What are you actually measuring? A review of techniques that integrate the stress response on distinct time‐scales

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 34(10), P. 2030 - 2044

Published: July 31, 2020

Abstract The field of stress physiology has rapidly expanded, particularly in those fields interested identifying chronic wild animals. Despite this expansion, remains difficult to assess and understand, due large part the temporal complexities common measurement techniques. While response happens on a short time‐scale, results over longer time‐scales. Therefore, dynamics techniques used ‘stress’ need be fully understood order applied correctly. In review, we provide information 37 physiological behavioural metrics that are commonly measure stress, especially free‐living vertebrates, with particular focus which time‐scale they integrate stress. We organize these into seven broad categories based system most closely associated (glucocorticoids, sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system, immune, metabolic, cellular/molecular, tissue development behaviour). conclude by summarizing kind biological questions variation each technique is suitable for. This review will enable researchers understand for better design future studies. A free Plain Language Summary can found within Supporting Information article.

Language: Английский

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Virtual Fencing Is Comparable to Electric Tape Fencing for Cattle Behavior and Welfare

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Dec. 10, 2019

Virtual fencing technology restricts animal movement via communicated signals without physical boundaries. Specifically, the eShepherdTM automated virtual system operates GPS and provides stimuli a neckband device. An audio warning tone is emitted at boundary which followed by an electrical pulse if continues moving forward. Animal welfare priority consideration for commercial implementation of systems. The current study assessed effects fence, in comparison to electric tape contain eight groups 12-14-month old steers within six-hectare area across separate paddocks four weeks following one week acclimation paddocks. Cattle were two cohorts (four groups/cohort) from January until March 2019 Australia. Body weight fecal samples each taken weekly. Fecal processed cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations. IceQube R®'s fitted leg measured individual lying standing time neckbands recorded location all administered stimuli. maintained their allocated both fence types four-week period those with fences responding correctly cue average 71.51 ± 2.26% cues animals being only. There was variation rate learning. cohort 1 showed greater increase body over than (P = 0.006) but this difference not confirmed 2. type statistically influenced total daily 0.02) less cattle equated 20 minutes per day. no differences between FCM concentrations 0.39) decreased < 0.001). These results indicate that effectively contains prescribed substantial behavioural impacts on cattle.

Language: Английский

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Heart rate as a measure of emotional arousal in evolutionary biology

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 376(1831), P. 20200479 - 20200479

Published: June 28, 2021

How individuals interact with their environment and respond to changes is a key area of research in evolutionary biology. A physiological parameter that provides an instant proxy for the activation automatic nervous system, can be measured relatively easily, modulation heart rate. Over past four decades, rate has been used assess emotional arousal non-human animals variety contexts, including social behaviour, animal cognition, welfare personality. In this review, I summarize how measuring provided new insights into cope challenges environment. advantages limitations different technologies measure context, wearable belts implantable transmitters, provide overview prospective avenues using established technologies, special focus on implications applied welfare. This article part theme issue ‘Measuring physiology free-living (Part II)’.

Language: Английский

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Cortisol Immunosensors: A Literature Review

Biosensors, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(2), P. 285 - 285

Published: Feb. 16, 2023

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that involved in broad range of physiological processes human/animal organisms. levels biological samples are valuable biomarker, e.g., stress and stress-related diseases; thus, cortisol determination fluids, such as serum, saliva urine, great clinical value. Although analysis can be performed with chromatography-based analytical techniques, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), conventional immunoassays (radioimmunoassays (RIAs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), etc.) considered the “gold standard” methodology for cortisol, due to their high sensitivity along series practical advantages, low-cost instrumentation, an assay protocol fast easy perform, sample throughput. Especially recent decades, research efforts have focused on replacement by immunosensors, which may offer further improvements field, real-time at point care (e.g., continuous monitoring sweat through wearable electrochemical sensors). In this review, most reported mainly also optical ones, presented, focusing immunosensing/detection principles. Future prospects briefly discussed.

Language: Английский

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Glucocorticoid responses of wildlife to anthropogenic stressors are influenced by disturbance type and species traits

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Abstract Ecological and conservation research has focused on documenting wildlife's behavioural demographic responses to anthropogenic disturbance. Yet, a significant gap remains in our understanding of the physiological mechanisms that underlie or adaptations human activities. Glucocorticoid concentrations (GCCs) are widely considered as relevant endpoints assess response wildlife natural stressors, yet recent studies show mixed outcomes concerning GCC shifts disturbed populations. Consequently, uncertainties remain around role GCCs reliable indicators effect disturbance organisms' physiology, likely due masking several confounding factors. To unveil generalizable patterns effects wildlife, we collected measured conspecific populations living undisturbed areas from 121 114 species terrestrial vertebrates, assessed roles type traits shaping using phylogenetic meta‐analysis log ratios (lnRRΔ). We found 36% increase mammals (lnRRΔ = 0.304), but no evidence for birds, non‐avian reptiles amphibians. Mammals showed similar all forms disturbance, while birds 24.6% habitat conversion only 0.221). Furthermore, change tended be higher large‐sized than small‐sized mammals, comparatively lower herbivorous mammals. Finally, non‐migratory elicit stronger compared with migratory 0.234). Our study provides novel supporting influential diet body mass behaviours glucocorticoid establishing link between magnitude pace‐of‐life‐related traits. trends coherent known responses, suggesting might costly sustain, thus serving potential early‐warning signals population decline. consistency facing types highlighting even seemingly innocuous interactions humans may still induce substantial changes. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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It's what's on the inside that counts: stress physiology and the bacterial microbiome of a wild urban mammal

