A novel method for the measurement of glucocorticoids in dermal secretions of amphibians

Santymire, Rachel M.; Manjerovic, Mary Beth; Sacerdote-Velat, Allison B

doi:10.1093/conphys/coy008

Cited by 30 publications

(60 citation statements)

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“…Noninvasive sampling also allows for reduced sample sizes to estimate temporal patterns and control for individual variation in marked individuals or individually-recognizable individuals in the lab and wild. Hormone metabolites can be quantified through a variety of non-invasive biological samples, such as urine, water, skin swabs, and saliva, and have been used with success to monitor amphibian endocrine functions (Gabor et al, 2013;Narayan, 2013;Hammond et al, 2018;Santymire et al, 2018; Table 1). Measurement of adrenal GC metabolites in urine and feces is of considerable interest to conservation managers as it gives an indication of the link between stress and reproductive success in animals (Carroll et al, 1990;Creel et al, 1997;Wasser et al, 1997;Hopkins et al, 1999;Holt et al, 2003;Pukazhenthi and Wildt, 2004).…”

Section: Using Non-invasive Methods Vs Plasma or Whole-body Homogenamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this table, we do not evaluate the non-invasive dermal swab method because the GCs detected in skin secretions could be independent of the HPI axis as the skin itself is recognized as an endocrine tissue. GC responses in dermal skin secretions are possibly a result of a much slower rate of GC secretion than GC metabolites detected via other non-invasive samples, such as water or urine (Santymire et al, 2018).…”

Section: Using Non-invasive Methods Vs Plasma or Whole-body Homogenamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-invasive Methods for Measuring and Monitoring Stress Physiology in Imperiled Amphibians

et al. 2019

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Global climate change is negatively impacting global biodiversity and ectothermic vertebrates, with amphibians being the most imperiled vertebrate taxa. Increased mean global atmospheric temperatures, high rates of habitat degradation, and exposure to infectious diseases, such as chytridiomycosis, have contributed to population declines and extinctions of rare and endangered amphibian species. Field-based monitoring of physiological endocrine traits can help determine the sub-lethal effects of environmental stressors and provide early alerts when populations are chronically stressed. Recent advances in amphibian stress endocrinology include the development and use of non-invasive methods to quantify the glucocorticoid, or stress biomarker, corticosterone. Non-invasive methods, such as urinary, skin and buccal swabs, and water-borne hormone monitoring methods (suited for terrestrial and aquatic dwelling species), are available to quantify baseline and short-term physiological stress responses of amphibians under field settings. In this review, we illustrate, by using two case studies of aquatic and terrestrial amphibian species, the applications of non-invasive corticosterone monitoring methods to advance the ecological knowledge and conservation of imperiled amphibian species, discuss the limitations of these methods, and provide future directions for the use of non-invasive hormone monitoring methods. We highlight the use of non-invasive field endocrinology methods to monitor the impacts of environmental stressors on the physiology of amphibians, which can be applied to advance ecological research, conservation, and management of imperiled species.

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Section: Using Non-invasive Methods Vs Plasma or Whole-body Homogenamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Using Non-invasive Methods Vs Plasma or Whole-body Homogenamentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-invasive Methods for Measuring and Monitoring Stress Physiology in Imperiled Amphibians

et al. 2019

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“…We examined the GC response of salamanders to elevated temperature using a water-borne CORT assay (Gabor et al, 2013) which provides an integrated measure reflecting an average of blood GCs that have been metabolized and excreted from urine and feces, and possibly through the skin, over a period of cumulative exposure (Santymire et al, 2018;Sheriff et al, 2011). We measured CORT release rates for each salamander at an average temperature (15°C) and an elevated temperature (25°C).…”

Section: Thermal Cort Response Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological responses to elevated temperature across the geographic range of a terrestrial salamander

