Monitoring the effects of land transformation on African clawless otters(Aonyx capensis)using fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations as a measure of stress

作     者：Tshepiso L.MAJELANTLE Trevor MCINTYRE Andre GANSWINDT 

作者机构：Mammal Research InstituteDepartment of Zoology and EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa Department of Life and Consumer SciencesUniversity of South AfricaPretoriaSouth Africa Endocrine Research LaboratoryDepartment of Anatomy and PhysiologyUniversity of PretoriaOnderstepoortSouth Africa Centre for Veterinary Wildlife StudiesFaculty of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of PretoriaOnderstepoortSouth Africa 

出 版 物：《Integrative Zoology》 (整合动物学（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2020年第15卷第4期

页      面：293-306页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 0905[农学-畜牧学] 0906[农学-兽医学] 071002[理学-动物学] 

基　　金：Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency National Research Foundation National Research Foundation, NRF Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, डीएसटी Department of Science and Technology, Government of Kerala 

主　　题：African clawless otter fecal glucocorticoid metabolites non-invasive hormone measurement stress urbanization 

摘      要：In a time of increasing environmental change caused by anthropogenic disturbance,there is a greater need to understand animal adaptations to manmade environments.In this regard,the measurement of stress-related endocrine markers provides a useful tool to examine the impact of environmental challenges and the physiological consequences for wildlife occupying such space.The aims of the present study were to validate fecal glucocorticoid metabolite(fGCM)concentrations as a measure of stress using samples from a male African clawless otter(Aonyx capensis;n=1)and to compare fGCM concentrations of otters occurring in a transformed and in 2 natural areas in South Africa.From the 5 different enzyme-immunoassays(EIA)tested,a cortisol and oxoetiocholanolone(measuring 11,17 dioxoandrostanes)EIA revealed the highest response(74%and 48%increase,respectively)30 and 24 hours after a stress event(translocation of a captive individual as part of its rehabilitation prior to release),respectively.For both EIAs,fGCM concentrations were comparable for samples collected up to 3 h post-defecation.Using the cortisol EIA for subsequent analyses,fGCM concentrations of animals from the transformed area(n=20;mean[±SD]:0.468[±0.539]µg/g dry weight[DW])were significantly higher(P=0.013)than those from otters in the natural areas(n=17;0.242[±0.226]µg/g DW).These preliminary results suggest that African clawless otters may have increased adrenocortical activity that could be due to conditions linked to living in a transformed environment.