Tigers continue to face unprecedented threats to their existence due to poaching, habitat loss, h... more Tigers continue to face unprecedented threats to their existence due to poaching, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances. The present study examines the physiological stress response of tigers due to anthropogenic activities including wildlife tourism in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve using faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) measurement. We collected a total of 341 faecal samples from both reserves during tourism and non-tourism periods. Data on various anthropogenic disturbances including tourism activities like number of vehicles and visitors were also collected. We ascertained the species identity and sex of all the samples collected using genetic markers. fGCMs were extracted using a previously reported procedure, and fGCM concentrations were subsequently determined using an established enzyme immunoassay. There was no significant difference in overall mean fGCM concentrations between the two tiger reserves, but within each res...
Early sibling fights in Eurasian and Iberian lynxes differ from other types of behavior in a lack... more Early sibling fights in Eurasian and Iberian lynxes differ from other types of behavior in a lack of ritualized elements (threats) and a high motivation level. In 2005 sudden aggression, which ended up in siblicide, took place in the first Iberian lynx litter born in captivity. Fights became a problem, turning into one of the highest risks of mortality for captive born cubs. Fights started spontaneously, without any indication of previous aggression, with a very sudden and fast attack of one of the cubs in the litter. This aggression did not take place while the cubs were nursing or eating, and it did not appear to be caused by any kind of competition. Fights were not the result of an escalation of other social interactions, most times they occurred without any previous interaction (e.g., while one of the cubs was sleeping or just sitting, looking away). Litter size didn’t influence fight probability or cub mortality in any of the two species. Age at which fights occurred varied fro...
A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Sibe... more A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Siberian tiger was verified. Comparison of the activity level of HPA in Siberian tigers in the wild and in captivity, and their alterations over the year was carried out. Significant seasonal deviations between activity levels of HPA in tigers in captivity were not found. In the wild, this level was significantly higher, reaching the maximum from November to January, which can be related with an unfavorable influence on tigers in low temperatures and deep snow cover.
... I also would like to thank Dr A. Kitchener who partly cor rected the Eng lish of the manu scr... more ... I also would like to thank Dr A. Kitchener who partly cor rected the Eng lish of the manu script and made some help ful re marks. I am grate ful to Dr. W. Streich who helped a lot to find out the sta tis ti cal ap proach to ana lyse these data. ... Ref er ences Andreevskaya VS 1964. ...
Translocation of wildlife as a means of reintroducing or reinforcing threatened populations is an... more Translocation of wildlife as a means of reintroducing or reinforcing threatened populations is an important conservation tool but carries health risks for the translocated animals and their progeny, as well as wildlife, domestic animals and humans in the release area. Disease risk analyses (DRA) are used to identify, prioritise and design mitigation strategies to address these threats. Here we use a DRA undertaken for Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) to illustrate how specific methodology can optimise mitigation strategy design. A literature review identified a total of 98 infectious hazards, and 28 non-infectious hazards. Separate analyses were undertaken for disease risks in leopards from hazards of source origin (captive zoo collections and the transit pathway to the Russian Far East), or of destination origin (in breeding enclosures and wider release areas); and for disease risks in other wildlife, domesticated species or humans, similarly from hazards of source or destination origin. Hazards were assessed and ranked as priority 1, priority 2, priority 3 or low priority in each of the defined scenarios. In addition, we undertook a generic assessment of stress on individual leopards. We use three examples to illustrate the process: Chlamydophila felis, canine distemper virus (CDV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). We found that many potentially expensive screening procedures could be performed prior to export of leopards, putting the onus of responsibility onto the zoo sector, for which access to diagnostic testing facilities is likely to be optimal. We discuss how our methods highlighted significant data gaps relating to pathogen prevalence in the RFE and likely future unpredictability, in particular with respect to CDV. There was emphasis at all stages on record keeping, meticulous planning, design, staff training, and enclosure management, which are relatively financially inexpensive. Actions to minimise stress featured at all time-points in the strategy, and also focussed on planning, design and management.
