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Houser DS, Champagne CD, Wasser SK, Booth RK, Romano T, Crocker DE. Influence of season, age, sex, and time of day on the endocrine profile of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 313:113889. [PMID: 34425086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding baseline hormone levels, the magnitude of intra-individual variability, and their variation as a function of life history is difficult in toothed whales (e.g. dolphins and porpoises) because of the effects of capture stress. To determine the endocrine profile of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as a function of season, time of day (TOD), age, sex, and reproductive status, blood corticosteroids, thyroid hormones, and catecholamines were repeatedly measured in a managed-care population exposed to ambient light and water temperatures of San Diego Bay. Additionally, fecal hormone metabolites were assessed for cortisol, aldosterone, and triiodothyronine. Samples were collected at two to four-week intervals over a period of two years, and multiple times within a day at monthly intervals over a year. Samples were collected through the voluntary participation of the dolphins in the blood draws and fecal collections in order to avoid the effects of handling stress. All serum hormones except aldosterone significantly varied with season and all serum hormones except total thyroxine significantly varied as a function of TOD. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites significantly correlated with circulating cortisol levels, and there was a significant seasonal effect on triiodothyronine fecal metabolites. Strong seasonal effects demonstrated complex interactions with age and sex suggesting that contextual information is critical to interpreting differences in endocrine profiles. Strong circadian patterns further suggest that sampling design is important to the interpretation of blood or fecal collections, particularly since diurnal changes in some serum hormone levels are similar to the magnitude of seasonal differences. Despite potential impacts of feeding schedules on diurnal patterns, managed care populations can provide important insights into seasonal and age-related endocrine changes in toothed whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.
| | - C D Champagne
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - S K Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - R K Booth
- Center for Conservation Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - T Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
| | - D E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA
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Martins-Bessa A, Quaresma M, Leiva B, Calado A, Arando A, Marín C, Navas FJ. Linear and non-linear regression model fitting of testicular three-dimensional growth in Miranda donkeys. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2021.1965046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martins-Bessa
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV, Animal and Veterinary Research Center, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Miguel Quaresma
- CECAV, Animal and Veterinary Research Center, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Belén Leiva
- AEPGA- Association for the Study and Protection of Donkeys, Atenor, Miranda do Douro, Portugal
| | - Ana Calado
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV, Animal and Veterinary Research Center, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ander Arando
- Genetics Department, Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, Córdoba, Spain
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carmen Marín
- Genetics Department, Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, Córdoba, Spain
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Navas
- Genetics Department, Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, Córdoba, Spain
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, Córdoba, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA), Alameda del Obispo, Córdoba, Spain
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