Novarro

Gabor

Goff

et al. 2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Widespread species often possess physiological mechanisms for coping with thermal heterogeneity, and uncovering these mechanisms provides insight into species' responses to climate change. The emergence of non-invasive corticosterone (CORT) assays allows us to rapidly assess physiological responses to environmental change on a large scale. We lack, however, a basic understanding of how temperature affects CORT, and whether temperature and CORT interactively affect performance. Here, we examined the effects of elevated temperature on CORT and whole-organism performance in a terrestrial salamander, , across a latitudinal gradient. Using water-borne hormone assays, we found that raising ambient temperature from 15 to 25°C increased CORT release at a similar rate for salamanders from all sites. However, CORT release rates were higher overall in the warmest, southernmost site. Elevated temperatures also affected physiological performance, but the effects differed among sites. Ingestion rate increased in salamanders from the warmer sites but remained the same for those from cooler sites. Mass gain was reduced for most individuals, although this reduction was more dramatic in salamanders from the cooler sites. We also found a temperature-dependent relationship between CORT and food conversion efficiency (i.e. the amount of mass gained per unit food ingested). CORT was negatively related to food conversion efficiency at 25°C but was unrelated at 15°C. Thus, the energetic gains of elevated ingestion rates may be counteracted by elevated CORT release rates experienced by salamanders in warmer environments. By integrating multiple physiological metrics, we highlight the complex relationships between temperature and individual responses to warming climates.

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“…Metrics of stress physiology are among the most commonly used tools in conservation physiology, and GCs in particular continue to amass popularity as indicators of disturbance in wildlife ( Dantzer et al , 2014 ; Lennox and Cooke, 2014 ; Sopinka et al , 2015 ). The desire to ascertain physiological stress through GC concentrations is evidenced by the array of novel sample types continually being investigated, which has recently extended to whale ear wax ( Trumble et al , 2013 ) and amphibian skin secretions ( Santymire et al , 2018 ). If a sample type could potentially contain GCs, researchers are working to collect, process and assay it as effectively as possible, and we applaud the ingenuity involved.…”

Section: Next Steps: Continuing To Improve the Value Of The Toolboxmentioning

confidence: 99%

The conservation physiology toolbox: status and opportunities

Madliger

Love

Hultine

et al. 2018

Conservation Physiology

109

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For over a century, physiological tools and techniques have been allowing researchers to characterize how organisms respond to changes in their natural environment and how they interact with human activities or infrastructure. Over time, many of these techniques have become part of the conservation physiology toolbox, which is used to monitor, predict, conserve, and restore plant and animal populations under threat. Here, we provide a summary of the tools that currently comprise the conservation physiology toolbox. By assessing patterns in articles that have been published in ‘Conservation Physiology’ over the past 5 years that focus on introducing, refining and validating tools, we provide an overview of where researchers are placing emphasis in terms of taxa and physiological sub-disciplines. Although there is certainly diversity across the toolbox, metrics of stress physiology (particularly glucocorticoids) and studies focusing on mammals have garnered the greatest attention, with both comprising the majority of publications (>45%). We also summarize the types of validations that are actively being completed, including those related to logistics (sample collection, storage and processing), interpretation of variation in physiological traits and relevance for conservation science. Finally, we provide recommendations for future tool refinement, with suggestions for: (i) improving our understanding of the applicability of glucocorticoid physiology; (ii) linking multiple physiological and non-physiological tools; (iii) establishing a framework for plant conservation physiology; (iv) assessing links between environmental disturbance, physiology and fitness; (v) appreciating opportunities for validations in under-represented taxa; and (vi) emphasizing tool validation as a core component of research programmes. Overall, we are confident that conservation physiology will continue to increase its applicability to more taxa, develop more non-invasive techniques, delineate where limitations exist, and identify the contexts necessary for interpretation in captivity and the wild.

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A novel method for the measurement of glucocorticoids in dermal secretions of amphibians

Cited by 30 publications

References 50 publications

Non-invasive Methods for Measuring and Monitoring Stress Physiology in Imperiled Amphibians

Non-invasive Methods for Measuring and Monitoring Stress Physiology in Imperiled Amphibians

Physiological responses to elevated temperature across the geographic range of a terrestrial salamander

The conservation physiology toolbox: status and opportunities

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