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Qabazard T, Al-Sayegh H. NOVEL USE OF NILE TILAPIA FISH ( OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) SKIN AS XENOGRAFT IN ZOOLOGICAL SPECIES. J Zoo Wildl Med 2024; 55:827-837. [PMID: 39255228 DOI: 10.1638/2022-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Nile tilapia fish skin (Oreochromis niloticus) has been increasingly used in human and veterinary medicine in xenografts for treatment of burn wounds. The objective of this study was to self-prepare the graft using a Brazilian patent (WO2017/035615 A1) as a guide and apply it to full-thickness wounds in zoological species (n = 4). The wounds, which were all characterized as contaminated wounds in which the entire dermal layer was missing, had all previously been surgically debrided and treated with traditional wound-healing techniques without success. This graft technique was developed in response to the poor treatment success. The graft was prepared and sutured to the affected area, leading to complete contraction and epithelialization in all cases. The patients were concurrently placed on one course of systemic antibiotics because of the severity of wound contamination. The frequency of dressing changes varied between species and no adverse effects were apparent. This method of processing Nile tilapia fish skin proves promising for use in contaminated wounds, as it is inexpensive and easy to acquire and develop, mitigates stress in wildlife patients because of a decreased frequency of dressing changes and therefore handling, and can be utilized in clinical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Qabazard
- Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources 13075 Kuwait City, Kuwait,
| | - Husain Al-Sayegh
- Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources 13075 Kuwait City, Kuwait
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Backx AG, Wu A, Tanner A, Fabian NJ. A Comparison of LED with Fluorescent Lighting on the Stress, Behavior, and Reproductive Success of Laboratory Zebra Finches ( Taeniopygia guttata). JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2024; 63:238-250. [PMID: 38684362 PMCID: PMC11193425 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-24-000009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
There are limited evidence-based husbandry recommendations for laboratory zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), including appropriate light sources. Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has been shown to improve circadian regulation and reduce stress in some laboratory animal species, such as mice and rats, when compared with cool-white fluorescent (CWF) lighting, but the effects of LED lighting on zebra finches have not been published. We compared the effects of broad-spectrum, blue-enriched (6,500 Kelvin) CWF and flicker-free LED lighting on the behavior, stress, and reproductive outcomes of indoor-housed zebra finches. Using breeding pairs housed in cubicles illuminated with either CWF or LED lighting, we compared the reproductive output as determined by clutch size, hatching rate, and hatchling survival rate. We also compared the behavior of group-housed adult males, first housed under CWF followed by LED lighting, using video recordings and an ethogram. Fecal samples were collected from these males at the end of each recording period, and basal fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels were compared. A FCM assay for adult male zebra finches was validated for efficacy and accuracy using a capture-restraint acute stress response and parallelism analysis, respectively. The breeding pairs had no significant difference in the clutch size or percent hatching rate, but percent hatchling survival improved under LED with an increased proportion achieving 100% survival. There was no significant difference in FCM between the lighting treatments. However, the activity budgets of the birds were altered, with a reduction in flighted movement and an increase in enrichment manipulation under LED. Overall, these results support the use of blue-enriched, broad-spectrum flicker-free LED as a safe alternative to CWF lighting for breeding and nonbreeding indoor-housed zebra finches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna G Backx
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - April Wu
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
| | - Alyx Tanner
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Niora J Fabian
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
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3
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Lourenço-Silva MI, Ulans A, Campbell AM, Almeida Paz ICL, Jacobs L. Social-pair judgment bias testing in slow-growing broiler chickens raised in low- or high-complexity environments. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9393. [PMID: 37296295 PMCID: PMC10256692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36275-1] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Impacts of environmental complexity on affective states in slow-growing broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) are unknown. Chickens' performance in judgment bias tests (JBT) can be limited as they are tested individually, causing fear and anxiety. The objectives were to apply a social-pair JBT to assess the effect of environmental complexity on slow-growing broiler chickens` affective states, and assess the impact of fearfulness, anxiety, and chronic stress on JBT performance. Six-hundred Hubbard Redbro broilers were housed in six low-complexity (similar to commercial) or six high-complexity (permanent and temporary enrichments) pens. Twelve chicken pairs were trained (1 pair/pen, n = 24 chickens) using a multimodal approach (visual and spatial cues), with reward and neutral cues of opposing color and location. Three ambiguous cues were tested: near-positive, middle, and near-neutral cues. Approach and pecking behavior were recorded. Eighty-three percent of chickens (20/24) were successfully trained in 13 days. Fearfulness, anxiety, and chronic stress did not impact chickens' performance. Chickens successfully discriminated between cues. Low-complexity chickens approached the middle cue faster than high-complexity chickens, indicating that they were in a more positive affective state. The environmental complexity provided in this study did not improve affective states in slow-growing broiler chickens compared to a control. A social-pair JBT resulted in excellent learning and testing outcomes in slow-growing broilers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Lourenço-Silva
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (FMVZ), São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - A Ulans
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - A M Campbell
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - I C L Almeida Paz
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (FMVZ), São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - L Jacobs
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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Tiemann I, Fijn LB, Bagaria M, Langen EMA, van der Staay FJ, Arndt SS, Leenaars C, Goerlich VC. Glucocorticoids in relation to behavior, morphology, and physiology as proxy indicators for the assessment of animal welfare. A systematic mapping review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:954607. [PMID: 36686168 PMCID: PMC9853183 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.954607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Translating theoretical concepts of animal welfare into quantitative assessment protocols is an ongoing challenge. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are frequently used as physiological measure in welfare assessment. The interpretation of levels of GCs and especially their relation to welfare, however, is not as straightforward, questioning the informative power of GCs. The aim of this systematic mapping review was therefore to provide an overview of the relevant literature to identify global patterns in studies using GCs as proxy for the assessment of welfare of vertebrate species. Following a systematic protocol and a-priory inclusion criteria, 509 studies with 517 experiments were selected for data extraction. The outcome of the experiments was categorized based on whether the intervention significantly affected levels of GCs, and whether these effects were accompanied by changes in behavior, morphology and physiology. Additional information, such as animal species, type of intervention, experimental set up and sample type used for GC determination was extracted, as well. Given the broad scope and large variation in included experiments, meta-analyses were not performed, but outcomes are presented to encourage further, in-depth analyses of the data set. The interventions did not consistently lead to changes in GCs with respect to the original authors hypothesis. Changes in GCs were not consistently paralleled by changes in additional assessment parameter on behavior, morphology and physiology. The minority of experiment quantified GCs in less invasive sample matrices compared to blood. Interventions showed a large variability, and species such as fish were underrepresented, especially in the assessment of behavior. The inconclusive effects on GCs and additional assessment parameter urges for further validation of techniques and welfare proxies. Several conceptual and technical challenges need to be met to create standardized and robust welfare assessment protocols and to determine the role of GCs herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Tiemann
- Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany,*Correspondence: Inga Tiemann ✉
| | - Lisa B. Fijn
- Division of Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marc Bagaria
- Division of Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Esther M. A. Langen
- Division of Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - F. Josef van der Staay
- Division of Farm Animal Health, Behaviour and Welfare Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Saskia S. Arndt
- Division of Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Cathalijn Leenaars
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Vivian C. Goerlich
- Division of Animals in Science and Society, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Leroy C, Brunet JL, Henry M, Alaux C. Using physiology to better support wild bee conservation. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac076. [PMID: 36632323 PMCID: PMC9825782 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that wild bees are experiencing a decline in terms of species diversity, abundance or distribution, which leads to major concerns about the sustainability of both pollination services and intrinsic biodiversity. There is therefore an urgent need to better understand the drivers of their decline, as well as design conservation strategies. In this context, the current approach consists of linking observed occurrence and distribution data of species to environmental features. While useful, a highly complementary approach would be the use of new biological metrics that can link individual bee responses to environmental alteration with population-level responses, which could communicate the actual bee sensitivity to environmental changes and act as early warning signals of bee population decline or sustainability. We discuss here through several examples how the measurement of bee physiological traits or performance can play this role not only in better assessing the impact of anthropogenic pressures on bees, but also in guiding conservation practices with the help of the documentation of species' physiological needs. Last but not least, because physiological changes generally occur well in advance of demographic changes, we argue that physiological traits can help in predicting and anticipating future population trends, which would represent a more proactive approach to conservation. In conclusion, we believe that future efforts to combine physiological, ecological and population-level knowledge will provide meaningful contributions to wild bee conservation-based research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Luc Brunet
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| | - Mickael Henry
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
| | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, 84 914 Avignon, France
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Iyasere OS, Durosaro SO, Oyeniran VJ, Daramola JO. Is an increase of glucocorticoid concentrations related to the degree of arousal or valence experienced by an animal to a stimulus? Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 81:106752. [PMID: 35868218 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Animal welfare is the quality of life as perceived by the animal itself. It is also the state of an animal in its attempt to cope with its environment. Animal welfare has high ethics and economic importance. Thus the need to develop parameters for assessing animal welfare. An acute increase in glucocorticoid (GC) concentration is necessary for adaptation to a stressful situation. Glucocorticoids also play a significant role in metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Glucocorticoid enhances effective learning through the hippocampus and other normal body functions. That is why we remember events (either positive or negative) associated with strong emotions. Long-term secretion of GCs has catabolic effects. Thus, affecting animal health. Measuring GC is one of the ways of assessing animal welfare. But, high GC concentration does not only indicate pain or suffering. We report that stress and emotion trigger similar physiological responses. So, measuring GC levels cannot differentiate between positive and negative states. We conclude that GC shows circadian rhythms and episodic spikes in some species. Values from a single sample point are not reliable to make conclusions about a condition. Training animals for blood collection may reduce stress. Thus not causing bias in the GC concentration measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- O S Iyasere
- Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.
