Effects of Restraint Stress on Circulating Corticosterone and Met Enkephalin in Chickens: Induction of Shifts in Insulin Secretion and Carbohydrate Metabolism
This study examined the effects of acute restraint stress in the presence or absence of naltrexone on the circulating concentrations of insulin, glucose, Met-enkephalin and corticosterone in 14-week-old chickens [design: 2 sex × 2 stress/non-stress × 2 +/- naltrexone]. In chickens (five male and five females per treatment) subjected to restraint for 30 min, there […]
Analytical Validation and Assessment of Baseline Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Northern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Human Care
Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) have been used as a non-invasive and indirect measurement of the complex stress response in a variety of species. Animals in facilities under managed care allow for the longitudinal study of FGMs in a controlled environment. Animal histories often include environmental, husbandry, and medical notes that can be matched to FGM […]
Fecal glucocorticoid analysis as a health monitoring tool for endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus)
African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are an endangered species, with approximately 70,000 mature adults remaining in the wild. Population loss is linked to a combination of environmental and anthropogenic stressors. The aim of the study was to validate a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to assess adrenal activity and measure the response to stressors in the […]
Evaluating physiological and behavioural responses to social changes and construction in two zoo-housed female giraffes
Exposure to external repeated or long-term stressors can alter animal behaviour and physiology. At zoos, construction of new buildings and habitats is one potential unavoidable long-term stressor. During the construction of a new exhibit near the giraffe enclosure at Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), the Zoo’s two female giraffes, Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi and Giraffa reticulata, […]
Evaluating physiological and behavioural responses to social changes and construction in two zoo-housed female giraffes
Exposure to external repeated or long-term stressors can alter animal behaviour and physiology. At zoos, construction of new buildings and habitats is one potential unavoidable long-term stressor. During the construction of a new exhibit near the giraffe enclosure at Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), the Zoo’s two female giraffes, Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi and Giraffa reticulata, […]
Evaluation of the Impact of Behavioral Opportunities on Four Zoo-Housed Aardvarks (Orycteropus afer)
Evaluations of enrichment are critical to determine if an enrichment program is meeting stated goals. However, nocturnal species can present a challenge if their active periods do not align with caretakers’ schedules. To evaluate enrichment for four aardvarks housed with a natural light cycle, we provided seven different enrichment items aimed at fulfilling two behavioral […]
Comparison of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in hand‐versus parent‐reared whooping cranes (Grus americana)
Endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) have been produced in captivity for reintroduction programs since the 1980s, using techniques such as artificial insemination, multiple clutching, and captive‐rearing to speed recovery efforts. Chicks are often hand‐reared (HR) by caretakers in crane costumes, socialized into groups and released together, unlike parent‐reared (PR) cranes that are raised individually by […]
It’s in the bag: Corticosterone levels and behavioral responses of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) vary with type of holding bag
Birds react to capture, restraint, and handling by both innate physiological and behavioral means, which function to promote survival. Following capture, small birds are typically placed into holding bags for transport and restraint before data collection and/or banding. We examined physical characteristics of holding bags constructed from opaque cotton cloth or polyester mesh and measured […]
Lizards perceived abiotic and biotic stressors independently when competing for shade in terrestrial mesocosms
Hormones such as glucocorticoids and androgens enable animals to respond adaptively to environmental stressors. For this reason, circulating glucocorticoids became a popular biomarker for estimating the quality of an environment, and circulating androgens are frequently used to indicate social dominance. Here, we show that access to thermal resources influence the hormones and behavior of male […]
Aggressive behavior and stress response after oxytocin administration in male Norway rats selected for different attitudes to humans
Oxytocin (OXT) is known to influence on social behaviors, including intermale aggression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. However, there are no data on the effects of oxytocin on intermale aggression and HPA axis activity in rats selected for elimination and enhancement of aggressiveness towards humans. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role […]