Large and in charge: cortisol levels vary with sex, diet, and body mass in an Antarctic predator, the leopard seal

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Emily S. Sperou, Daniel E. Crocker, Renato Borras-Chavez, Daniel P. Costa, Michael E. Goebel, Shane B. Kanatous, Douglas J. Krause, Stephen J. Trumble, Sarah S. Kienle
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023
• Subjects: leopard seal; marine mammals; intraspecific variation; pinniped; cortisol; physiology; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Hydrurga; Weddell; Antarc*; Crabeater Seal; Hydrurga leptonyx; Leopard Seal; Leopard Seals; Ross Seal; Weddell Seal
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1179236; https://doaj.org/article/6106d1b70e06417d945f5eb3f74eeef6

Evaluating physiological responses in the context of a species’ life history, demographics, and ecology is essential to understanding the health of individuals and populations. Here, we measured the main mammalian glucocorticoid, cortisol, in an elusive Antarctic apex predator, the leopard seal (Hyd...