Effect of exogenous manipulation of glucocorticoid concentrations on meerkat heart rate, behaviour and vocal production.

Encoding of emotional arousal in vocalisations is commonly observed in the animal kingdom, and provides a rapid means of information transfer about an individual's affective responses to internal and external stimuli. As a result, assessing affective arousal-related variation in the acoustic structure of vocalisations can provide insight into how animals perceive both internal and external stimuli, and how this is, in turn, communicated to con- or heterospecifics. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms driving arousal-related acoustic variation remains unclear.

A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes.

Monitoring stress-related faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations is a reliable, popular and established approach for understanding wildlife responses to perceived stressors. To maintain fGCM integrity post-defaecation, faecal material must be promptly stored frozen, or dried to prevent continued suspected bacterial enzyme activity. We compare the effectiveness of freeze-drying with other field-friendly drying techniques (food dehydrator and homemade solar oven).

Validating enzyme immunoassays for non-invasive reproductive hormone monitoring in Temminck's pangolin.

Gonadal hormones play a central role in reproductive function and success. As such, quantifying reproductive hormones non-invasively in threatened, vulnerable and endangered wildlife species offers an ideal tool for assessing general and individual reproductive patterns . Whilst the use of faeces as a hormone matrix is often preferred in these cases, the required enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for measuring faecal androgen (fAM), oestrogen (fEM) and progestagen metabolite (fPM) concentrations must first be validated if a species gets investigated for the first time to ensure biologically relevant patterns can be observed.

All in the Details: A First Assessment for the Viability of Metabarcoding in Diet Composition Analysis of African Wild Dogs ().

DNA metabarcoding is a contemporary technique in diet composition studies and stands to fill key knowledge gaps left by traditional diet analysis methods. For endangered species such as the African wild dog (), the fulfilment of these knowledge gaps presents an opportunity for improved management practices and vulnerability assessments. There are an estimated ~600 African wild dogs remaining in South Africa.

Method development: Assigning sex to African clawless otter spraints and assessing stability of faecal androgen and progestagen metabolites post-defaecation.

Monitoring reproductive physiology in wildlife can be a useful tool for assessing population dynamics for conservation and management purposes. Utilizing non-invasive approaches for this, such as quantifying reproductive hormone metabolites from faeces, can be challenging when defaecation events are not observed, or when cryptic species like African clawless otters () are involved. Additionally, test systems for quantifying hormone metabolites in a species for the first time must first be reliably validated prior to use.

A frog in hot water: the effect of temperature elevation on the adrenal stress response of an African amphibian.

Amphibians, with their unique physiology and habitat requirements, are especially vulnerable to changes in environmental temperatures. While the activation of the physiological stress response can help to mitigate the impact of such habitat alteration, chronic production of elevated glucocorticoid levels can be deleterious in nature. There is no empirical evidence indicating the physiological response of African amphibians to temperature changes, where individuals are unable to emigrate away from potential stressors.

The dissection of a despotic society: exploration, dominance and hormonal traits.

Naked mole-rats () live in large colonies with one breeding female (queen), one to three breeding males (BMs) and the remainder are non-reproductive subordinates. The animals have a linear dominance rank with the breeders at the top of the hierarchy. We investigated how dominance rank in naked mole-rats differs with exploration (the propensity to explore a novel environment) and related endocrine markers.

Feasibility of a Sprague???Dawley Rat Model for Investigating the Effects of Seated Whole-body Vibration.

Vehicular whole-body vibration (WBV) can have long-term adverse effects on human quality of life. Animal models can be used to study pathophysiologic effects of vibration. The goal of this study was to assess animal cooperation and well-being to determine the feasibility of a novel seated rat model for investigating the effects of WBV on biologic systems.

Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat ().

The naked mole-rat () occurs in colonies with a distinct dominance hierarchy, including one dominant, breeding female (the queen), 1-3 breeding males, and non-reproductive subordinates of both sexes that are reproductively suppressed while in the colony. To non-invasively evaluate reproductive capacity in the species, we first had to examine the suitability of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for determining progestogen and androgen metabolite concentrations in the naked mole-rat, using urine and faeces. A saline control and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were administered to twelve (six males and six females) naked mole-rats which were previously identified as dispersers and housed singly.

Identifying potential measures of stress and disturbance during a captive to wild African elephant reintegration.

There is increasing evidence of compromised welfare for elephants managed in captivity. Should such facilities eventually close, more elephants will need to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the wild. The goal of such reintegration would be to restore any physical or psychological aspects of the elephant that may have been compromised in captivity, followed by introduction into a free-roaming system where they can interact with other elephants.

Responses to Reduced Feeding Frequency in Captive-Born Cheetahs (): Implications for Behavioural and Physiological Stress and Gastrointestinal Health.

Unnatural diet composition and frequent feeding regimes may play an aetiological role in the multiple diseases prevalent in captive cheetahs. This study investigated the responses of captive-born (hand-reared) cheetahs ( = 6) to a reduced feeding frequency schedule distinguished by offering larger quantities of food less frequently. The study cheetahs were fed four once-daily meals per week during the 3-week treatment period, followed by a 3-week control period in which they were fed two daily rations six days a week.

Validation of a field-friendly faeces drying and storage method for quantifying faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) opens up new perspectives for conservationists.

Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) are a relevant means of non-invasively assessing adrenocortical activity and thus, a key physiological stress response in wildlife populations. However, the widespread use of fGCMs as a stress-related biomarker in conservation biology is often hampered by the logistical challenge of storing collected faecal material frozen until it reaches the laboratory for analysis. Although alternative approaches to minimize potential alteration of fGCM composition post-defecation have been recently identified, there is to our knowledge, no satisfactory alternative method established for the preservation of elephant dung.

