Data from: State-dependent behavior alters endocrine-energy relationship: implications for conservation and management ...

• Main Authors: Jesmer, Brett R., Goheen, Jacob R., Monteith, Kevin L., Kauffman, Matthew J.
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2017
• Subjects: energy intake; Ruminant; Alces alces; conservation physiology; Moose; glucocorticoids GC; state-dependent foraging behavior; triiodothyronine T3; large herbivore; Endocrinology; energy reserves
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5tj57; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.5tj57

Glucocorticoids (GC) and triiodothyronine (T3) are two endocrine markers commonly used to quantify resource limitation, yet the relationships between these markers and the energetic state of animals has been studied primarily in small-bodied species in captivity. Free-ranging animals, however, adjust energy intake in accordance with their energy reserves, a behavior known as state-dependent foraging. Further, links between life-history strategies and metabolic allometries cause energy intake and energy reserves to be more strongly coupled in small animals relative to large animals. Because GC and T3 may reflect energy intake or energy reserves, state-dependent foraging and body size may cause endocrine-energy relationships to vary among taxa and environments. To extend the utility of endocrine markers to large-bodied, free-ranging animals, we evaluated how state-dependent foraging, energy reserves, and energy intake influenced fecal GC and fecal T3 concentrations in free-ranging moose (Alces alces). Compared ... : Alces_energy_endocrine ...