Seasonal changes of faecal cortisol metabolite levels in Gracilinanus agilis (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) and its association to life histories variables and parasite loads

Hernández, Sandra E.; Strona, A L S; Leiner, Natália Oliveira; Suzán, Gerardo; Romano, Marta

doi:10.1093/conphys/coy021

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our study greatly adds to the literature on glucocorticoid concentrations in wild small mammals, specifically animals in the genera Oligoryzomys, Akodon, Gracilinanus, and Marmosa. In a review of the published literature, we found only one publication on Gracilinanus that provided information regarding glucocorticoid concentrations in these small mammal genera 54 . Our study provides fur corticosterone and cortisol levels for freeranging small mammals in a fragmented landscape, and emphasizes the need for a better understanding of these glucocorticoid levels for animals living in less-disturbed forest environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on previous findings that found a relationship between the extent of habitat disturbance and glucocorticoid levels 36,39,40 , we predicted that glucocorticoid levels would negatively correlate with the size of the forest fragment in which the animals were captured, so that small mammals in smaller forest fragments would have higher glucocorticoid levels than small mammals in larger forest fragments. However, because patterns have varied in studies of animals in human-impacted landscapes, and there can be confounding factors that affect glucocorticoid levels 53 , including the impact of capture stress 54 , we included ecomorphological factors and sampling methods in the analyses. Given that factors associated with glucocorticoid levels are not fully apparent broadly across taxa, as well as within small mammal taxa, our research findings can contribute information about the physiological ecology of wild small mammals living in fragmented landscapes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

Boyle

Sancha

Pérez

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Species that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

Boyle

Sancha

Pérez

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…high prevalence of B. schroederi ) nor increased the cortisol levels. This seems to be inconsistent with the nutritional restriction hypothesis, which suggests that food and water shortages that act as stressors can elevate cortisol levels and parasitic infections in wild animals ( Chapman et al ., 2006 ; Behie and Pavelka, 2013 ; Hernandez et al ., 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal dynamics of parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas

Zhou

Gao

et al. 2020

Conservation Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many factors, including the inner status of the individuals and external environment, can influence the parasite infections and stress physiology in mammals. Here, we explored the influence of the sex, age, reproductive season and seasonal food availability on the parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) through nutrient and steroid hormone analysis and parasitic infection measurement. Diet composition had significant influences on the faecal cortisol levels and parasite load of wild giant pandas. The seasonal dynamic of the cortisol levels and parasite load in faeces co-vary with the seasonal nutrient intake levels of the pandas, which concurrently arrived the peaks at the wood bamboo shoot-eating period in May (parasite infection intensity, 41.47 ± 12.11 eggs/g of wet faeces; cortisol levels, 619.34 ± 70.55 ng/g dry faeces) that the nutrition intake by wild pandas was the highest (protein/fibre, 69.23 ± 9.93). Meanwhile, age class is also as an important factor to affect the parasite load and stress physiology of wild giant pandas. Cubs and sub-adults suffered more helminth burden and stress physiology than adults and old individuals. This is the first study to evaluate the inner and external factors influence on parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas. The findings facilitate a better understanding of how environmental factors might influence the physiology, behaviour and health of pandas and other species and have implications for the conservation and management of the endangered species.

show abstract

“…Furthermore, behavioural attributes (such as decreased activity) will also be implemented to withstand the temperatures ( Wingfield, 2013 ). In seasonal environments, there is a strong association between the dry season and increased GC concentration owing to food and water shortages ( Davies et al, 2013 ; Hernandez et al ., 2018 ). For example, an increase in GC levels during seasonal dry periods ensures a constant source of energy through the metabolism of stored fat as shown in Magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magellanicus ; Walker et al 2005 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal drivers of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in an African strepsirrhine primate, the thick-tailed greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus)

Long

Tordiffe

Sauther

et al. 2021

Conservation Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As global non-human primate populations show dramatic declines due to climate change, land transformation and other anthropogenic stressors, it has become imperative to study physiological responses to environmental change in order to understand primate adaptability and enhance species conservation strategies. We examined the effects of seasonality on faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations of free-ranging male and female thick-tailed greater galagos (Otolemur crassicaudatus) in an Afromontane habitat. To do so, we established an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for monitoring fGCM concentrations in the species using a biological validation. Following this, faecal samples were collected each month over the course of a year from free-ranging males and females situated in the Soutpansberg Mountains, Limpopo, South Africa. Multivariate analyses revealed lactation period was a driver of fGCM levels, whereas sex and food availability mostly influenced seasonal fGCM concentrations in the total population. Thus far, the results of this study show that drivers of fGCM levels, an indication of increased adrenocortical activity, in O. crassicaudatus are numerous and complex within the natural environment. The species may be adapted to such conditions and an extreme change to any one component may result in elevated fGCM levels. This increases our understanding of strepsirrhine primate physiology and offers initial insights into species adaptability to a challenging environment.

show abstract

Seasonal changes of faecal cortisol metabolite levels in Gracilinanus agilis (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) and its association to life histories variables and parasite loads

Abstract: FCMs are a reliable indicator of adrenal activity in G. agilis. There is an association among stress response, reproductive status and weather. Environmental stress rises in the probability of Eimeria spp infection in G. agilis

Cited by 18 publications

References 57 publications

Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

Seasonal dynamics of parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas

Seasonal drivers of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in an African strepsirrhine primate, the thick-tailed greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About