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Effects of ectoparasite infestation during pregnancy on physiological stress and reproductive output in a rodent-flea system. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:659-666. [PMID: 33713646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Biotic and abiotic stressors impose various fitness costs on individuals across a variety of taxa. In vertebrates, these stressors typically trigger complex neuroendocrine responses that stimulate glucocorticoid (GC) secretion from the adrenal cortex. Short-term elevation of GCs can be adaptive as it shifts energy toward physiological processes that cope with acute stressors; however, chronic increases in GC levels could have detrimental effects on fitness. Parasitism can be considered an important biotic stressor in nature and a possible cause of reproductive failure that could substantially affect an individual's fitness. Thus, we aimed to test the effects of parasitism and maternal stress, as measured by GCs, during pregnancy and the relationship between these variables and measures of reproductive output using a rodent-flea system. Female Egyptian spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) were randomly assigned to flea (Parapulex chephrenis) infested or uninfested treatments before and during pregnancy. The offspring of these females were flea-free. Feces were collected at five time points during the experiment to determine maternal fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGCM) concentrations. Overall, infested females had lower FGCM levels during gestation but higher FGCM levels post-parturition and larger mass changes than uninfested females. Additionally, models related to pup quality and quantity often included some measure of maternal investment or body condition moderating relationships between infestation and stress. This suggests that flea parasitism or high GC levels alone might not significantly impact host reproduction but rather females can experience different effects depending on their level of investment, which could be limited by body condition and/or the number of pups present in a litter.
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Association between social factors and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in a group of non-cooperatively breeding carrion crows. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02967-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Veitch JSM, Bowman J, Mastromonaco G, Schulte-Hostedde AI. Corticosterone response by Peromyscus mice to parasites, reproductive season, and age. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 300:113640. [PMID: 33017585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A common response to parasite infestations is increased production of glucocorticoid hormones that regulate immune function. We examined relationships between ectoparasite infestations and fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Furthermore, we experimentally removed fleas to determine if reductions in ectoparasites affected FCM production. Individuals were assigned to control (no flea removal) or treatment (anti-flea application, physical combing) groups and individuals were recaptured to assess changes in FCM concentrations. There was a significant and negative effect of number of anti-flea treatment applications on FCM concentrations of deer mice. However, models including host biology traits and environmental predictors had a better model fit compared to models containing ectoparasite predictors. In particular, there was a significant relationship of deer mouse FCM with date and host age, where glucocorticoid production decreased towards the end of the breeding season and increased with age. Overall, adverse events associated with reproduction and age class, rather than ectoparasites, may be more important to variation in glucocorticoids of deer mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine S M Veitch
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. https://www.0000-0003-0010-3475
| | - Jeff Bowman
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, 2140 East Bank Drive, DNA Building, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada; Trent University, 1600 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Gabriela Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - Albrecht I Schulte-Hostedde
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. https://www.0000-0001-7263-4764
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Abstract
AbstractThe northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita was once widespread throughout the Middle East, northern Africa, and southern and central Europe. Habitat destruction, persecution and the impacts of pesticides have led to its disappearance from most of its former range. It disappeared from central Europe > 400 years ago, but has persisted as a relict and slowly growing breeding population in Morocco, where c. 700 wild birds of all ages remain. In Algeria, the last confirmed breeding was in 1984; in Turkey the fully wild population disappeared in 1989, but a population remains in semi-wild conditions. In Syria a small population was rediscovered in 2002, only to subsequently decline to functional extinction. Restoration programmes have been initiated independently in several locations, with over 300 free-flying birds resulting from reintroduction projects in Austria, Germany, Spain and Turkey, to restore both sedentary and fully migratory populations. Maintaining current efforts in Morocco remains a high conservation priority.
