Individual and Seasonal Variation in Fecal Testosterone and Cortisol Levels of Wild Male Tufted Capuchin Monkeys, Cebus apella nigritus

Lynch, Jessica W.; Ziegler, Toni E.; Strier, Karen B.

doi:10.1006/hbeh.2002.1772

Cited by 199 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…But if testosterone has only an inhibitory effect over a certain threshold level that is only achieved in breeding males, the statistical power (sample size) of this study might have been too low. An experimental study under standardized laboratory conditions would be needed to test the hypothesis that testosterone inhibits corticosterone levels in striped mice Breeding male mammals often show an increase of testosterone levels during the breeding season (Lynch, Ziegler, and Strier, 2002;Place and Kenagy, 2000) and I found the same for the striped mouse. In species where breeding is associated with high malemale competition this can be explained by the challenge hypothesis (Wingfield, Hegner, Dufty, and Ball, 1990) and testosterone is often increased in association with territorial aggression (Archawaranon and Wiley, 1988;Marler and Moore, 1988).…”

Section: Testosterone Levels: Influences Of Social Class and Seasonmentioning

confidence: 97%

Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent

Schradin

2008

Hormones and Behavior

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Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent Schradin, C Schradin, C (2008). Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent. Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent AbstractAnimals have to adjust their physiology to seasonal changes, in response to variation in food availability, social tactics and reproduction. I compared basal corticosterone and testosterone levels in free ranging striped mouse from a desert habitat, comparing between the sexes, breeding and philopatric non-breeding individuals, and between the breeding and the non-breeding season. I expected differences between breeders and non-breeders and between seasons with high and low food availability. Basal serum corticosterone was measured from 132 different individuals and serum testosterone from 176 different individuals of free living striped mice. Corticosterone and testosterone levels were independent of age, body weight and not influenced by carrying a transmitter. The levels of corticosterone and testosterone declined by approximately 50% from the breeding to the non-breeding season in breeding females as well as non-breeding males and females. In contrast, breeding males showed much lower corticosterone levels during the breeding season than all other classes, and were the only class that showed an increase of corticosterone from the breeding to the non-breeding season. As a result, breeding males had similar corticosterone levels as other social classes during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season, breeding males had much higher testosterone levels than other classes, which decreased significantly from the breeding to the non-breeding season. My results support the prediction that corticosterone decreases during periods of low food abundance. Variation in the pattern of hormonal secretion in striped mice might assist them to cope with seasonal changes in energy demand in a desert habitat. AbstractAnimals have to adjust their physiology to seasonal changes, in response to variation in food availability, social tactics and reproduction. I compared basal corticosterone and testosterone levels in free ranging striped mouse from a desert habitat, comparing between the sexes, breeding and philopatric non-breeding individuals, and between the breeding and the non-breeding season. I expected differences between breeders and nonbreeders and between seasons with high and low food availability. Basal serum corticosterone was measured from 132 different individuals and serum testosterone from 176 different individuals of free living striped mice. Corticosterone and testosterone levels were independent of age, body weight and not influenced by carrying a transmitter.The levels of corticosterone and testosterone declined by approximately 50% from the breeding to the non-breeding season in breeding females as well as n...

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Section: Testosterone Levels: Influences Of Social Class and Seasonmentioning

confidence: 97%

Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent

Schradin

2008

Hormones and Behavior

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“…(Brockman and Whitten, 1996), field extraction into 317 aqueous solutions (Lynch et al, 2002;Strier et al, 1999), 318 or the addition of preservatives to the ethanol. 319 Fourth, the source of changes occurring during long-320 term storage may need to be identified to determine 321 exactly what actions are most appropriate to ameliorate 322 storage effects.…”

Section: U N C O R R E C T E D P R O O Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When a cooling mechanism is 34 available, cold storage is the preferred method for fecal 35 sample preservation in the field. Some methods for 36 preserving feces in field conditions include immediate 37 freezing in liquid nitrogen Wasser et 38 al., 1988), storage in ethanol in a )20°C freezer (Strier 39 and Ziegler, 1997;Wasser, 1996;Wasser et al, 1997), 40 and field extraction, followed by storage of the extract at 41 sub-zero temperatures (Lynch et al, 2002;Stavisky et 42 al., 1995;Strier et al, 1999). However, liquid nitrogen, 43 dry ice, or freezers are not always available in the field.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A matter of time: evaluating the storage of fecal samples for steroid analysis