| | - S O Durosaro
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - V J Oyeniran
- Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - J O Daramola
- Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
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Scheun J, Campbell R, Ganswindt A, McIntyre T. Hot and bothered: alterations in faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations of the sungazer lizard, Smaug giganteus, in response to an increase in environmental temperature. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1980103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Scheun
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - R Campbell
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - A Ganswindt
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - T McIntyre
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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The Effects of Sensory Enrichment After a Laboratory Stressor on Human Skin Barrier Recovery in a Randomized Trial. Psychosom Med 2021; 82:877-886. [PMID: 32881761 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Environmental enrichment (EE) can reduce stress, alter immunity, and speed wound healing in animals. However, it is not known whether these effects translate to humans. This study aimed to investigate whether sensory EE could improve wound healing after a stressor in humans. METHODS A total of 105 participants underwent a tape-stripping procedure and were then stressed using a laboratory stress paradigm. After this, they were randomized to interact for 30 minutes with one of two possible sensory EE interventions (music as auditory enrichment or a Paro robot as multisensory enrichment) or to a control condition. Skin barrier recovery was measured using transepidermal water loss at baseline, after the stressor, and after the intervention. Stress was measured using self-report, heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary stress-related biological measures. Enjoyment during the intervention was measured by self-report as a possible mediator. RESULTS The Paro condition had significantly improved skin barrier recovery (mean [M] = 44%, standard error [SE] = 1.92) compared with the control condition (M = 37% SE = 2.01, F(2,88) = 3.25, p = .043), both with and without controlling for covariates. The music condition did not significantly differ from the other conditions (M = 42%, SE = 1.95, p values > .05). Both objective and subjective stress measures did not significantly differ between conditions. Mediational analysis showed that enjoyment levels during the intervention period significantly mediated the relationship between condition and skin barrier recovery (z = 2.00, p = .046). CONCLUSIONS Paro, or other companion robots, may be an effective form of enrichment to improve skin barrier recovery in humans after a laboratory stressor, and this effect may be due to enjoyment. Further research with patient groups is required to investigate whether Paro can help heal clinical wounds. TRIAL REGISTRATION ACTRN12618000953235, registered at https://anzctr.org.au.
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Voit M, Baumgartner K, von Fersen L, Merle R, Reese L, Wiegard M, Will H, Tallo-Parra O, Carbajal A, Lopez-Bejar M, Thöne-Reineke C. Comparison of Two Different Feather Sampling Methods to Measure Corticosterone in Wild Greater Flamingos ( Phoenicopterus roseus) and Wild Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102796. [PMID: 34679819 PMCID: PMC8532614 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The common standard sampling method to determine corticosterone in feathers (CORTf) is to pluck them from the bird’s skin. This procedure is considered to be painful, and the animals have to be caught and fixated firmly. Therefore, an animal experiment approval is required according to European and German legislation. In this study, we compared two methods: plucking vs. cutting feathers. The aim was to confirm the validation of an alternative less-invasive sampling technique. The specimens of this project were wild adult Mallards (Germany) and wild 1st-calender-year juvenile Greater Flamingos (Spain). In summary, there were no significant differences between the methods in terms of corticosterone results for both species. Additionally, no differences were found in CORTf between females and males of both species. In conclusion, these findings underline the suitability of cutting feathers as a sampling method for the determination of CORTf levels. Abstract This research project had the aim to validate the possible alternative and less-painful sampling method of cutting feathers close to the skin instead of plucking them for subsequent feather corticosterone analysis, confirming recently-published results for other species in captivity. Analyzing CORTf is often used in animal welfare studies in combination with behavioral monitoring. The background of this idea was to act in the sense of animal welfare and reduce the burden of animal studies according to the 3-R-Principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) by refining procedures. To confirm the hypothesis that the sampling method itself has no influence on CORTf levels measured, plucked and cut samples of the respective bird were collected. Birds of two wild species were used: the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). The CORTf was measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The determined values were inspected for their mean values, standard deviation (SD), and average differences. Afterwards, the CORTf levels of both species were compared, according to the sampling method, with the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). In the Bland-Altman (BA) plot the differences of the methods were displayed against the mean values. Additionally, sex, as a possible factor influencing CORTf, was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The values of CCC showed poor agreement in the comparability of the two methods, whereas the concordance of the BA plot was decent. The average differences between the methods were marginal for both species (Mallards: −0.16 pg/mm, Flamingos −0.13 pg/mm). In summary, all anomalies or differences between the methods were negligible. Therefore, the alternative sampling method seems to be as suitable as the common standard method. No significant difference was found between females and males. Nevertheless, our results suggest that CORTf should not be interpreted in just considering the values themselves, but the results they should be analyzed in the context of a wider set of parameters. Hence, further studies are encouraged to create a larger data pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marielu Voit
- Institute for Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.W.); (C.T.-R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katrin Baumgartner
- Zoo Nuremberg, Am Tiergarten 30, 90480 Nuremberg, Germany; (K.B.); (L.v.F.); (H.W.)
| | - Lorenzo von Fersen
- Zoo Nuremberg, Am Tiergarten 30, 90480 Nuremberg, Germany; (K.B.); (L.v.F.); (H.W.)
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Lukas Reese
- Zoologischer Stadtgarten Karlsruhe, Ettlinger Straße 6, 76137 Karlsruhe, Germany;
| | - Mechthild Wiegard
- Institute for Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.W.); (C.T.-R.)
| | - Hermann Will
- Zoo Nuremberg, Am Tiergarten 30, 90480 Nuremberg, Germany; (K.B.); (L.v.F.); (H.W.)
| | - Oriol Tallo-Parra
- Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (O.T.-P.); (A.C.); (M.L.-B.)
| | - Annaïs Carbajal
- Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (O.T.-P.); (A.C.); (M.L.-B.)
| | - Manel Lopez-Bejar
- Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (O.T.-P.); (A.C.); (M.L.-B.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Institute for Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.W.); (C.T.-R.)
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Häffelin KE, Kaufmann F, Lindenwald R, Döhring S, Spindler B, Preisinger R, Rautenschlein S, Kemper N, Andersson R. Corticosterone in feathers: Inter- and intraindividual variation in pullets and the importance of the feather type. Vet Anim Sci 2020; 11:100155. [PMID: 33732944 PMCID: PMC7943748 DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2020.100155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Measuring corticosterone concentrations in feathers of poultry may be suitable to determine birds' exposure to stress. It is thinkable, that in laying hens such information could be helpful as an animal welfare indicator to evaluate adverse husbandry conditions and to predict the risk of developing behavioral disorders, such as feather pecking and cannibalism. Yet, there are some fundamental issues which remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of the current pilot study was to examine the inter- and intraindividual variation of pullets at the end of the rearing period, when most of the feathers are fully grown and animals are reaching sexual maturity. Flight feathers from both wings (n = 4), the tail (n = 2 – 3), and body feathers (n = 1 pool of 3 – 5 feathers) were taken from pullets (n = 10), genetics Lohmann Brown, at an age of 19 weeks who were reared in the same flock (N = 728). Corticosterone analysis was performed applying a validated protocol for laying hens. Results indicate not only high intraindividual, but also high interindividual variation. Mean over all samples was 75.2 pg/mg (± 38.58 pg/mg, n = 76), showing higher intraindividual variation (between feather types; SD: 23.75 pg/mg – 49.38 pg/mg; n = 10 pullets) than interindividual variation (within feather types; SD: 11.91 pg/mg – 49.55 pg/mg; n = 6 feather types). The variation between different feather types within one bird was higher than the variation within one feather type between different birds, indicating that birds a) may respond differently when exposed to stressors and b) corticosterone measurements should be done with the same feather type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Elisabeth Häffelin
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Falko Kaufmann
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Rebecca Lindenwald
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanie Döhring
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Birgit Spindler
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Silke Rautenschlein
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Kemper
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Robby Andersson
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
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Yan C, Hartcher K, Liu W, Xiao J, Xiang H, Wang J, Liu H, Zhang H, Liu J, Chen S, Zhao X. Adaptive response to a future life challenge: consequences of early-life environmental complexity in dual-purpose chicks. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5941772. [PMID: 33111138 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditions in early life play profound and long-lasting effects on the welfare and adaptability to stress of chickens. This study aimed to explore the hypothesis that the provision of environmental complexity in early life improves birds' adaptive plasticity and ability to cope with a challenge later in life. It also tried to investigate the effect of the gut-brain axis by measuring behavior, stress hormone, gene expression, and gut microbiota. One-day-old chicks were split into 3 groups: (1) a barren environment (without enrichment items) group (BG, n = 40), (2) a litter materials group (LG, n = 40), and (3) a perches with litter materials group (PLG, n = 40). Then, enrichment items were removed and simulated as an environmental challenge at 31 to 53 d of age. Birds were subjected to a predator test at 42 d of age. In the environmental challenge, when compared with LG, PLG birds were characterized by decreased fearfulness, lower plasma corticosterone, improved gut microbial functions, lower relative mRNA expression of GR, and elevated mRNA expressions of stress-related genes CRH, BDNF, and NR2A in the hypothalamus (all P < 0.05). Unexpectedly, the opposite was true for the LG birds when compared with the BG (P < 0.05). Decreased plasma corticosterone and fearfulness were accompanied by altered hypothalamic gene mRNA expressions of BDNF, NR2A, GR, and CRH through the HPA axis in response to altered gut microbial compositions and functions. The findings suggest that gut microbiota may integrate fearfulness, plasma corticosterone, and gene expression in the hypothalamus to provide an insight into the gut-brain axis in chicks. In conclusion, having access to both perches and litter materials in early life allowed birds to cope better with a future challenge. Birds in perches and litter materials environment may have optimal development and adaptive plasticity through the gut-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China
| | - Kate Hartcher
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Wen Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinlong Xiao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China
| | - Hai Xiang
- Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Jikun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, China
| | - Hao Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Xingbo Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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12
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Häffelin KE, Lindenwald R, Kaufmann F, Döhring S, Spindler B, Preisinger R, Rautenschlein S, Kemper N, Andersson R. Corticosterone in feathers of laying hens: an assay validation for evidence-based assessment of animal welfare. Poult Sci 2020; 99:4685-4694. [PMID: 32988503 PMCID: PMC7598325 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.06.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies indicate that the evaluation of animal welfare in birds may be carried out with the measurement of the stress-related hormone corticosterone in feathers. However a standardized procedure for corticosterone measurements in feathers is lacking, a validation needs to be carried out for each new species before implementation. The aim of the present study was to establish a valid method to measure corticosterone concentrations in feathers of laying hens in a precise and repeatable manner using an established and commercially available ELISA. Validation was performed with feather pools of tail and interscapular feathers of commercial Lohmann Brown laying hens. Assessment groups, consisting of 5 replicates, were created. All replicates of an assessment group were processed at the same time. Each replicate was run in 4 repetitions by ELISA. Intra-assay and interassay CV was 7.5 and 6.4%, respectively. The serial dilution showed linearity and parallelism. Examining the hormone extraction efficiency by using different methanol volumes resulted in no statistical differences (P > 0.05). Pulverized feathers showed higher corticosterone values than minced feathers (P > 0.05). Differences were shown between 2 feather types (tail vs. interscapular feathers; P < 0.05), as well as between vane and rachis (P < 0.05). Performance of a freeze-thaw cycle led to a decrease of corticosterone concentrations in the samples. A possible effect of UV-A radiation on the stability of corticosterone in the feathers was not found (P > 0.05). With the present study, a valid protocol, feasible for analyzing feather pools of laying hens, was developed. It may provide fundamentals for further investigations on corticosterone in feathers as a noninvasive indicator to evaluate aspects of animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Häffelin
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany.
| | - R Lindenwald
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - F Kaufmann
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - S Döhring
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - B Spindler
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - S Rautenschlein
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - N Kemper
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - R Andersson
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany
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13
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Are FDA-Approved Sunscreen Components Effective in Preventing Solar UV-Induced Skin Cancer? Cells 2020; 9:cells9071674. [PMID: 32664608 PMCID: PMC7407267 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Solar ultraviolet (SUV) exposure is a major risk factor in the etiology of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). People commonly use sunscreens to prevent SUV-induced skin damage and cancer. Nonetheless, the prevalence of cSCC continues to increase every year, suggesting that commercially available sunscreens might not be used appropriately or are not completely effective. In the current study, a solar simulated light (SSL)-induced cSCC mouse model was used to investigate the efficacy of eight commonly used FDA-approved sunscreen components against skin carcinogenesis. First, we tested FDA-approved sunscreen components for their ability to block UVA or UVB irradiation by using VITRO-SKIN (a model that mimics human skin properties), and then the efficacy of FDA-approved sunscreen components was investigated in an SSL-induced cSCC mouse model. Our results identified which FDA-approved sunscreen components or combinations are effective in preventing cSCC development. Not surprisingly, the results indicated that sunscreen combinations that block both UVA and UVB significantly suppressed the formation of cutaneous papillomas and cSCC development and decreased the activation of oncoproteins and the expression of COX-2, keratin 17, and EGFR in SSL-exposed SKH-1 (Crl:SKH1-Hrhr) hairless mouse skin. Notably, several sunscreen components that were individually purported to block both UVA and UVB were ineffective alone. At least one component had toxic effects that led to a high mortality rate in mice exposed to SSL. Our findings provide new insights into the development of the best sunscreen to prevent chronic SUV-induced cSCC development.
