days after a major bushfire and measured FCM concentration by enzyme immunoassay. Population-level comparisons of FCM were made between these samples and those collected in previous months (n = 58). While mean FCM varied by month of sample collection, it was not higher after the fire. We suggest that woylies may be able to maintain homeostasis through change (allostasis), at least in the period immediately after the fire. This is supported by our finding that FCM did not relate significantly to body condition or parasite load. Our results potentially highlight the physiological and behavioural adaptations of woylies to fire, which could be further explored in future studies.
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Pluháček J, Steck BL. Different Sex Allocations in Two Related Species: The Case of the Extant Hippopotamus. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pluháček
- Department of Ethology; Institute of Animal Science; Praha - Uhříněves Czech Republic
- Ostrava Zoo; Ostrava Czech Republic
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Parnell T, Narayan EJ, Magrath MJL, Roe S, Clark G, Nicolson V, Martin-Vegue P, Mucci A, Hero JM. Evaluating physiological stress in Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae) managed in Australian zoos. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 2:cou038. [PMID: 27293659 PMCID: PMC4732480 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cou038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 07/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid quantification using non-invasive methods provides a powerful tool for assessing the health and welfare of wildlife in zoo-based programmes. In this study, we provide baseline data on faecal-based glucocorticoid (cortisol) monitoring of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae) managed at the Melbourne Zoo in Victoria, Australia. We sampled five tigers daily for 60 days. Faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in tiger faecal extracts were quantified using enzyme immunoassays that were successfully validated using parallelism and accuracy recovery checks. Two female tigers had significantly higher mean FCM levels than the two males and another female, suggesting that females may have higher FCM levels. A significant elevation was noted in the FCM levels for one female 2 days after she was darted and anaesthetized; however, the FCM levels returned to baseline levels within 3 days after the event. Comparative analysis of FCM levels of tigers sampled at Melbourne Zoo with tigers sampled earlier at two other Australian Zoos (Dreamworld Themepark and Australia Zoo) showed that FCM levels varied between zoos. Differences in the enclosure characteristics, timing of sampling, size and composition of groupings and training procedures could all contribute to this variation. Overall, we recommend the use of non-invasive sampling for the assessment of adrenocortical activity of felids managed in zoos in Australia and internationally in order to improve the welfare of these charismatic big cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tempe Parnell
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
| | - Edward J. Narayan
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
| | - Michael J. L. Magrath
- Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, PO Box 74, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Sheila Roe
- Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, PO Box 74, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Giles Clark
- Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, Queensland 4519, Australia
| | - Vere Nicolson
- Dreamworld, Parkway Coomera, Queensland 4209, Australia
| | | | - Al Mucci
- Dreamworld, Parkway Coomera, Queensland 4209, Australia
| | - Jean-Marc Hero
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
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