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Gese EM, Terletzky PA, Bleke CA, Stevenson ET, French SS. Changes in Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Captive Coyotes ( Canis latrans): Influence of Gender, Time, and Reproductive Status. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3596. [PMID: 38066946 PMCID: PMC11080937 DOI: 10.3390/ani13233596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is considered an energetically and physiologically demanding time in the life of an animal. Changes in physiological stress are partly reflected in changes in glucocorticoid metabolites and can be measured from fecal samples. We examined levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 24 captive coyotes (Canis latrans) to investigate responses to the demands of reproduction. Using 12 pairs of coyotes (five pairs produced pups, seven pairs did not), we analyzed 633 fecal samples covering 11 biological periods (e.g., breeding, gestation, and lactation). Levels of fGCMs showed high individual variability, with females having higher fGCM levels than males. The production of pups showed no statistical effect on fGCM levels among females or males. Among females, fGCM levels were highest during 4-6 weeks of gestation compared to other periods but were not significantly different between pregnant and nonpregnant females. Among males, the highest fGCM levels were during 1-3 weeks of gestation compared to other periods, but were not significantly different between males with a pregnant mate versus nonpregnant mate. Of females producing pups, litter size did not influence fGCM levels. Given that they were fed ample food throughout the year, we found that the demands of producing pups did not appear to statistically influence measures of fGCM concentrations in captive coyotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Gese
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Utah Field Station, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA;
| | - Patricia A. Terletzky
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA; (P.A.T.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Cole A. Bleke
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA; (P.A.T.); (C.A.B.)
| | - Erika T. Stevenson
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Utah Field Station, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA;
| | - Susannah S. French
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA;
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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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Bowland GB, Bernstein RM, Koster J, Fiorello C, Brenn-White M, Liu J, Schwartz L, Campbell A, von Stade D, Beagley J, Pomerantz J, González A, Quick M, McKinnon K, Aghaian A, Sparks C, Gross JB. Fur Color and Nutritional Status Predict Hair Cortisol Concentrations of Dogs in Nicaragua. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:565346. [PMID: 33195542 PMCID: PMC7604343 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.565346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the relationships between hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and sex, age, nutritional status (as determined by body condition scores, or BCS), and body mass (geometric mean calculated from morphometric measurements), as well as the potential influence of hair pigmentation (light, dark, or agouti/mixed) on HCC in dogs of the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua. The dogs examined in this study live in a marginal environment where disease, malnutrition, and mortality rates are high. For fur color, HCC was significantly higher in light fur than in than dark and mixed fur (p < 0.001). In addition, BCS scores were found to have a negative effect on HCC (p < 0.001). Measures of sex and body size exhibited inconclusive effects on HCC, and when compared to adult dogs, juvenile dogs did not exhibit significantly different HCC. Repeated measures of dogs over time reveal a moderate intra-class correlation, suggesting that there are unmeasured sources of individual-level heterogeneity. These findings imply a need to account for fur color in studies of HCC in dogs, and the study suggests an overlooked relationship between cortisol and body condition scores in undernourished dogs in diverse settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace B Bowland
- Anthropology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Robin M Bernstein
- Anthropology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States.,Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Jeremy Koster
- Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Human Behavior, Ecology, and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Maris Brenn-White
- University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - James Liu
- University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Laura Schwartz
- University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Devin von Stade
- University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Aghaian
- University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Corey Sparks
- Department of Demography, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Joshua B Gross
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Appleby R, Mackie J, Smith B, Bernede L, Jones D. Human–dingo interactions on Fraser Island: an analysis of serious incident reports. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/am16026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Wild predators that attack people represent a significant challenge to the management authorities charged with conserving populations whilst minimising human safety risk. Fraser Island is home to an iconic population of dingoes (Canis dingo). However, conflict stemming from negative human–dingo interactions (incidents), some resulting in serious human injury and in one case, a fatality, is an ongoing concern. In an effort to highlight important factors influencing incident dynamics, we investigated the most serious incident reports gathered by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for the period 2001–15. We found a consistent pattern of incidents peaking in March/April and also July, corresponding with dingo breeding and whelping seasons (respectively). Monthly vehicle permit numbers (a proxy for visitation) were not positively correlated with incident rates, except during the breeding season. Male dingoes, particularly subadult males, featured heavily in incidents. Despite the fatality being highly publicised and the advent of copious on-site warning messages and other management interventions, serious incidents continue to occur annually, including some involving children. This suggests that risks are either not always understood, or are otherwise being ignored. While our results demonstrate that dingoes generally pose minimal risk to humans, some risk remains, particularly where poorly supervised children are concerned.
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