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14
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Reese L, Baumgartner K, von Fersen L, Merle R, Ladwig-Wiegard M, Will H, Haase G, Tallo-Parra O, Carbajal A, Lopez-Bejar M, Thöne-Reineke C. Feather Corticosterone Measurements of Greater Flamingos Living under Different Forms of Flight Restraint. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040605. [PMID: 32244837 PMCID: PMC7222806 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Deflighting zoo birds is a practice that receives increasing criticism due to its presumed incompatibility with animal welfare. To our knowledge, this is the first approach to address this problem in a scientific way. To do this, we compared feather corticosterone (CORTf) from Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus, n = 151) of different flight status (i.e., pinioned, feather clipped, airworthy) from twelve different zoological institutions. To complement the hormone measurements, behavioral observations (scan samplings) were conducted prior to feather sampling within the presumed time frame of feather growth. We hypothesized that CORTf of the deflighted flamingos would differ from CORTf of their airworthy conspecifics. No significant difference in CORTf was found between the three groups, and our hypothesis was rejected. However, the impact of the institution itself (i.e., the housing conditions) proved to be the most dominant variable (variance between the institutions = 53.82%). Due to high variability, the behavioral observations were evaluated descriptively but did not give rise to doubt the findings in CORTf. Therefore, we assume that the method of flight restraint of Greater Flamingos does not have a measurable effect on CORTf. We consider this model for evaluating animal welfare of zoo birds a useful tool and provide ideas for further adjustments for consecutive studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Reese
- Animal Behaviour and Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Animal Welfare, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, D-14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.L.-W.); (G.H.); (C.T.-R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katrin Baumgartner
- Tiergarten Nürnberg, Am Tiergarten 30, D-90480 Nuremberg, Germany; (K.B.); (L.v.F.); (H.W.)
| | - Lorenzo von Fersen
- Tiergarten Nürnberg, Am Tiergarten 30, D-90480 Nuremberg, Germany; (K.B.); (L.v.F.); (H.W.)
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, D-14163 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Mechthild Ladwig-Wiegard
- Animal Behaviour and Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Animal Welfare, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, D-14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.L.-W.); (G.H.); (C.T.-R.)
| | - Hermann Will
- Tiergarten Nürnberg, Am Tiergarten 30, D-90480 Nuremberg, Germany; (K.B.); (L.v.F.); (H.W.)
| | - Gudrun Haase
- Animal Behaviour and Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Animal Welfare, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, D-14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.L.-W.); (G.H.); (C.T.-R.)
| | - Oriol Tallo-Parra
- Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (O.T.-P.); (A.C.); (M.L.-B.)
| | - Annaïs Carbajal
- Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (O.T.-P.); (A.C.); (M.L.-B.)
| | - Manel Lopez-Bejar
- Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (O.T.-P.); (A.C.); (M.L.-B.)
- College of Veterinary medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Animal Behaviour and Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Animal Welfare, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, D-14163 Berlin, Germany; (M.L.-W.); (G.H.); (C.T.-R.)
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15
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Zemanova MA. Towards more compassionate wildlife research through the 3Rs principles: moving from invasive to non-invasive methods. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A. Zemanova
- M. A. Zemanova (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5002-3388) ✉ , Dept of Philosophy, Univ. of Basel, Steinengraben 5, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
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16
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Assessment of Cortisol and DHEA Concentrations in Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus) Feathers to Evaluate its Allostatic Load. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2019-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The use of a non-invasive approach to collect biological samples from natural populations represents a great means of gathering information while avoiding handling animals. Even if corticosterone is the main glucocorticoid investigated in birds, there has been observed a proportional direct link between corticosterone and cortisol concentrations. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can be produced by the adrenal cortex and should have prominent antiglucocorticoid properties also in birds. The aim of this study was to verify if there is any difference in the cortisol and DHEA feather concentrations between clinically normal and physiologically compromised Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) through the non-invasive approach of collecting moulted feathers without having to pluck them from the bird. The study was carried out using 8 physiologically compromised (PC) Griffons and 9 clinically normal Griffons considered as the control (CTRL) group that were necropsied or from the wildlife rehabilitation centre. Primary and secondary covert feathers were either collected directly from the birds’ cage floors, or, in the case of dead Griffons, they were plucked off the animals. The results, obtained by RIA, revealed that both cortisol (P<0.01) and DHEA (P<0.05) feather concentrations were higher in the PC than in the CTRL group. No difference was observed by comparing the cortisol/DHEA ratio between the two evaluated groups (P=0.15). Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed no correlation between feather hormone concentrations in the PC group (r=0.01, P=0.96) while a positive correlation in the CTRL group (r=0.65, P=0.006) was observed. In conclusion, our study reveals that moulted feathers can be a non-invasive and an interesting tool to evaluate the allostatic load of wild birds and they allowed better understanding the relationship between hormones of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the physiological status of the birds.
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Weigand NM, Wagner RB, Tonra CM, Popescu VD. Proximity to highways has limited influence on space use and physiology of terrestrial testudines. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1315-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Beaugeard E, Brischoux F, Henry P, Parenteau C, Trouvé C, Angelier F. Does urbanization cause stress in wild birds during development? Insights from feather corticosterone levels in juvenile house sparrows ( Passer domesticus). Ecol Evol 2019; 9:640-652. [PMID: 30680144 PMCID: PMC6342122 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban landscapes are associated with abiotic and biotic environmental changes that may result in potential stressors for wild vertebrates. Urban exploiters have physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations to live in cities. However, there is increasing evidence that urban exploiters themselves can suffer from urban conditions, especially during specific life-history stages. We looked for a link between the degree of urbanization and the level of developmental stress in an urban exploiter (the house sparrow, Passer domesticus), which has recently been declining in multiple European cities (e.g., London, UK). Specifically, we conducted a large-scale study and sampled juvenile sparrows in 11 urban and rural sites to evaluate their feather corticosterone (CORT) levels. We found that juvenile feather CORT levels were positively correlated with the degree of urbanization, supporting the idea that developing house sparrows may suffer from urban environmental conditions. However, we did not find any correlation between juvenile feather CORT levels and body size, mass, or body condition. This suggests either that the growth and condition of urban sparrows are not impacted by elevated developmental CORT levels, or that urban sparrows may compensate for developmental constraints once they have left the nest. Although feather CORT levels were not correlated with baseline CORT levels, we found that feather CORT levels were slightly and positively correlated with the CORT stress response in juveniles. This suggests that urban developmental conditions may potentially have long-lasting effects on stress physiology and stress sensitivity in this urban exploiter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Beaugeard
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Pierre‐Yves Henry
- Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d’Oiseaux (CRBPO)CESCO UMR 7204 Sorbonne Universités‐MNHN‐CNRS‐UPMCParisFrance
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Colette Trouvé
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)UMR 7372 CNRS‐Université de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
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19
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Glucs ZE, Smith DR, Tubbs CW, Jones Scherbinski J, Welch A, Burnett J, Clark M, Eng C, Finkelstein ME. Glucocorticoid measurement in plasma, urates, and feathers from California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) in response to a human-induced stressor. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205565. [PMID: 30352070 PMCID: PMC6198957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrates respond to stressful stimuli with the secretion of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, such as corticosterone (CORT), and measurements of these hormones in wild species can provide insight into physiological responses to environmental and human-induced stressors. California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are a critically endangered and intensively managed avian species for which information on GC response to stress is lacking. Here we evaluated a commercially available I125 double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for measurement of CORT and GC metabolites (GCM) in California condor plasma, urate, and feather samples. The precision and accuracy of the RIA assay outperformed the ELISA for CORT and GCM measurements, and CORT and GCM values were not comparable between the two assays for any sample type. RIA measurements of total CORT in condor plasma collected from 41 condors within 15 minutes of a handling stressor were highly variable (median = 70 ng/mL, range = 1-189 ng/mL) and significantly different between wild and captive condors (p = 0.02, two-tailed t-test, n = 10 wild and 11 captive). Urate GCM levels (median = 620 ng/g dry wt., range = 0.74-7200 ng/g dry wt., n = 216) significantly increased within 2 hr of the acute handling stressor (p = 0.032, n = 11 condors, one-tailed paired t-test), while feather section CORT concentrations (median = 18 pg/mm, range = 6.3-68 ng/g, n = 37) also varied widely within and between feathers. Comparison of multiple regression linear models shows condor age as a significant predictors of plasma CORT levels, while age, sex, and plasma CORT levels predicted GCM levels in urates collected within 30 min of the start of handling. Our findings highlight the need for validation when selecting an immunoassay for use with a new species, and suggest that non-invasively collected urates and feathers hold promise for assessing condor responses to acute or chronic environmental and human-induced stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeka E. Glucs
- Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | - Christopher W. Tubbs
- San Diego Zoo Global, Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Alacia Welch
- National Park Service, Pinnacles National Park, Paicines, CA, United States of America
| | - Joseph Burnett
- Ventana Wildlife Society, Monterey, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael Clark
- Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Curtis Eng
- Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Myra E. Finkelstein
- Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
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20
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Assessment of Commercially Available Immunoassays to Measure Glucocorticoid Metabolites in African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus Erithacus) Droppings: A Ready Tool for Non-Invasive Monitoring of Stress. Animals (Basel) 2018; 8:ani8070105. [PMID: 29958413 PMCID: PMC6071241 DOI: 10.3390/ani8070105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The African Grey Parrot is a very popular bird commonly found in zoological collections. However, captivity can prevent it from meeting its natural needs and so become an ongoing stressor, leading sometimes to clinical and/or behavioral disorders. Non-invasive forms of stress assessment are of definite interest for monitoring welfare in captive bird populations. One notable stress outcome is the excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites (from the stress hormone corticosterone) in droppings. The aim of this study was to carefully assess methods of glucocorticoid metabolites extraction and measurement in droppings from African Grey Parrots. Several extraction and enzyme immunoassays procedures were tested, based on the evaluation of analytical quality parameters and biological relevance. The best procedure was found to be a combination of a 60% methanol extraction with the use of a commercial corticosterone enzyme immunoassay. To determine whether this method was suitable for assessing different stress levels, a significant correlation with another reliable stress marker in birds, the Heterophil: Lymphocyte Ratio, was evidenced. This method can thus be used to evaluate stress in African Gray Parrots in a non-invasive way and help to monitor their welfare in zoo populations for instance. Abstract Despite being undomesticated, African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) are commonly found in captivity, in zoos or as pets. Captivity can be an ongoing stressor. Non-invasive glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) measurements from bird droppings are of interest for assessing stress but require careful evaluation in each newly studied species. This study describes the assessment of such methods for Psittacus erithacus to provide tools for evaluating stress and monitoring welfare. We evaluated 12 method combinations of GCM extraction and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) from a pool of African Grey Parrot droppings, through the validation of several analytical parameters. Then, Heterophil: Lymphocyte Ratios (HLR), another reliable stress marker, were determined and correlated to individual dropping GCM concentrations for 29 birds to determine whether the method is biologically relevant. We found that the best procedure to measure GCM in African Grey Parrot droppings is a combination of 60% methanol extraction measured using a Corticosterone EIA kit (Cayman Chemical Company) from fresh or dry droppings. The establishment of a significant correlation (Pearson coefficient correlation = 0.48; p = 0.0082) between HLR and GCM in the studied population confirmed the method biological relevance. This method can thus be applied to assess stress in Psittacus erithacus and support welfare monitoring in zoo populations.
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21
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Johns DW, Marchant TA, Fairhurst GD, Speakman JR, Clark RG. Biomarker of burden: Feather corticosterone reflects energetic expenditure and allostatic overload in captive waterfowl. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David W. Johns
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada
| | | | - Graham D. Fairhurst
- Department of Veterinary PathologyUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada
| | - John R. Speakman
- Institute of Biochemical and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Robert G. Clark
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada
- Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research CentreEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaSaskatoonCanada
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22
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Harris CM, Madliger CL, Love OP. An evaluation of feather corticosterone as a biomarker of fitness and an ecologically relevant stressor during breeding in the wild. Oecologia 2017; 183:987-996. [PMID: 28214946 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3836-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Feather corticosterone (CORT) levels are increasingly employed as biomarkers of environmental stress. However, it is unclear if feather CORT levels reflect stress and/or workload in the wild. We investigated whether feather CORT represents a biomarker of environmental stress and reproductive effort in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Specifically, we examined whether individual state and investment during reproduction could predict feather CORT levels in subsequently moulted feathers and whether those levels could predict future survival and reproductive success. Through a manipulation of flight cost during breeding, we also investigated whether an increase in stress level would be reflected in subsequently grown feathers, and whether those levels could predict future success. We found that CORT levels of feathers grown during moult did not (1) reflect past breeding experience (n = 29), (2) predict reproductive output (n = 18), or (3) respond to a manipulation of flight effort during reproduction (10 experimental, 14 control females). While higher feather CORT levels predicted higher return rate (a proxy for survival), they did so only in the manipulated group (n = 36), and this relationship was opposite to expected. Overall, our results add to the mixed literature reporting that feather CORT levels can be positively, negatively, or not related to proxies of within-season and longer-term fitness (i.e., carryover effects). In addition, our results indicate that CORT levels or disturbances experienced during one time (e.g., breeding) may not carry over to subsequent stages (e.g., moult). We, therefore, petition for directed research investigating whether feather CORT represents exposure to chronic stress in feathers grown during moult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
| | - Christine L Madliger
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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23
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Berk SA, McGettrick JR, Hansen WK, Breuner CW. Methodological considerations for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in feathers. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 4:cow020. [PMID: 27335650 PMCID: PMC4913509 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, researchers have begun to use corticosteroid metabolites in feathers (fCORT) as a metric of stress physiology in birds. However, there remain substantial questions about how to measure fCORT most accurately. Notably, small samples contain artificially high amounts of fCORT per millimetre of feather (the small sample artefact). Furthermore, it appears that fCORT is correlated with circulating plasma corticosterone only when levels are artificially elevated by the use of corticosterone implants. Here, we used several approaches to address current methodological issues with the measurement of fCORT. First, we verified that the small sample artefact exists across species and feather types. Second, we attempted to correct for this effect by increasing the amount of methanol relative to the amount of feather during extraction. We consistently detected more fCORT per millimetre or per milligram of feather in small samples than in large samples even when we adjusted methanol:feather concentrations. We also used high-performance liquid chromatography to identify hormone metabolites present in feathers and measured the reactivity of these metabolites against the most commonly used antibody for measuring fCORT. We verified that our antibody is mainly identifying corticosterone (CORT) in feathers, but other metabolites have significant cross-reactivity. Lastly, we measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in house sparrows and correlated these measurements with corticosteroid metabolites deposited in concurrently grown feathers; we found no correlation between faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and fCORT. We suggest that researchers should be cautious in their interpretation of fCORT in wild birds and should seek alternative validation methods to examine species-specific relationships between environmental challenges and fCORT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Berk
- Organismal Biology and Ecology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Julie R. McGettrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Warren K. Hansen
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Creagh W. Breuner