Abstract. Testosterone may affect many aspects of passerine maturation including the expression o... more Abstract. Testosterone may affect many aspects of passerine maturation including the expression of plumage coloration and spring migration in adult birds. However, how the testosterone level changes during bird development is not well known. We compared the testosterone profile during juvenile development of a sexually dimorphic species, the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, and a monomorphic species, the Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. We first tested whether testosterone influences plumage coloration and increases at the onset of molt in males of the dimorphic but not the monomorphic species. We found that a testosterone level increase occurred in both sexes and species during later stages of molt, and thus was not related to male plumage coloration. We also investigated whether the increase in testosterone level coincides with juvenile dispersal. If testosterone affects dispersal behavior in these species, both sexes should show an elevated testosterone level during dispersal, but this increase should occur earlier in the Wood Warbler, which disperses earlier than the Blackcap. In juvenile Blackcaps, the increase in testosterone level occurred on the 43–68th day after hatching, while in Wood Warblers it occurred on the 32–36th day (i.e. 11–32 days earlier). The increase in testosterone level coincided with the onset of the post-juvenile dispersal in both species. This study provides the first direct evidence of a testosterone level increase during juvenile development in two free-living migratory birds. While not correlated with species plumage coloration, this increase might affect other aspects of behavior, e.g. juvenile dispersal.
We developed the procedure of noninvasive individual identification of the Amur tigers by molecul... more We developed the procedure of noninvasive individual identification of the Amur tigers by molecular genetic methods. Using this technique, relationships in groups of tigers in the Russian Far East was defined. We identified 63 different animals as a result of genotyping 240 feces, 7 hair and 10 blood samples collected within southern Sikhote-Alin (Ussurisky Reserve), northern Sikhote-Alin (Khabarovskiy Krai) and Southwest Primorye. Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci has demonstrated genetic similarity of animals from the Ussurisky Reserve and Khabarovskiy Krai, and their difference in comparison to the animals in Southwest Primorye. Genetic differentiation between the Sikhote-Alin and Southwest Primorye populations was not very high (RST = 0.22; P < 0.05). Four individuals genetically associated with the Sikhote-Alin samples were geographically located within the Southwest Primorye population, with over 90% of their genotypes assigned to Sikhote-Alin. There were no ...
The total number of white blood cells (WBCs) is related the immune system. In mammals, it is affe... more The total number of white blood cells (WBCs) is related the immune system. In mammals, it is affected by the body mass, but it is unclear how the numbers of different WBC types correlate with this parameter. We analyzed the effect of body mass on WBC number and ratio in felids, where species are similar in diet (warm-blood vertebrates) and reproductive strategy (promiscuity). Based on zoo veterinary data (ZIMS database) we analyzed the effect of body mass on WBC number and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio in 26 species of felids. The number of WBCs correlated with the body masses of animals: large cats had more WBC, which may be due to greater risks of infection associated with larger body surface, lifespan and home range size. For the first time we found obvious differences in the number of WBC types. Large cats also had more neutrophils and monocytes but fewer lymphocytes than smaller cats. The ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is greater in large felids. This phenomenon may be rel...
Lactation is the most energetically expensive component of maternal care in mammals. Increased re... more Lactation is the most energetically expensive component of maternal care in mammals. Increased reproductive investment can lead to physiological stress for the mothers, based on the exhaustion of energy resources and increase in glucocorticoids level. This study aimed to estimate the changes in cortisol concentrations during lactation in domestic cats and compared the differences among litter sizes. Eleven females gave birth to 27 litters, which were divided in two groups—small (1–3 kittens) and large (4–7 kittens) litters. Blood samples were collected from each female before mating, after parturition, at 4 and 8 weeks of lactation. We showed that the cortisol level in females changed significantly during lactation—the highest concentrations were observed at the peak of lactation at 4 weeks. Cortisol levels varied significantly among females but did not depend on their maternal experience. We also revealed that there were no differences in cortisol levels between females with small ...
Twice a year billions of birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds. To facilitate migr... more Twice a year billions of birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds. To facilitate migrations, birds develop migratory disposition, a complex suite of behavioral and physiological adjustments. Glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone is involved in the regulation of migratory behavior and physiology, however no consensus on its exact role in controlling avian migration exists. Using a large dataset on seven songbird species (long- and short-distance migrants) obtained during eleven consecutive migratory seasons on the Courish Spit of the Baltic Sea, we showed the general tendency of similar baseline corticosterone concentrations during both migrations, although stress-induced levels were generally much higher during spring. No difference between long- and short-distance migrants was found in either baseline or stress-induced levels, while there was substantial between-species variation, especially in baseline concentrations. The distinct patterns of corticosterone secretion d...