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 286(1913), P. 20192111 - 20192111

Published: Oct. 23, 2019

The microbiome's capacity to shape the host phenotype and its mutability underlie theorization that microbiome might facilitate acclimation rapid environmental change. However, when change occurs, it is unclear whether resultant restructuring proximately driven by this changing external environment or host's physiological response We leveraged urbanization compare ability of (urban forest) versus multi-scale biological measures hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis physiology (neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio, faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, hair cortisol) explain variation in eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) microbiome. Urban forest squirrels differed across all three interpretations HPA activity we measured. Direct consideration these better explained greater phylogenetic turnover between than environment. This pattern was strongly trade-offs bacteria which specialize on metabolizing digesta host-derived nutrient sources. Drawing ecological theory patterns intestinal bacterial communities, conclude although can affect microbiome, primarily do so indirectly altering physiology. demonstrate inclusion careful dynamic, rather fixed (e.g. sex), dimensions are essential for study host-microbe symbioses at micro-evolutionary scale.

Language: Английский

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The Adaptive Sex in Stressful Environments

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 34(7), P. 628 - 640

Published: April 2, 2019

Language: Английский

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Eye Blink Rates and Eyelid Twitches as a Non-Invasive Measure of Stress in the Domestic Horse

Animals, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(8), P. 562 - 562

Published: Aug. 15, 2019

Physiological changes provide indices of stress responses, however, behavioural measures may be easier to determine. Spontaneous eye blink rate has potential as a non-invasive indicator stress. Eyelid movements, along with heart (HR) and behaviour, from 33 horses were evaluated over four treatments: (1) control-horse in its normal paddock environment; (2) feed restriction-feed was withheld at regular feeding time; (3) separation-horse removed visual contact their mates; (4) startle test-a ball suddenly thrown on the ground front horse. HR data collected every five s throughout each three min test. movements behaviours retrospectively determined video recordings. A generalized linear mixed model (GLIMMIX) procedure Sidak's multiple comparisons least squares means demonstrated that both full blinks (16 ± 12b vs. 15 15b 13 11b 26 20a blinks/3 SEM; a,b differ p < 0.006) half (34 15ab 27 14bc 25 13c 42 22a a,b,c 0.0001) decreased during restriction, separation test compared control, respectively. twitches occurred more frequently restriction (p an increased 0.0001). This study demonstrates spontaneous decreases while eyelid increase when horse experiences stressful situation.

Language: Английский

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The impact of handling technique and handling frequency on laboratory mouse welfare is sex-specific

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Oct. 14, 2020

Abstract Handling is a well-known source of stress to laboratory animals and can affect variability results even compromise animal welfare. The conventional tail handling in mice has been shown induce aversion anxiety-like behaviour. Recent findings demonstrate that the use alternative techniques, e.g. tunnel handling, mitigate negative handling-induced effects. Here, we show technique frequency influence affective behaviour hormone release subjects sex-dependent manner. While frequent led reduction wellbeing-associated burrowing increased despair-like male mice, females seemed unaffected. Instead, they displayed response low frequency, which was not detectable males. This could suggest terms refinement, impact differ between sexes. Independently from this observation, both sexes preferred interact with tunnel. Mice generally explored more often than tail-handling hands experimenter showed positively rated approaches, touching or climbing, at same time, less defensive burrowing, indicating strong preference for

Language: Английский

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Beyond Glucocorticoids: Integrating Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into Animal Welfare Research

Animals, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(8), P. 1381 - 1381

Published: Aug. 9, 2020

Animal welfare researchers are committed to identifying novel measures for enhancing the quality of life individual animals. Recently, scientists have emphasized need tracking multiple indicators an animal’s behavioral, emotional and mental health. Researchers currently focused on integrating non-invasive physiological biomarkers gain insight into individual’s status. Most commonly, animal community has analyzed glucocorticoid hormones their metabolites as a measure stress. While glucocorticoids provide valuable information about hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, there limitations utilizing these sole long-term stress welfare. Other biomarkers, such dehydroepiandrosterone its sulfate ester—collectively referred DHEA(S)—help more complete picture HPA activity. DHEA(S) counteracts effects by having anti-aging, immune-enhancing neuroprotective properties. Recent studies examined ratio way better understand how is functioning. There evidence that this serves indicator immune function, health, cognitive performance overall We review employed glucocorticoid:DHEA(S) ratio, outline methodological considerations discuss can integrate glucocorticoids, assessments.

Language: Английский

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