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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Coelho CM, de Azevedo CS, Guimarães MADBV, Young RJ. Environmental Enrichment Effect on Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites and Captive Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) Behavior. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2016; 19:353-62. [PMID: 27057585 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2016.1161512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Environmental enrichment is a technique that may reduce the stress of nonhuman animals in captivity. Stress may interfere with normal behavioral expression and affect cognitive decision making. Noninvasive hormonal studies can provide important information about the stress statuses of animals. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different environmental enrichment treatments in the diminution of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (stress indicators) of three captive maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Correlations of the fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels with expressed behaviors were also determined. Results showed that environmental enrichment reduced fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels. Furthermore, interspecific and foraging enrichment items were most effective in reducing stress in two of the three wolves. No definite pattern was found between behavioral and physiological responses to stress. In conclusion, these behavioral and physiological data showed that maned wolves responded positively from an animal well being perspective to the enrichment items presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robert John Young
- d School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford Manchester , Salford , United Kingdom
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25
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Harms NJ, Legagneux P, Gilchrist HG, Bêty J, Love OP, Forbes MR, Bortolotti GR, Soos C. Feather corticosterone reveals effect of moulting conditions in the autumn on subsequent reproductive output and survival in an Arctic migratory bird. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20142085. [PMID: 25540279 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.2085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For birds, unpredictable environments during the energetically stressful times of moulting and breeding are expected to have negative fitness effects. Detecting those effects however, might be difficult if individuals modulate their physiology and/or behaviours in ways to minimize short-term fitness costs. Corticosterone in feathers (CORTf) is thought to provide information on total baseline and stress-induced CORT levels at moulting and is an integrated measure of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity during the time feathers are grown. We predicted that CORTf levels in northern common eider females would relate to subsequent body condition, reproductive success and survival, in a population of eiders nesting in the eastern Canadian Arctic during a capricious period marked by annual avian cholera outbreaks. We collected CORTf data from feathers grown during previous moult in autumn and data on phenology of subsequent reproduction and survival for 242 eider females over 5 years. Using path analyses, we detected a direct relationship between CORTf and arrival date and body condition the following year. CORTf also had negative indirect relationships with both eider reproductive success and survival of eiders during an avian cholera outbreak. This indirect effect was dramatic with a reduction of approximately 30% in subsequent survival of eiders during an avian cholera outbreak when mean CORTf increased by 1 standard deviation. This study highlights the importance of events or processes occurring during moult on subsequent expression of life-history traits and relation to individual fitness, and shows that information from non-destructive sampling of individuals can track carry-over effects across seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Jane Harms
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B4
| | - Pierre Legagneux
- Département de biologie et Centre d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 Allée des Ursulines Rimouski, Quebec, Canada G5L 3A1
| | - H Grant Gilchrist
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3
| | - Joël Bêty
- Département de biologie et Centre d'études nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 Allée des Ursulines Rimouski, Quebec, Canada G5L 3A1
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4
| | - Mark R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3
| | - Gary R Bortolotti
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
| | - Catherine Soos
- Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X4
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Mougeot F, Lendvai ÁZ, Martínez-Padilla J, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Giraudeau M, Casas F, Moore IT, Redpath S. Parasites, mate attractiveness and female feather corticosterone levels in a socially monogamous bird. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-2048-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Fairhurst GD, Berzins LL, Bradley DW, Laughlin AJ, Romano A, Romano M, Scandolara C, Ambrosini R, Dawson RD, Dunn PO, Hobson KA, Liechti F, Marchant TA, Norris DR, Rubolini D, Saino N, Taylor CM, Whittingham LA, Clark RG. Assessing costs of carrying geolocators using feather corticosterone in two species of aerial insectivore. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:150004. [PMID: 26064659 PMCID: PMC4453251 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite benefits of using light-sensitive geolocators to track animal movements and describe patterns of migratory connectivity, concerns have been raised about negative effects of these devices, particularly in small species of aerial insectivore. Geolocators may act as handicaps that increase energetic expenditure, which could explain reported effects of geolocators on survival. We tested this 'Energetic Expenditure Hypothesis' in 12 populations of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) from North America and Europe, using measurements of corticosterone from feathers (CORTf) grown after deployment of geolocators as a measure of physiology relevant to energetics. Contrary to predictions, neither among- (both species) nor within-individual (tree swallows only) levels of CORTf differed with respect to instrumentation. Thus, to the extent that CORTf reflects energetic expenditure, geolocators apparently were not a strong handicap for birds that returned post-deployment. While this physiological evidence suggests that information about migration obtained from returning geolocator-equipped swallows is unbiased with regard to levels of stress, we cannot discount the possibility that corticosterone played a role in reported effects of geolocators on survival in birds, and suggest that future studies relate corticosterone to antecedent factors, such as reproductive history, and to downstream fitness costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham D. Fairhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
- Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X4
- Author for correspondence: Graham D. Fairhurst e-mail:
| | - Lisha L. Berzins
- Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9
| | - David W. Bradley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 1E4
- Bird Studies Canada, 115 Front Street, Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada N0E 1M0
| | - Andrew J. Laughlin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Maria Romano
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Chiara Scandolara
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, Sempach 6204, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milan 20126, Italy
| | - Russell D. Dawson
- Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9
| | - Peter O. Dunn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, 3209 North Maryland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413, USA
| | - Keith A. Hobson
- Environment Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 3H5
| | - Felix Liechti
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, Sempach 6204, Switzerland
| | - Tracy A. Marchant
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 1E4
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Caz M. Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Linda A. Whittingham
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, 3209 North Maryland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413, USA
| | - Robert G. Clark
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
- Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X4
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Strong RJ, Pereira MG, Shore RF, Henrys PA, Pottinger TG. Feather corticosterone content in predatory birds in relation to body condition and hepatic metal concentration. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 214:47-55. [PMID: 25776461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility of measuring corticosterone in feathers from cryo-archived raptor specimens, in order to provide a retrospective assessment of the activity of the stress axis in relation to contaminant burden. Feather samples were taken from sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, kestrel Falco tinnunculus, buzzard Buteo buteo, barn owl Tyto alba, and tawny owl Strix aluco and the variation in feather CORT concentrations with respect to species, age, sex, feather position, and body condition was assessed. In sparrowhawks only, variation in feather CORT content was compared with hepatic metal concentrations. For individuals, CORT concentration (pgmm(-1)) in adjacent primary flight feathers (P5 and P6), and left and right wing primaries (P5), was statistically indistinguishable. The lowest concentrations of CORT were found in sparrowhawk feathers and CORT concentrations did not vary systematically with age or sex for any species. Significant relationships between feather CORT content and condition were observed in only tawny owl and kestrel. In sparrowhawks, feather CORT concentration was found to be positively related to the hepatic concentrations of five metals (Cd, Mn, Co, Cu, Mo) and the metalloid As. There was also a negative relationship between measures of condition and total hepatic metal concentration in males. The results suggest that some factors affecting CORT uptake by feathers remain to be resolved but feather CORT content from archived specimens has the potential to provide a simple effects biomarker for exposure to environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Strong
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; University of Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - M Glória Pereira
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Richard F Shore
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A Henrys
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Tom G Pottinger
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom.
