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Fernández-Lázaro G, Latorre R, Fontanillas Pérez JC, Barja I. Reaction to Novel Objects and Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Levels in Two Species of Nocturnal Geckos. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3384. [PMID: 37958139 PMCID: PMC10649715 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many reptiles are maintained in captivity and heavily traded, although welfare measures for many species are not well established and are under-researched compared to other animals. In this study, we focused on two of these species: crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) and leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). To better interpret their behavior in captivity, the individual reaction to novel objects and the fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels were measured in an attempt to identify the potential correlation between them. Also, we explored if some characteristic of the objects (e.g., color, shape, or smell) resulted in being more attractive to some species and/or individuals. Equivalent responses to different objects were not obtained for all the geckos, the behavioral response being highly individual and context-dependent, although modulated by the species. Individuals which manipulated earlier and interacted longer with novel objects showed lower basal fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels. Differences according to the species suggested that crested geckos have significantly greater and more variable FCM levels than leopard geckos. Our results can help to understand the reaction of geckos to novelty and have the potential to serve in their welfare assessment, although more studies are needed to proper establish welfare protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Fernández-Lázaro
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales, Sociales y Matemáticas, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Latorre
- Departamento de Ingeniería Informática, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Isabel Barja
- Eco- and Ethophysiology Lab, Departamento de Biología, Unidad de Zoología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C. Darwin 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Febrer-Serra M, Lassnig N, Colomar V, Picó G, Tejada S, Sureda A, Pinya S. Oxidative stress and behavioral responses of moorish geckos (Tarentola mauritanica) submitted to the presence of an introduced potential predator (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 855:158864. [PMID: 36169021 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Stressful situations induce an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can lead to molecular damage and alteration of cell function. The introduction of new potential predators induces physiological stress in native fauna. However, behavioral responses have been reported in preys, demonstrating an induction of the defenses against alien species. Behavioral and antioxidant enzyme responses in the moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica, against the invasive predator horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) were assessed. Behavior was recorded and a tissue sample from the tail was collected after placing the gecko in a terrarium with previous absence or presence of the snake in 'Control' and 'H. hippocrepis' groups, respectively. Fifteen behavioral variables were examined, including tongue flick (TF) and locomotion patterns. Antioxidant enzyme activities -catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR)-, and the levels of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio (GSH/GSSG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured in the tissue sampled. Geckos exposed to the snake's odor showed a higher number of TF, longer amounts of time remaining motionless or moving in slow motion and they spent less time on the ground in comparison to the 'Control' group. The presence of the snake produced a significant increase in the activities of CAT, SOD and GR and a decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio in T. mauritanica individuals exposed to the snake's scent. Thus, both behavioral responses and oxidative stress biomarkers clearly showed that T. mauritanica is able to recognize H. hippocrepis as a potential predator, despite being a recently introduced snake at the Balearic Islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Febrer-Serra
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain.
| | - Nil Lassnig
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Víctor Colomar
- Consortium for the Recovery of Fauna of the Balearic Islands (COFIB), Government of the Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Gabriela Picó
- Consortium for the Recovery of Fauna of the Balearic Islands (COFIB), Government of the Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Silvia Tejada
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Biology, University of Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa, km 7.5, Ed. Guillem Colom, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, Department of Fundamental Biology and Health Sciences, University of Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa, km 7.5, Ed. Guillem Colom, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain.
| | - Antoni Sureda
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, Department of Fundamental Biology and Health Sciences, University of Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa, km 7.5, Ed. Guillem Colom, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition), University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain.
| | - Samuel Pinya
- Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain.
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Know Thine Enemy: Predator Identity Influences the Response of Western Banded Geckos (Coleonyx variegatus) to Chemosensory Cues. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/19-131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Response behaviour of native lizards and invading wall lizard to interspecific scent: implications for invasion success. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Daniell TL, Hutchinson MN, Ainsley P, Gardner MG. Recognition of reptile predator scent is innate in an endangered lizard species. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo20064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Chemical cues can alert prey to the presence of predators before the predator is within visual proximity. Recognition of a predator’s scent is therefore an important component of predator awareness. We presented predator and control scents to wild, wild-born captive, and predator-naive captive-born pygmy bluetongue lizards to determine (1) whether lizards respond to reptile chemical cues differently from controls, (2) whether captive lizards respond more strongly to a known predator than to other predatory reptiles, (3) whether captive-born lizards recognise predators innately, whether captive-born lizards have reduced predator recognition compared with wild lizards and whether time spent in captivity reduces responses to predators, and (4) whether the avoidance response to predator detection differs between naive and experienced lizards. There was no significant difference in the number of tongue flicks to predator scent among wild, wild-born and captive-born lizards, suggesting that predator detection is innate in the pygmy bluetongue lizard and time in captivity did not reduce predator recognition. The number of tongue flicks directed towards brown snake scent was significantly higher than that to the novel and water controls for all lizard origins. Lizards of all origins continued to bask in the presence of predator scents, suggesting that chemical cues alone may be insufficient to instigate an avoidance response and other cues may be required.
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