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Romeo C, Wauters LA, Santicchia F, Dantzer B, Palme R, Martinoli A, Ferrari N. Complex relationships between physiological stress and endoparasite infections in natural populations. Curr Zool 2020; 66:449-457. [PMID: 33293925 PMCID: PMC7705514 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-term elevation of glucocorticoids (GCs) is one of the major physiological mechanisms by which vertebrates cope with challenging environmental or social factors (stressors). However, when exposure to stressors occurs repeatedly or over a prolonged period of time, animals may experience chronic elevation of GCs, which reduces the immune response efficiency and can lead to higher intensity of parasitic infection. Here, we used invasive gray squirrels Sciurus carolinensis introduced in Northern Italy and their 2 most prevalent gastrointestinal parasites, the nematode Strongyloides robustus and coccidia of the genus Eimeria, as a model to investigate relationships among macroparasite infection and concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), an integrated measure of circulating GCs. Our results revealed an association of FGMs with infection by St. robustus, but not with coccidia. Individuals with higher FGMs appear to be responsible for the greatest St. robustus egg shedding within gray squirrel populations, thus possibly acting as superspreaders. However, FGMs were negatively associated with adult St. robustus, suggesting that the abundance of adults of this nematode species does not induce elevation in FGMs, but is only affected by it through immune-mediated effects on its fecundity. Finally, the relationship between St. robustus (both eggs and adult parasites) and FGMs was not linear, suggesting that only high levels of physiological stress influence parasite infection. Our findings highlight that the direction and magnitude of the stress-infection relationship may depend not only on the specific host-parasite system, but also on the different life stages of the same parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, Milano, 2133, Italy
| | - Lucas A Wauters
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit—Guido Tosi Research Group—Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Francesca Santicchia
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit—Guido Tosi Research Group—Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, Vienna, 1210, Austria
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit—Guido Tosi Research Group—Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, Milano, 2133, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Coordinata Epidemiologia e Sorveglianza Molecolare delle Infezioni, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Frigerio D, Puehringer-Sturmayr V, Neuböck-Hubinger B, Gegendorfer G, Kotrschal K, Hirschenhauser K. Monitoring public awareness about the endangered northern bald ibis: a case study involving primary school children as citizen scientists. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7569. [PMID: 31565559 PMCID: PMC6744932 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Citizen science has evolved over the past decades by motivating members of the public to interact with scientists and actively participate in scientific research and monitoring. For this purpose, a proficient communication is mandatory in order to efficiently convey messages and reduce the gap of knowledge between scientists and lay people. In the present study, we aimed at evaluating the multiplying effect of children, who were trained to communicate their knowledge on an endangered bird species in order to engage the local community in the long-term ornithological monitoring of the free flying and individually marked colony of northern bald ibis (NBI, Geronticus eremita), which was established at the research station in 1997. Methods Pupils of the local primary schools were in regular contact with researchers, enjoyed outdoor encounters with the birds, and were invited to talk about their experience with as many people as possible. Later on, they acted as surveyors to assess the knowledge of the public on (i) the general knowledge about the species, (ii) specific knowledge about the local colony, and (iii) attitudes towards science. In two different years of evaluation (2012 and 2016) a total number of 387 persons were surveyed. The questions were generated together with the pupils and their teachers and the questionnaires were similar for both years of evaluation. All queries were in a closed format. Results Our results show an increase in the proportion of correct answers provided by the surveyed persons between the two years of evaluation. Education-based activities may encourage children to effectively act as multipliers of information and attitudes. This has the potential to induce sustainable changes with respect to attitude towards science, at least among local communities. Furthermore, the study suggests caution with the quality of some information reported by citizen scientists, which might be solved by more careful training actions and more specific information about local particularities. Even though the study would have gained more informative power with some additional precautions than in its current form, our findings recommend the empowerment of pupils as multipliers of scientific knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didone Frigerio
- Core Faciity Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau im Amtal, Austria.,Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr
- Core Faciity Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau im Amtal, Austria.,Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Gudrun Gegendorfer
- Core Faciity Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau im Amtal, Austria
| | - Kurt Kotrschal