Tigers continue to face unprecedented threats to their existence due to poaching, habitat loss, h... more Tigers continue to face unprecedented threats to their existence due to poaching, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances. The present study examines the physiological stress response of tigers due to anthropogenic activities including wildlife tourism in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve using faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) measurement. We collected a total of 341 faecal samples from both reserves during tourism and non-tourism periods. Data on various anthropogenic disturbances including tourism activities like number of vehicles and visitors were also collected. We ascertained the species identity and sex of all the samples collected using genetic markers. fGCMs were extracted using a previously reported procedure, and fGCM concentrations were subsequently determined using an established enzyme immunoassay. There was no significant difference in overall mean fGCM concentrations between the two tiger reserves, but within each res...
Early sibling fights in Eurasian and Iberian lynxes differ from other types of behavior in a lack... more Early sibling fights in Eurasian and Iberian lynxes differ from other types of behavior in a lack of ritualized elements (threats) and a high motivation level. In 2005 sudden aggression, which ended up in siblicide, took place in the first Iberian lynx litter born in captivity. Fights became a problem, turning into one of the highest risks of mortality for captive born cubs. Fights started spontaneously, without any indication of previous aggression, with a very sudden and fast attack of one of the cubs in the litter. This aggression did not take place while the cubs were nursing or eating, and it did not appear to be caused by any kind of competition. Fights were not the result of an escalation of other social interactions, most times they occurred without any previous interaction (e.g., while one of the cubs was sleeping or just sitting, looking away). Litter size didn’t influence fight probability or cub mortality in any of the two species. Age at which fights occurred varied fro...
A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Sibe... more A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Siberian tiger was verified. Comparison of the activity level of HPA in Siberian tigers in the wild and in captivity, and their alterations over the year was carried out. Significant seasonal deviations between activity levels of HPA in tigers in captivity were not found. In the wild, this level was significantly higher, reaching the maximum from November to January, which can be related with an unfavorable influence on tigers in low temperatures and deep snow cover.
... I also would like to thank Dr A. Kitchener who partly cor rected the Eng lish of the manu scr... more ... I also would like to thank Dr A. Kitchener who partly cor rected the Eng lish of the manu script and made some help ful re marks. I am grate ful to Dr. W. Streich who helped a lot to find out the sta tis ti cal ap proach to ana lyse these data. ... Ref er ences Andreevskaya VS 1964. ...
Translocation of wildlife as a means of reintroducing or reinforcing threatened populations is an... more Translocation of wildlife as a means of reintroducing or reinforcing threatened populations is an important conservation tool but carries health risks for the translocated animals and their progeny, as well as wildlife, domestic animals and humans in the release area. Disease risk analyses (DRA) are used to identify, prioritise and design mitigation strategies to address these threats. Here we use a DRA undertaken for Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) to illustrate how specific methodology can optimise mitigation strategy design. A literature review identified a total of 98 infectious hazards, and 28 non-infectious hazards. Separate analyses were undertaken for disease risks in leopards from hazards of source origin (captive zoo collections and the transit pathway to the Russian Far East), or of destination origin (in breeding enclosures and wider release areas); and for disease risks in other wildlife, domesticated species or humans, similarly from hazards of source or destination origin. Hazards were assessed and ranked as priority 1, priority 2, priority 3 or low priority in each of the defined scenarios. In addition, we undertook a generic assessment of stress on individual leopards. We use three examples to illustrate the process: Chlamydophila felis, canine distemper virus (CDV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). We found that many potentially expensive screening procedures could be performed prior to export of leopards, putting the onus of responsibility onto the zoo sector, for which access to diagnostic testing facilities is likely to be optimal. We discuss how our methods highlighted significant data gaps relating to pathogen prevalence in the RFE and likely future unpredictability, in particular with respect to CDV. There was emphasis at all stages on record keeping, meticulous planning, design, staff training, and enclosure management, which are relatively financially inexpensive. Actions to minimise stress featured at all time-points in the strategy, and also focussed on planning, design and management.
