Methodological considerations for using fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as an indicator of physiological stress in the brown bear (Ursus arctos)

dc.contributor.authorDalerum, Fredrik
dc.contributor.authorGanswindt, Andre
dc.contributor.authorPalme, Rupert
dc.contributor.authorBettega, Chiara
dc.contributor.authorDel Mar Delgado, María
dc.contributor.authorDehnhard, Martin
dc.contributor.authorFreire, Susana
dc.contributor.authorGonzalez, Ricardo Garcia
dc.contributor.authorMarcos, Jaime
dc.contributor.authorMiranda, Maria
dc.contributor.authorVazquez, Víctor M.
dc.contributor.authorCorominas, Teresa Sanchez
dc.contributor.authorHuerta, Jose Tunon
dc.contributor.authorZedrosser, Andreas
dc.contributor.authorOrdiz, Andres
dc.contributor.authorPenteriani, Vincenzo
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-21T06:30:18Z
dc.date.available2021-04-21T06:30:18Z
dc.date.issued2020-03-31
dc.description.abstractReliable methods to measure stress-related glucocorticoid responses in free-ranging animals are important for wildlife management and conservation. Such methods are also paramount for our ability to improve our knowledge of the ecological consequences of physiological processes. The brownbear (Ursus arctos) is a large carnivore of ecological and cultural importance and is important for management. Here, we provide a physiological validation for an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to quantify glucocorticoid metabolites in brown bear feces. We also provide an evaluationof the effects of sample exposure to ambient temperature on measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations. We evaluated three EIA systems: a cortisol assay, an 11- oxoetiocholanolone assay, and an 11b-hydroxyetiocholanolone assay. Of these, the cortisol assay provided the best discrimination between peak fGCM concentrations detected 1–4 d after injections of synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone and preinjection baseline concentrations in four individual brown bears. The time of exposure to ambient temperature had substantial but variable effects on measured fGCM concentrations, including variation both between samples from the same individual and among samples from different bears. We propose that the validated EIA system for measuring fGCM concentrations in the brown bear could be a useful noninvasive method to monitor stress in this species. However, we highlight that this method requires that fecal samples be frozen immediately after defecation, which could be a limitation in many field situations.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Instituteen_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2021en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipFOA, Fundación Biodiversidad, the Servicio de Medio Natural, Consejería de Desarrollo Rural, Agroganadería y Pesca del Principado de Asturias, a Spanish Ramon y Cajal grant funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, a Grupos de Investigación (GRUPIN) research grant from the Regional Government of Asturias, an Excellence Project financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Agencia Estatal de Investigación, and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/journals/journal/pbz.htmlen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDalerum, F, Ganswindt, A & Palme, R 2020, 'Methodological considerations for using fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as an indicator of physiological stress in the brown bear (Ursus arctos)', Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 93, no. 3, pp. 227-234.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1522-2152 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1537-5293 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1086/708630
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/79528
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of Chicago Pressen_ZA
dc.rights© 2020 by The University of Chicagoen_ZA
dc.subjectStressen_ZA
dc.subjectACTH challengeen_ZA
dc.subjectNoninvasive hormone monitoringen_ZA
dc.subjectSteroid stabilityen_ZA
dc.subjectUrsusen_ZA
dc.subjectCarnivoreen_ZA
dc.subjectEnzyme immunoassay (EIA)en_ZA
dc.subjectFecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM)en_ZA
dc.subjectBrown bear (Ursus arctos)en_ZA
dc.subjectAdrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)en_ZA
dc.titleMethodological considerations for using fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as an indicator of physiological stress in the brown bear (Ursus arctos)en_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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