- Core Faciity Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau im Amtal, Austria.,Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Hirschenhauser K, Frigerio D, Leithinger V, Schenkenfelder I, Neuböck-Hubinger B. Primary pupils, science and a model bird species: Evidence for the efficacy of extracurricular science education. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220635. [PMID: 31365595 PMCID: PMC6668844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Beyond subject matter learning, primary science teaching aims at encouraging positive attitudes toward, and lasting interest in, science. This study tested whether the learning and science commitment of 8- to 10-year old pupils was affected by extracurricular learning opportunities involving repeated interactions with free-living northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita; an endangered bird species) and professional researchers. To examine the project's efficacy, pupils' learning progress was monitored by repeated measures of knowledge (i) about northern bald ibises in specific, and (ii) of bird diversity in general. In addition, the children's attitudes toward science were monitored and their dynamic mental models of northern bald ibis' morphology and size were assessed from drawings. A total of 55 pupils from two schools were tested for eight months (before, during and after the experience). Control groups went through regular (curricular) science lessons with similar content and time investment. The extracurricular experience produced a clear learning progress with large effect sizes, which was particularly evident on a long timescale. In addition to subject matter knowledge, the project group pupils could name more bird species and expressed their views about the importance of scientific research for society in a higher proportion than control groups. Differences between schools suggest that project participation also changed the teacher's own interest in northern bald ibises, which affected learning in the control group taught by the same teacher. Beyond the pupils' language and reading skills, learning progress was also visible by scoring ibis-typical features in drawings; their mental models of relative size were not changed due to project participation, however. The results are discussed in reference to inducing and maintaining pupils' attitude and interest in a topic. The study adds empirical evidence for the potentials of advancing primary science education e. g. by fostering the collaboration of schools with scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Didone Frigerio
- Core facility Konrad Lorenz Research Station for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau im Almtal, Austria
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Vienna, Austria
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Palme R. Non-invasive measurement of glucocorticoids: Advances and problems. Physiol Behav 2018; 199:229-243. [PMID: 30468744 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs; i.e. cortisol/corticosterone) are a central component of the stress response and thus their measurement is frequently used to evaluate the impact of stressful situations. Their metabolites from faeces of various animal species are more and more taken as a non-invasive aid to assess GC release and thus adrenocortical activity. The current literature review includes an extensive collection (1327 papers) and evaluation (see also Supplementary Tables) of the literature on faecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolite (FCM) analysis published to date. It aims at giving reference for researchers interested in implementing FCM analysis into their study or seeking to improve such methods by providing background knowledge on GC metabolism and excretion, conveying insights into methodological issues and stating caveats of FCM analysis and by highlighting prerequisites for and some examples of a successful application of such methods. Collecting faecal samples and analysing FCMs may appear simple and straightforward, but researchers have to select and apply methods correctly. They also need to be aware of the many pitfalls and potentially confounding factors and, last but not least, have to carefully interpret results. Applied properly, measurement of FCMs is a powerful non-invasive tool in a variety of research areas, such as (stress) biology, ethology, ecology, animal conservation and welfare, but also biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
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Rose PE, Croft DP. Quantifying the social structure of a large captive flock of greater flamingos ( Phoenicopterus roseus ): Potential implications for management in captivity. Behav Processes 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Frigerio D, Pipek P, Kimmig S, Winter S, Melzheimer J, Diblíková L, Wachter B, Richter A. Citizen science and wildlife biology: Synergies and challenges. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Didone Frigerio
- Core facility Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle for Behaviour and Cognition; University of Vienna; Grünau im Almtal Austria
- Department of Behavioural Biology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Pavel Pipek
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Invasive Ecology; Institute of Botany; The Czech Academy of Sciences; Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Sophia Kimmig
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; Berlin Germany
- Department of Ecological Dynamics; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; Berlin Germany
| | - Silvia Winter
- Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation Research and Division of Plant Protection; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Jörg Melzheimer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; Berlin Germany
| | - Lucie Diblíková
- Department of Ecology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Bettina Wachter
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; Berlin Germany
| | - Anett Richter
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
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