Stress level in wild harbour porpoises (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) during satellite tagging measured by respiration, heart rate and cortisol

Eskesen, I.G.; Teilmann, Jonas; Geertsen, Bruno Mølgaard; Desportes, Geneviève; Rigét, Frank; Dietz, Runé; Larsen, Finn; Siebert, Ursula

doi:10.1017/s0025315408003159

Cited by 31 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Differences were noted between sexes only for the innermost blubber layer; however, the small sample size for females precludes a complete assessment of the influence of sex on cortisol. Results in the literature regarding sex differences in cortisol are mixed in marine and terrestrial mammals, with some documenting differences among sexes in polar bears (Oskam et al 2004;Macbeth et al 2012) whereas others found no differences in polar bears, grizzly bears, and harbour porpoises (Eskesen et al 2009;Macbeth et al 2010;Bechshoft et al 2013). The higher cortisol levels in the metabolically active inner blubber layer of females compared to males may be a reflection of higher stress conditions or energetic demands in reproductive females (Macbeth et al 2012 and references therein).…”

Section: Cortisol Levels and Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortisol levels in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Setting a benchmark for Marine Protected Area monitoring

Loseto¹,

Pleskach²,

Hoover³

et al. 2017

Arctic Science

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Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are facing profound changes in their habitat, with impacts expected at the individual and population level. Detecting and monitoring exposure and response to environmental stressors is necessary for beluga conservation and management of human activities. Cortisol has proven as a useful tool to assess stress on wildlife. Cortisol was measured in three blubber layers and plasma in subsistencehunted beluga whales from the summers of 2007 to 2010 using an HPLC/MS/MS. We assessed the effect of biological and biochemical factors. Cortisol ranged from undetectable to 17.8 ng/g in blubber and 2.5 to 61.2 ng/mL in plasma. Concentrations were highest in the inner blubber layer likely reflecting circulating levels. All tissues were significantly higher in 2008 for reasons that remain unclear. Cortisol levels were on par with resting levels in captive belugas. Best fit models for cortisol revealed age to be an important determinant along with length and blubber thickness. Lack of relationships with biochemical factors such as organic contaminants suggests current cortisol levels are not significantly influenced by present contaminant concentrations. Our findings support the use of middle and outer blubber tissues for an integrated measure of chronic stress that are less subject to the influence of acute stress.

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Section: Cortisol Levels and Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortisol levels in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Setting a benchmark for Marine Protected Area monitoring

Loseto¹,

Pleskach²,

Hoover³

et al. 2017

Arctic Science

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“…Harbour porpoises were incidentally caught in pound net fishery and tagged within 36 h of being discovered by the fisherman. An Argos satellite transmitter was attached to the dorsal fin of each harbour porpoise using one, two or three 5 mm diameter polyoxymethylene pins covered with silicone tubing (for more details on tagging procedure, transmitters and effects of tagging, see Eskesen et al, 2009;Geertsen et al, 2004;Teilmann et al, 2007;Sveegaard et al, 2011). For photos of an attached transmitter see Sonne et al (2012).…”

Section: Satellite Telemetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining management units for cetaceans by combining genetics, morphology, acoustics and satellite tracking

Sveegaard

Galatius

Dietz

et al. 2015

Global Ecology and Conservation

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a b s t r a c tManaging animal units is essential in biological conservation and requires spatial and temporal identification of such units. Since even neighbouring populations often have different conservation status and face different levels of anthropogenic pressure, detailed knowledge of population structure, seasonal range and overlap with animals from neighbouring populations is required to manage each unit separately. Previous studies on genetic structure and morphologic separation suggests three distinct populations of harbour porpoises with limited geographic overlap in the North Sea (NS), the Belt Sea (BS) and the Baltic Proper (BP) region. In this study, we aim to identify a management unit for the BS population of harbour porpoises. We use Argos satellite data and genetics from biopsies of tagged harbour porpoises as well as acoustic data from 40 passive acoustic data loggers to determine management areas with the least overlap between populations and thus the least error when abundance and population status is estimated. Discriminant analysis of the satellite tracking data from the BS and NS populations showed that the best fit of the management unit border during the summer months was an east-west line from Denmark to Sweden at latitude 56.95°N. For the border between BS and BP, satellite tracking data indicate a sharp decline in population density at 13.5°E, with 90% of the locations being west of this line. This was supported by the acoustic data with the average daily detection rate being 27.5 times higher west of 13.5°E as compared to east of 13.5°E. By using this novel multidisciplinary approach, we defined a management unit for the BS harbour porpoise population. We recommend that these boundaries are used for future monitoring efforts of this population under the EU directives. The boundaries may also be used for conservation efforts during the summer months, while seasonal movements of harbour porpoises should be considered during winter.

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“…Although stress reactions occur naturally throughout an individual's life due to, for example, social competition, breeding behaviour, or environmental demands, anthropogenic factors such as vessel traffic, noise, fishing, and chemical pollution can act as significant stressors and negatively impact the health of cetaceans (St. Aubin & Dierauf, 2001;Eskesen et al, 2009). During stress reactions, neurologic, endocrinologic, and immunologic changes take place, and if the animal is unable to adapt to the stressful event, deleterious effects or death may occur (Moberg, 1987;St.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the present study, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine), and the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were studied. Data on cortisol obtained parallel to this study were already published in Eskesen et al (2009) for free-ranging harbor porpoises and in Desportes et al (2007) for harbor porpoises in human care. These results are cited here for statistical analysis in search of relationships with blood organochlorine concentrations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigations of Thyroid and Stress Hormones in Free-Ranging and Captive Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena): A Pilot Study

Siebert¹

2011

Aquat Mamm

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Increasing anthropogenic activities in the marine environment are potential threats to the health of harbor porpoises by causing unnatural continuous stress to the animals. The present study was a first assessment to investigate stress and thyroid hormones of free-ranging and captive harbor porpoises. In addition, hormone levels were measured to compare those with concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in the blood of a limited number of animals (10 free-ranging and 7 captive individuals). Samples of seven captive harbor porpoises were taken at the Dolphinarium Harderwijk (the Netherlands) and the Fjord & Baelt Centre in Kerteminde (Denmark). Blood from 29 free-ranging harbor porpoises was collected within the frame of tagging projects on animals accidentally caught in pound nets in Denmark. Median levels of the catecholamines adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine were higher in free-ranging harbor porpoises compared to the captive animals. The median value of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) for captive animals from the Fjord & Baelt Centre was almost three-fold lower than in the free-ranging harbor porpoises. The median values of T4 were similar in both captive and free-ranging harbor porpoises (9.3 to 10.8. µg/dL). T3 levels of the investigated harbor porpoises varied widely between individuals. No significant correlation between any investigated hormones and investigated organochlorine compounds was observed. The study provides first results on stress hormones other than cortisol. Further investigations are needed to improve the understanding of stress hormones and the influence of anthropogenic stressors on the health of harbor porpoises.

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Stress level in wild harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) during satellite tagging measured by respiration, heart rate and cortisol

Cited by 31 publications

References 21 publications

Cortisol levels in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Setting a benchmark for Marine Protected Area monitoring

Cortisol levels in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Setting a benchmark for Marine Protected Area monitoring

Defining management units for cetaceans by combining genetics, morphology, acoustics and satellite tracking

Investigations of Thyroid and Stress Hormones in Free-Ranging and Captive Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena): A Pilot Study

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