Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae )
Fecal hormone analysis shows high potential for noninvasive assessment of population-level patterns in stress and reproduction of marine mammals. However, the marine environment presents unique challenges for fecal sample collection. Data are still lacking on collection methodology and assay validat...
Published in: | General and Comparative Endocrinology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2019
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/11370/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/119068813/1_s2.0_S0016648018306944_main.pdf |
id |
ftunigroningenpu:oai:pure.rug.nl:publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunigroningenpu:oai:pure.rug.nl:publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a 2024-09-15T18:18:26+00:00 Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) Hunt, Kathleen E. Robbins, Jooke Buck, C. Loren Bérubé, Martine Rolland, Rosalind M. 2019-04-02 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/11370/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/119068813/1_s2.0_S0016648018306944_main.pdf eng eng https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Hunt , K E , Robbins , J , Buck , C L , Bérubé , M & Rolland , R M 2019 , ' Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) ' , General and Comparative Endocrinology , vol. 280 , pp. 24-34 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 Cetacea Hormones Endocrinology Noninvasive Fecal hormones Stress Reproduction Thyroid ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES GLUCOCORTICOID ASSAY STEROID-HORMONES THYROID-HORMONE DIVERSE ARRAY TESTOSTERONE WILD SEX CETACEANS MAMMALS article 2019 ftunigroningenpu https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 2024-07-01T14:49:23Z Fecal hormone analysis shows high potential for noninvasive assessment of population-level patterns in stress and reproduction of marine mammals. However, the marine environment presents unique challenges for fecal sample collection. Data are still lacking on collection methodology and assay validations for most species, particularly for those mysticete whales that have variable diets. In this study we tested collection techniques for fecal samples of free-swimming humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and validated immunoassays for five steroid and thyroid hormones. Resulting data were used for preliminary physiological validations, i.e., comparisons to independently confirmed sex and reproductive state. Pregnant females had significantly higher fecal progestins and glucocorticoids than did other demographic categories of whales. Two possible cases of previously undetected pregnancies were noted. Males had significantly higher fecal testosterone metabolites than nonpregnant females. