Validation and use of hair cortisol as a measure of chronic stress in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus)

Mastromonaco, Gabriela F.; Gunn, Kelsey; McCurdy-Adams, Hannah; Edwards, Darryl B.; Schulte‐Hostedde, Albrecht I.

doi:10.1093/conphys/cou055

Cited by 65 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…While we agree with other authors regarding the power of biological validation of GC measurements (Sheriff et al., ; Touma & Palme, ), the limited feasibility of validation must also be acknowledged for some species. The logistical difficulties of a long‐term stress trial in wild animals can lead to mixed results when conducting a biological validation of hair‐based stress analyses (Koren et al., ; Mastromonaco et al., ). For example, Mastromonaco et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual‐based analysis of hair corticosterone reveals factors influencing chronic stress in the American pika

Waterhouse

Sjodin

Ray

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Glucocorticoids are often measured in wildlife to assess physiological responses to environmental or ecological stress. Hair, blood, saliva, or fecal samples are generally used depending on the timescale of the stress response being investigated and species-specific considerations. Here, we report the first use of hair samples to measure long-term corticosterone levels in the climate-sensitive American pika (Ochotona princeps). We validated an immunoassay-based measurement of corticosterone extracted from hair samples and compared corticosterone estimates obtained from plasma, hair, and fecal samples of nine pikas. To demonstrate an ecological application of this technique, we characterized physiological stress in 49 pikas sampled and released at eight sites along two elevational transects. Microclimate variation was measured at each site using both ambient and subsurface temperature sensors. We used an information theoretic approach to compare support for linear, mixed-effects models relating corticosterone estimates to microclimate, body size, and sex. Corticosterone was measured accurately in pika hair samples after correcting for the influence of sample mass on corticosterone extraction efficiency. Hair-and plasma-based estimates of corticosterone were weakly correlated. The best-supported model suggested that corticosterone was lower in larger, male pikas, and at locations with higher ambient temperatures in summer. Our results are consistent with a general negative relationship between body mass and glucocorticoid concentration observed across mammalian species, attributed to the higher mass-specific metabolic rates of smaller bodied animals. The higher corticosterone levels in female pikas likely reflected the physiological demands of reproduction, as observed in a wide array of mammalian species. Additionally, we establish the first direct physiological evidence for thermal stress in the American pika through nonlethal sampling of corticosterone. Interestingly, our data suggest evidence for cold stress likely induced during the summer molting period.This technique should provide a useful tool to researchers wishing to assess chronic stress in climate-sensitive mammals. K E Y W O R D Sbody mass, climate change, glucocorticoids, mammal, metabolic rate, thermal stress, wildlife

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual‐based analysis of hair corticosterone reveals factors influencing chronic stress in the American pika

Waterhouse

Sjodin

Ray

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…(2009) found that snowshoe hare dams exposed to an environmental stressor (predation) had up to 837% higher faecal GC metabolite levels. In addition, several studies have reported at least a 4-fold increase in faecal GC metabolite concentrations after pharmacological stimulation of the adrenal system (Miller et al ., 1991; Dehnhard et al ., 2001; Sheriff et al ., 2009; Mastromonaco et al ., 2014). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All the same, we found no significant correlation between mean faecal cortisol or corticosterone and hair cortisol levels. Studies examining the relationship between cortisol in hair and other sample matrices, such as saliva and faeces, show conflicting results (Meyer and Novak, 2012; Bryan et al ., 2013; Mastromonaco et al ., 2014). The precise mechanism of GC integration into hair remains undetermined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites, stress and reindeer: infection with abomasal nematodes is not associated with elevated glucocorticoid levels in hair or faeces

et al. 2016

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“…Studies have shown that different species may cope differently with forest fragmentation and selective logging (Leshyk et al., 2012; Lucas et al., 2006; Mastromonaco et al., 2014; Suorsa et al., 2003, 2004; Wasser et al., 1997). Thus, we highlight that not all species may have predictable and similar physiological responses to forest disturbances (as suggested by Rimbach et al., 2013), even when consequences in relative abundance are negative for most of them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does selective logging stress tropical forest invertebrates? Using fat stores to examine sublethal responses in dung beetles

França

Barlow

Araújo

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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The increased global demand for tropical timber has driven vast expanses of tropical forests to be selectively logged worldwide. While logging impacts on wildlife are predicted to change species distribution and abundance, the underlying physiological responses are poorly understood. Although there is a growing consensus that selective logging impacts on natural populations start with individual stress‐induced sublethal responses, this literature is dominated by investigations conducted with vertebrates from temperate zones. Moreover, the sublethal effects of human‐induced forest disturbance on tropical invertebrates have never been examined. To help address this knowledge gap, we examined the body fat content and relative abundance of three dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) with minimum abundance of 40 individuals within each examined treatment level. These were sampled across 34 plots in a before‐after control‐impact design (BACI) in a timber concession area of the Brazilian Amazon. For the first time, we present evidence of logging‐induced physiological stress responses in tropical invertebrates. Selective logging increased the individual levels of fat storage and reduced the relative abundance of two dung beetle species. Given this qualitative similarity, we support the measurement of body fat content as reliable biomarker to assess stress‐induced sublethal effects on dung beetles. Understanding how environmental modification impacts the wildlife has never been more important. Our novel approach provides new insights into the mechanisms through which forest disturbances impose population‐level impacts on tropical invertebrates.

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Validation and use of hair cortisol as a measure of chronic stress in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus)

Abstract: Cortisol is a hormone released when animals experience stress. We validated the measurement of cortisol from hair for use in wildlife using wild chipmunks, and tested the use of hair cortisol by measuring cortisol from chipmunks captured in natural and logged sites.

Cited by 65 publications

References 55 publications

Individual‐based analysis of hair corticosterone reveals factors influencing chronic stress in the American pika

Individual‐based analysis of hair corticosterone reveals factors influencing chronic stress in the American pika

Parasites, stress and reindeer: infection with abomasal nematodes is not associated with elevated glucocorticoid levels in hair or faeces

Does selective logging stress tropical forest invertebrates? Using fat stores to examine sublethal responses in dung beetles

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