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Carbajal A, Tallo-Parra O, Sabes-Alsina M, Mular I, Lopez-Bejar M. Feather corticosterone evaluated by ELISA in broilers: a potential tool to evaluate broiler welfare. Poult Sci 2014; 93:2884-6. [PMID: 25193253 DOI: 10.3382/ps.2014-04092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The measure of corticosterone (CORT) in feathers has been recently recognized as a valid and easily obtainable measure of chronic glucocorticoids secretion in avian species. This measure provides meaningful interpretations of how individuals respond to environmental perturbations. The growing interest of the public toward animal-food production welfare shows the need for improving and expanding objective tools to evaluate this issue. The present study evaluates whether it is possible to detect CORT in broiler feathers, and thus, assess if it would be a useful measure to study broiler welfare. Twenty-two broilers were randomly selected from an intensive farm. Four to 6 dorsal feathers were collected from each bird, and sex, weight, and morphological aspects of feather status were recorded. We tested the feasibility for detecting CORT in broiler feathers by ELISA, which had never been done before, and an assay validation test was performed. No significant relationships were found between feather CORT concentrations and physiological variables such as sex, weight, and fault bars in broilers. To our knowledge, this is the first study that uses broiler feathers as a matrix that provides a retrospective record of their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity. Results indicate that ELISA is a valid tool to detect feather CORT levels in broilers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Carbajal
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - O Tallo-Parra
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - M Sabes-Alsina
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - I Mular
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - M Lopez-Bejar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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30
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Will AP, Suzuki Y, Elliott KH, Hatch SA, Watanuki Y, Kitaysky AS. Feather corticosterone reveals developmental stress in seabirds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:2371-6. [PMID: 24744418 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.098533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In nest-bound avian offspring, food shortages typically trigger a release of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). Recent studies indicate that CORT is passively deposited in the tissue of growing feathers and thus may provide an integrated measure of stress incurred during development in the nest. The current hypothesis predicts that, assuming a constant rate of feather growth, elevated CORT circulating in the blood corresponds to higher levels of CORT in feather tissue, but experimental evidence for nutritionally stressed chicks is lacking. Here, we examined how food limitation affects feather CORT content in the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca moncerata). We (i) used captive chicks reared on control versus restricted diets, and (ii) applied this technique to free-living chicks with unknown nutritional histories that fledged at three separate colonies. We found that (i) feather growth was not affected by experimentally induced nutritional stress; (ii) captive chicks raised on a restricted diet had higher levels of CORT in their primary feathers; (iii) feather CORT deposition is a sensitive method of detecting nutritional stress; and (iv) free-living fledglings from the colony with poor reproductive performance had higher CORT in their primary feathers. We conclude that feather CORT is a sensitive integrated measure revealing the temporal dynamics of food limitations experienced by rhinoceros auklet nestlings. The use of feather CORT may be a powerful endocrine tool in ecological and evolutionary studies of bird species with similar preferential allocation of limited resources to feather development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis P Will
- Institute of Arctic Biology, 311 Irving 1, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Yuya Suzuki
- Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Minato-cho 3-1-1, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan
| | - Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Zoology, Z320 Duff Roblin Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2N2
| | - Scott A Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, 12850 Mountain Place, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA
| | - Yutaka Watanuki
- Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Minato-cho 3-1-1, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan
| | - Alexander S Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology, 311 Irving 1, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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31
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Marques MR, Stigger F, Segabinazi E, Augustin OA, Barbosa S, Piazza FV, Achaval M, Marcuzzo S. Beneficial effects of early environmental enrichment on motor development and spinal cord plasticity in a rat model of cerebral palsy. Behav Brain Res 2014; 263:149-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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32
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Laurence A, Lumineau S, Calandreau L, Arnould C, Leterrier C, Boissy A, Houdelier C. Short- and long-term effects of unpredictable repeated negative stimuli on Japanese quail's fear of humans. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93259. [PMID: 24668017 PMCID: PMC3965557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous aversive events occur in poultry production, and if repeated and unpredictable, can result in an impaired welfare. Some events such as handling can be perceived negatively and it is of interest to understand how humans' behaviour could affect poultry's behaviours and especially its avoidance of humans. Our aim was to evaluate short- and long-lasting effects of a 3-week procedure involving unpredictable repeated negative stimuli (URNS) applied during the post-juvenile period on quail's reactivity to humans. We compared the reactions of two sets of quail: URNS was applied to one set (treated quail) and the other set was left undisturbed (control quail). When two weeks old, treated quail were exposed to a variety of negative stimuli, either applied automatically or involving human presence. One and seven weeks after the termination of the procedure, the reactivity of control and treated quail to a passive human being was evaluated. Furthermore, the experimenter with her hand on a trough containing a mealworm assessed the propensity of quail of both groups to habituate to feed close to a human being. In the presence of a seated observer, treated quail were more inhibited and more alert than control quail. Likewise, seven weeks after the end of the URNS procedure, more treated than control quail adopted a fear posture. Moreover, whereas control quail spent as much time in the different areas of their cages, treated quail spent more time in the rear part of their cages. Finally, whereas control quail habituated gradually to feed near the experimenter's hand, treated quail did not. All these tests evidence negative short- and long-term effects on treated quail's reactivity to a passive human being and on their habituation to a human being when her presence is positively reinforced. This highlights the importance of young poultry's experience with humans in production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agathe Laurence
- Ethos, UMR 6552- Université de Rennes 1- CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Sophie Lumineau
- Ethos, UMR 6552- Université de Rennes 1- CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France, UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France, Université de Tours, Tours, France, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Cécile Arnould
- UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France, UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France, Université de Tours, Tours, France, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Christine Leterrier
- UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France, UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France, Université de Tours, Tours, France, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Alain Boissy
- INRA UMR 1213, Unité de Recherche sur les Herbivores, INRA Vet-Agro Sup, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
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Harriman V, Dawson R, Clark R, Fairhurst G, Bortolotti G. Effects of ectoparasites on seasonal variation in quality of nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). CAN J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive success often declines with breeding date in diverse taxa, including temperate-nesting bird species. The date hypothesis predicts that seasonally deteriorating environmental quality drives this pattern. While mechanisms are not fully understood, a seasonal increase in parasitism may contribute to the declining quality of nestlings hatched later in the season. We examined the effect of ectoparasites on seasonal variation in indices of nestling quality and survival in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) at breeding sites in British Columbia (PG) and Saskatchewan (SDNRA). In a parasite removal experiment, we detected no seasonal trend in flea abundance and, contrary to expectation, there were fewer blow flies in nests of late breeders. Negative effects of parasites on nestlings were documented at PG, where lengths of primary feather and head–bill were affected. Parental, rather than environmental, quality had the greatest effect on reproductive success at PG, as nestling survival declined seasonally regardless of treatment and despite seasonally increasing food biomass. Nestlings in control (i.e., parasitized) nests at SDNRA had elevated feather corticosterone levels, but no other effects of parasites were detected possibly because parent birds were of higher quality or parents and offspring had greater access to food such that nestlings were capable of coping with parasite-related challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- V.B. Harriman
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - R.D. Dawson
- Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - R.G. Clark
- Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - G.D. Fairhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - G.R. Bortolotti
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
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Hõrak P, Männiste M, Meitern R, Sild E, Saks L, Sepp T. Dexamethasone inhibits corticosterone deposition in feathers of greenfinches. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 191:210-4. [PMID: 23856540 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Corticosterone (CORT) content of feathers is a potent source of information about activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during feather growth, which is used for assessment of well-being and stress history of individuals and populations in avian studies. However, little is known about factors affecting deposition of CORT into feathers and how feather CORT covaries with other markers of stress imposed upon individuals during feather growth. We addressed these questions by measuring CORT levels in feathers of wild-caught greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) brought into captivity. One tail feather was removed from all the birds upon arrival to the laboratory and the CORT levels of replacement feathers, grown in captivity were recorded. The birds were subjected to treatments of immune activation (by injection of phytohaemagglutinin) and synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone, DEX) administration. Only DEX injection affected feather CORT levels. DEX-injected birds deposited on average 37% less of CORT in their feathers than saline-injected birds. Despite significant effects of DEX and immune activation treatments on differential leukocyte counts, we did not find any correlations between CORT and leukocyte hemoconcentrations or heterophil/lymphocyte ratios (a haematological index of stress), measured at three stages of feather growth. Our findings provide novel evidence that feather CORT levels are sensitive to manipulation of hormonal balance of birds, thereby supporting the diagnostic value of feather CORT measurements. However, we did not find any evidence about covariation between feather CORT and other markers of stress perceived during the period of feather growth. This calls for further research on information content of feather CORT, preferably in experiments manipulating more diverse array of psychological, immunological and abiotic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peeter Hõrak