Khan

Altmann

Isani

et al. 2002

General and Comparative Endocrinology

196

181

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10The extraction and immunoassay of fecal steroids is an increasingly common technique, used in both captive and field studies to 11 provide an approximation of an animal's circulating concentration of hormones through non-invasive methods. Storage of fecal 12 samples is of critical concern because fecal bacteria metabolize fecal steroids within hours after deposit. Ethanol is often used as a 13 preservative for fecal samples stored for several hours at room temperature. We examined the stability of fecal estrogen (fE) and 14 glucocorticoid (fGC) metabolites from baboon (Papio cynocephalus) samples in a 95% ethanol solution at ambient temperature and 15 at )20°C over the course of six months, to determine the effect of storage on steroid concentrations. As measured by radioim-16 munoassay, fE metabolite concentrations increased by 122% at 90 days and fGC metabolite concentrations increased by 92% at 120 17 days. After peaking, both hormones declined to near initial concentrations by 180 days in ambient temperature samples. In samples 18 stored at sub-zero temperatures, fGC metabolite concentrations showed a similar but dampened pattern, while fE metabolite 19 concentrations exhibited small and variable changes with no consistent trend. We discuss explanations for the dynamic pattern of 20 changing fecal metabolite concentrations and offer practical and analytical guidance to field workers for situations in which ideal 21 conditions for stabilizing hormones are not available. Ó 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. 22

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“…Examples have included water or food restriction for several weeks for small rodents in laboratory settings (Harper and Austad, 2000;Kitaysky et al, 2001a;Nelson, 1993;Nelson et al, 1989), and harsh seasons such as winter or dry season in free-ranging animals (Cavigelli, 1999;Huber et al, 2003;Lynch et al, 2002;Pereira et al, 2006;Romero et al, 1997;2000;Saltz and White, 1991;Strier et al, 1999;Wilson and Wingfield, 1994;Wingfield, 1984;review by Boonstra, 2004 andby Reeder andKramer, 2005). Because all the species studied under these conditions have been seasonal breeders, however, it has not been clear to what extent the elevated GC concentrations occur in response to the inclement weather conditions or to the inherent physiological challenges characteristic of the animals' particular life history stages, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with a challenging environment: Effects of seasonal variability and reproductive status on glucocorticoid concentrations of female baboons (Papio cynocephalus)

Gesquiere

Khan

Shek

et al. 2008

Hormones and Behavior

105

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Environmental stressors impact physiology and behavior in many species of animals. These effects are partly mediated through changing concentrations of glucocorticoids, which also vary with reproductive state and social conditions. Prior research has focused largely on seasonal breeders, but the close temporal linkage between season and reproductive state in these species hinders ability to disentangle environmental effects from those of the animal's reproductive status. Here we assessed the effects of environmental challenges on the fecal glucocorticoid (fGC) levels of non-seasonal breeders, female baboons (Papio cynocephalus) of Amboseli, Kenya. Amboseli is characterized by a long dry season, during which food and water become scarce, and by extreme temperatures above 40°C in the shade during some months of the year. We found that after accounting for female reproductive status and individual variability, females exhibited higher fGC levels during the dry season than during the wet season. Further, during the wet season, fGC levels were higher in months of high average daily maximum temperatures. During the dry season, fGC levels were elevated both in hotter months and in months during which the baboons spent a relatively high proportion of time feeding. In spite of these stressors, female baboons reproduce during all months of the year in Amboseli, unlike most other mammals in this environment. This may be attributable to their extreme adaptability, specifically their diversified diet, and their ability to modify their behavior, including their activity profiles.

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Individual and Seasonal Variation in Fecal Testosterone and Cortisol Levels of Wild Male Tufted Capuchin Monkeys, Cebus apella nigritus

Cited by 199 publications

References 41 publications

Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent

Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent

A matter of time: evaluating the storage of fecal samples for steroid analysis

Coping with a challenging environment: Effects of seasonal variability and reproductive status on glucocorticoid concentrations of female baboons (Papio cynocephalus)

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