Abstract. Testosterone may affect many aspects of passerine maturation including the expression o... more Abstract. Testosterone may affect many aspects of passerine maturation including the expression of plumage coloration and spring migration in adult birds. However, how the testosterone level changes during bird development is not well known. We compared the testosterone profile during juvenile development of a sexually dimorphic species, the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, and a monomorphic species, the Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. We first tested whether testosterone influences plumage coloration and increases at the onset of molt in males of the dimorphic but not the monomorphic species. We found that a testosterone level increase occurred in both sexes and species during later stages of molt, and thus was not related to male plumage coloration. We also investigated whether the increase in testosterone level coincides with juvenile dispersal. If testosterone affects dispersal behavior in these species, both sexes should show an elevated testosterone level during dispersal, but this increase should occur earlier in the Wood Warbler, which disperses earlier than the Blackcap. In juvenile Blackcaps, the increase in testosterone level occurred on the 43–68th day after hatching, while in Wood Warblers it occurred on the 32–36th day (i.e. 11–32 days earlier). The increase in testosterone level coincided with the onset of the post-juvenile dispersal in both species. This study provides the first direct evidence of a testosterone level increase during juvenile development in two free-living migratory birds. While not correlated with species plumage coloration, this increase might affect other aspects of behavior, e.g. juvenile dispersal.
We developed the procedure of noninvasive individual identification of the Amur tigers by molecul... more We developed the procedure of noninvasive individual identification of the Amur tigers by molecular genetic methods. Using this technique, relationships in groups of tigers in the Russian Far East was defined. We identified 63 different animals as a result of genotyping 240 feces, 7 hair and 10 blood samples collected within southern Sikhote-Alin (Ussurisky Reserve), northern Sikhote-Alin (Khabarovskiy Krai) and Southwest Primorye. Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci has demonstrated genetic similarity of animals from the Ussurisky Reserve and Khabarovskiy Krai, and their difference in comparison to the animals in Southwest Primorye. Genetic differentiation between the Sikhote-Alin and Southwest Primorye populations was not very high (RST = 0.22; P < 0.05). Four individuals genetically associated with the Sikhote-Alin samples were geographically located within the Southwest Primorye population, with over 90% of their genotypes assigned to Sikhote-Alin. There were no ...
The total number of white blood cells (WBCs) is related the immune system. In mammals, it is affe... more The total number of white blood cells (WBCs) is related the immune system. In mammals, it is affected by the body mass, but it is unclear how the numbers of different WBC types correlate with this parameter. We analyzed the effect of body mass on WBC number and ratio in felids, where species are similar in diet (warm-blood vertebrates) and reproductive strategy (promiscuity). Based on zoo veterinary data (ZIMS database) we analyzed the effect of body mass on WBC number and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio in 26 species of felids. The number of WBCs correlated with the body masses of animals: large cats had more WBC, which may be due to greater risks of infection associated with larger body surface, lifespan and home range size. For the first time we found obvious differences in the number of WBC types. Large cats also had more neutrophils and monocytes but fewer lymphocytes than smaller cats. The ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is greater in large felids. This phenomenon may be rel...
Lactation is the most energetically expensive component of maternal care in mammals. Increased re... more Lactation is the most energetically expensive component of maternal care in mammals. Increased reproductive investment can lead to physiological stress for the mothers, based on the exhaustion of energy resources and increase in glucocorticoids level. This study aimed to estimate the changes in cortisol concentrations during lactation in domestic cats and compared the differences among litter sizes. Eleven females gave birth to 27 litters, which were divided in two groups—small (1–3 kittens) and large (4–7 kittens) litters. Blood samples were collected from each female before mating, after parturition, at 4 and 8 weeks of lactation. We showed that the cortisol level in females changed significantly during lactation—the highest concentrations were observed at the peak of lactation at 4 weeks. Cortisol levels varied significantly among females but did not depend on their maternal experience. We also revealed that there were no differences in cortisol levels between females with small ...
Twice a year billions of birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds. To facilitate migr... more Twice a year billions of birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds. To facilitate migrations, birds develop migratory disposition, a complex suite of behavioral and physiological adjustments. Glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone is involved in the regulation of migratory behavior and physiology, however no consensus on its exact role in controlling avian migration exists. Using a large dataset on seven songbird species (long- and short-distance migrants) obtained during eleven consecutive migratory seasons on the Courish Spit of the Baltic Sea, we showed the general tendency of similar baseline corticosterone concentrations during both migrations, although stress-induced levels were generally much higher during spring. No difference between long- and short-distance migrants was found in either baseline or stress-induced levels, while there was substantial between-species variation, especially in baseline concentrations. The distinct patterns of corticosterone secretion d...
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