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Tartu University, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
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Grava T, Fairhurst GD, Avey MT, Grava A, Bradley J, Avis JL, Bortolotti GR, Sturdy CB, Otter KA. Habitat quality affects early physiology and subsequent neuromotor development of juvenile black-capped chickadees. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71852. [PMID: 23951257 PMCID: PMC3741205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In songbirds, the ability to learn and render the species-specific song is influenced by the development of both the song nuclei in the brain and the syrinx (bird's vocal apparatus) early in the bird's life. In black-capped chickadees (Poecille atricapillus), habitat quality is known to affect song structure, with birds in high-quality habitat (mature forest) having a higher song consistency than birds in low-quality habitat (young forest). Although this difference is suspected to stem from differences in development, the developmental status of juvenile birds in either habitat remains unexplored. In this study, we used ptilochronology and feather corticosterone to compare the conditional state of juvenile chickadees in young and mature forest during two distinct periods of song learning - the sensory phase, which occurs prior to settlement, and the sensorimotor phase, which occurs post-settlement. A sample of juvenile males was captured and euthanized several weeks prior to their first breeding season to compare the development of song center nuclei and syrinx in both habitats. The corticosterone levels of natally-grown feathers were greater among birds that settled in mature than young forests - as these feathers were grown pre-settlement, they reflect differences in physiology during the sensory phase. This difference in conditional state is reflected by differences in syrinx and song center nuclei development later during the sensorimotor phase - birds in young forest have smaller syrinx, and moderately-larger RA, than birds in mature forest. Those differences could be responsible for the difference in consistency in song structure observed across habitats. The difference in physiological state across habitats, combined with potential compounding effect of differences in winter resources between habitats, could influence the difference in syrinx and neural development seen in juvenile males during the early spring, and influence the male's ability to learn and render their species-specific song.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Grava
- Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
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36
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Fairhurst GD, Marchant TA, Soos C, Machin KL, Clark RG. Experimental relationships between levels of corticosterone in plasma and feathers in a free-living bird. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 216:4071-81. [PMID: 23913947 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.091280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Integrated measures of corticosterone (CORT), such as from feathers (CORTf), have intuitive appeal because they incorporate both the duration and amplitude of glucocorticoid secretion. An association between CORTf and plasma CORT has never been shown in wild birds, and it is unclear as to when and whether these measures should be correlated, given that they are fundamentally different yet related measures of physiology. We hypothesized that CORTf should correlate with instantaneous measurements of plasma CORT when the latter reflect sustained changes in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. To test this, we experimentally manipulated levels of plasma CORT in wild nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) using 5 day time-release CORT pellets, and measured plasma CORT and growth parameters before, during and at the end of hormone manipulation (days 7, 9 and 11 post-hatch, respectively). CORTf and plasma CORT were significantly positively related only when the latter was at its highest and most variable among individuals (day 9). A similar relationship was expected at day 11, but plasma CORT had returned to near-original levels. Nestlings with higher CORTf were smaller, lighter and less likely to fledge, but we did not detect seasonal effects on CORTf. Our results clearly demonstrate that CORTf from free-living birds can reflect plasma CORT, but correlations may not always be expected, especially if elevations in plasma CORT are relatively modest and of short duration. Our work suggests that CORTf is best used to study the activity of the HPA axis over relatively long time frames and can be used effectively to advance avian ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham D Fairhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E2
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Männiste M, Sepp T, Hõrak P. Locomotor Activity of Captive Greenfinches Involves Two Different Behavioural Traits. Ethology 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marju Männiste
- Department of Zoology; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; Tartu University; Tartu; Estonia
| | - Tuul Sepp
- Department of Zoology; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; Tartu University; Tartu; Estonia
| | - Peeter Hõrak
- Department of Zoology; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; Tartu University; Tartu; Estonia
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Can synchronizing feather-based measures of corticosterone and stable isotopes help us better understand habitat-physiology relationships? Oecologia 2013; 173:731-43. [PMID: 23666371 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2678-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2012] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Physiological mechanisms link the environment with population dynamics, and glucocorticoid hormones are of particular interest because they respond adaptively to environmental change and can influence vertebrate reproduction and fitness. We tested a novel approach of synchronizing feather-based measures of corticosterone (the primary avian glucocorticoid; CORTf) and ratios of stable isotopes (SIs) of C (δ(13)C) and N (δ(15)N) to provide information about environmental conditions and an integrated physiological response to those conditions over the same period of feather synthesis. Using a fragmented metapopulation of Dupont's larks Chersophilus duponti, an endangered steppe songbird, we analyzed interrelationships among CORTf, δ(13)C, δ(15)N, and the physical environment, including measures of habitat loss and fragmentation. CORTf was not related to any habitat variable measured directly. However, we detected a significant spatial structure to CORTf values and food availability, with greater similarity in both at smaller spatial scales. Using SIs as proxies for the local environment, we found CORTf was negatively related to δ(13)C. Values of CORTf, δ(13)C, and the relationship between the two were likely driven by variation in agricultural land use surrounding lark habitat patches. Our feather-based approach revealed that individual physiology was sensitive to environmental conditions (e.g., an interaction of food availability and variation in habitat) at a local scale, but not patch or landscape scales. Combining CORTf and SIs may be a promising tool because it can provide individual-based information about habitat, physiology, and their relationship during the same time period.
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Bryan HM, Adams AG, Invik RM, Wynne-Edwards KE, Smits JEG. Hair as a meaningful measure of baseline cortisol levels over time in dogs. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2013; 52:189-196. [PMID: 23562104 PMCID: PMC3624789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol measurements of hair are becoming a valuable tool in monitoring chronic stress. To further validate this approach in domestic dogs, we compared the variability of cortisol immunoreactivity in hair with that in saliva and feces of dogs housed under constant social and physical conditions. Fecal (n = 268), and hair (n = 21) samples were collected over 3 mo from 7 dogs housed in a kennel and kept for training veterinary students in minimally invasive procedures. Salivary samples (n = 181) were collected 3 times daily twice weekly during the last month of the study. Hair and salivary samples were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay and feces by radioimmunoassay. HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used to confirm the presence of cortisol in 3 hair samples. Variability of cortisol was compared across sample types by using repeated-measures ANOVA followed by paired t tests. Within dogs, cortisol immunoreactivity was less variable in hair than in saliva or feces. Averaged over time, the variability of fecal samples approached that of hair when feces were collected at least 4 times monthly. As predicted, the stable social and environmental condition of the dogs maintained repeatability over time and supported the hypothesis that data from hair samples reflect baseline cortisol levels. These findings indicate that determining cortisol immunoreactivity in hair is a more practical approach than is using samples of saliva or feces in monitoring the effects of long-term stressors such as social or physical environments and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Bryan
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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Fairhurst GD, Treen GD, Clark RG, Bortolotti GR. Nestling corticosterone response to microclimate in an altricial bird. CAN J ZOOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2012-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although altricial young are dependent on their parents during early life, they must respond to environmental variation to maintain homeostasis. The hormone corticosterone (CORT) may be an important link between environment and phenotype during early life; however, no previous study has experimentally assessed the sensitivity of CORT to nest microclimate in altricial birds beginning to thermoregulate. We tested the hypothesis that microclimate influences CORT by cross-fostering nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) between thicker-walled “aspen” nest boxes and thinner-walled “plywood” nest boxes. Quantification of CORT in nestling feathers allowed us to consider hormone secreted over days, rather than instantaneously from blood samples. In agreement with our hypothesis, we detected significant positive relationships between feather CORT and increased temperature variability and maximum, but not minimum, nest box temperatures. This could reflect the energetic challenge of warmer temperatures or positive developmental effects on the nestling hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Feather CORT was significantly lower in chicks hatched in aspen nest boxes compared with plywood ones, but cross-fostering did not influence nestling CORT. This suggests that the influence of natal nest box environment on feather CORT was likely greater than the influence of the foster nest box environment. The relationships we detected highlight the sensitivity of feather CORT to environmental variation and contribute insight into nestling responses to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham D. Fairhurst
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Gillian D. Treen
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Robert G. Clark
- Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Gary R. Bortolotti
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
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