Fecal cortisol content of wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to monitor human disturbance level in natural habitats

Abstract

Wild animals are affected by growing human interference in their habitats and inevitably react internally to such stimuli. This study explores inherent physiological parameters to assess the effect of human interference on giant pandas in their wild habitat. Ninety-one fecal samples were collected within four nature reserves on Qinling Mountain. Fecal cortisol determinations were performed by radioimmunoassay. We categorized the intensity of local human disturbance and tested for correlations between the intensity of human disturbance and fecal cortisol metabolite levels. The results show a significant positive correlation between giant panda fecal cortisol metabolite levels and the degree of disturbance in their habitat. This study is the first to use a non-invasive monitoring method to analyze wild giant panda habitat disturbance, and demonstrates that cortisol metabolite levels in panda dung can objectively reflect the degree of panda habitat disturbance. The results provide a relatively objective means and method with which to evaluate the quality of wild giant panda habitat. This study highlights the need to monitor the effects of human disturbance on wildlife and to implement new pohcies in the management of nature reserves.

Cortisol in hair: a comparison between wild and feral cats in the north-eastern Alps

“…What is more, the average IAP calculated within each buffer showed that the area was influenced by a marked anthropic pressure, which may have affected individual wildcat welfare. The effect of anthropic disturbance on cortisol accumulation has received considerable attention in recent years and has been studied in various species (Rangel-Negrín et al 2009;Zwijacz-Kozica et al 2012;Burbonnais et al 2013;Creel et al 2013;Deng et al 2014;Fourie et al 2015) including tigers (Naidenko et al 2019) and wildcats (Piñeiro et al 2012). For instance, Naidenko et al (2019) compared faecal glucocorticoid levels between two tiger subspecies, the Amur tiger and Bengal tiger living in two extreme habitats.…”

“…A further study performed by Rangel-Negrín et al (2009) showed that forest fragmentation may create long-term stressors for spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis) affecting population viabilities. Deng et al (2014) revealed a significant positive correlation between FCM levels recorded in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the degree of human disturbance within their habitat. Fourie et al (2015) showed that human impacts on vervet monkeys' (Chlorocebus aethiops) behavioural ecology appeared to be a significant source of stress, especially for males.…”

Evaluation of physiological stress in free‐ranging bears: current knowledge and future directions

“…Human-related disturbance as a stressor had inconsistent effects on FGs reported in the literature. There was a strong positive correlation between intensity of human disturbance within nature reserves and FGs in giant pandas that tended to avoid settlements and roads (Deng et al, 2014). Similarly, Malcolm et al (2014) found that Asiatic black bears had higher levels of FGs outside nature reserves (closer to human settlements), but in the same study there were lower levels of GCs in roadside faeces.…”

“…Ranges and means obtained from all available literature for brown, Asiatic black bears and giant pandas can be found in Table 2. Cortisol metabolites within faeces degrade and may artificially inflate FG measurements over time with exposure to environmental conditions such as rain, sun, wind and ambient temperatures, as has been reported for giant pandas (Deng et al, 2014), mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) (Dulude-de Broin et al, 2019) and whitetailed deer (Washburn & Millspaugh, 2002). However, tests run by Stetz et al (2013) who collected half of each sampled scat (from grizzly and American black bears) and left the remaining half in its natural setting for 1-28 days, found that degradation effects are not significant over the given timeframe.…”

“…Indeed, stress studies on Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) (Wasser et al, 2000), Himalayan black bears (Ursus thibetanus laniger) (Young et al, 2004), sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) (Young et al, 2004) and Syrian brown bears (Ursus arctos syriacus) (Dalerum et al, 2020) have only been carried out in captive settings (Table 1). Similarly, all but one study (Deng et al, 2014) on the stress response in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) have been carried out in captive environments (Durnin et al, 2004;Owen et al, 2004Owen et al, , 2005Yang et al, 2011). Kleiman et al (1986) emphasised that rigorous field studies are needed to inform studies of animals in captivity, although this depends on the scope of research.…”