Male blue wildebeest increase activity during the rut, but not at the expense of rest.

Rest is a state of adaptive inactivity that increases the efficiency of activity by regulating its timing and reducing energy use when activity is not beneficial. Thus, animals can go without rest when specific demands, such as mating, favour being awake. Sexually active male blue wildebeest (bulls) are typically territorial, and it has been reported that when a bull is protecting a harem during the mating season (rut), he neither eats nor rests.

Validation of Enzyme Immunoassays via an Adrenocorticotrophic Stimulation Test for the Non-Invasive Quantification of Stress-Related Hormone Metabolites in Naked Mole-Rats.

Small size in mammals usually restricts long-term, frequent monitoring of endocrine function using plasma as a matrix. Thus, the non-invasive monitoring of hormone metabolite concentrations in excreta may provide an invaluable approach. The aim of the current study was to examine the suitability of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for monitoring responses to stressors in the naked mole-rat (, NMR) using urine and feces as hormone matrices.

Decadal decline in maternal body condition of a Southern Ocean capital breeder.

The changing physical properties of the Southern Ocean are known to impact the recruitment and survival of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). For oceanic krill predators, the resulting reduced energy intake may lead to population-level effects likely preceded by an alteration in the animals' body condition. This is especially true for capital breeders that rely on stored energy for successful reproduction.

A comprehensive profile of reproductive hormones in eusocial Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis).

In species where sociality and group cohesion are primarily determined by the maintenance of a reproductive division of labour and cooperative behaviours, the eusocial Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) presents a model which provides behavioural and endocrine distinctions between sex (males and females) and reproductive class (breeders and non-breeders). Although previous studies have demonstrated the endocrine aspects of reproductive suppression and behaviour in Damaraland mole-rats, they have focused on one hormone separately and on different conspecifics and samples across time. Unfortunately, this could introduce extrinsic biases when using these studies to compile complete hormonal profiles for comparisons.

Aggression, Boldness, and Exploration Personality Traits in the Subterranean Naked Mole-Rat () Disperser Morphs.

Animal personality traits (consistent behavioral differences between individuals in their behavior across time and/or situation) affect individual fitness through facets, such as dispersal. In eusocial naked mole-rat () colonies, a disperser morph may arise with distinct morphological, behavioral, and physiological characteristics. This study aimed to quantify the personality traits of a cohort of disperser morphs of naked mole-rat (NMR).

Exploring the effect of auditory stimuli on activity levels, milk yield and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in Holstein cows.

Health and welfare are inextricably linked within efficient and sustainable dairy production, and several potential risk factors may affect the well-being of dairy cows, including chronic stress. Although auditory stimuli could be used as a tool to decrease the potential stress that cows might experience, it is seldom applied to livestock production systems due to the perception that enrichment is an unnecessary expense. This study aimed to explore the effect of auditory stimuli as a form of enrichment in a Holstein herd by monitoring fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations (a non-invasive, stress-associated biomarker).

Patterns of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels in captive roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) in relation to reproductive status and season.

Populations of roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) in southern Africa have experienced a drastic decline over the past few decades and this situation has led to the development of intensive breeding programmes to support conservation efforts. However, little is known about related welfare aspects, including stress-related physiological biomarkers. The present study set out to establish a non-invasive method to monitor faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations as a measure of stress and determine fGCM concentrations in relation to male reproductive activity and female reproductive status in the roan antelope.

The endocrine control of reproductive suppression in an aseasonally breeding social subterranean rodent, the Mahali mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus mahali).

Cooperative behaviour, sociality and reproductive suppression in African mole-rats have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, endocrine correlates of some species of social mole-rats have been neglected, and these species may hold the key to understanding the behavioural and physiological complexity that allows the maintenance of social groups in African mole-rats. In this study, we investigated endocrine correlates implicated in the suppression of reproduction and cooperative behaviours, namely glucocorticoids (a stress-related indicator) through faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs), plasma testosterone (an indicator of aggression) and plasma prolactin in the Mahali mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus mahali) across reproductive classes (breeding females and males, non-breeding females and males) and season (wet and dry).

Developing welfare parameters for African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in fenced reserves in South Africa.

South Africa has many fenced reserves harbouring small to medium sized populations of African elephant (Loxodonta africana), most of which have been translocated. Elephants on fenced reserves may be exposed to various management interventions and practices (translocation, hunting, darting, high tourism impact, contraception programs, disruption due to infrastructure maintenance, etc.).

A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite analyses of African wild dogs ().

Endocrine studies using faeces as hormone matrix have become increasingly popular to examine adrenocortical activity in wildlife. A prerequisite for this approach is to minimize alteration of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) composition post-defecation. This is done by freezing the collected material as soon as possible after collection, and removing moisture from the frozen faecal samples afterwards (usually by freeze-drying).

Social and Seasonal Factors Contribute to Shifts in Male African Elephant () Foraging and Activity Patterns in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

African savannah elephants () are well-known as ecosystem engineers with the ability to modify vegetation structure. The present study aimed to examine how male elephant foraging behaviour is affected across (a) season (wet versus dry); (b) time of day (before or after noon); (c) presence or absence of other elephants; and (d) reproductive state (musth versus no musth). Six radio-collared adult elephant bulls were observed twice per week from June 2007-June 2008 in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa.

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

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 () in an Afromontane habitat. To do so, we established an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for monitoring fGCM concentrations in the species using a biological validation.

Urofaecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in African penguin () chick populations experiencing different levels of human disturbance.

Despite the importance of ecotourism in species conservation, little is known about the industry's effects on wildlife. In South Africa, some African penguin () colonies have become tourist attractions. The species is globally endangered, with population sizes decreasing over the past 40 years.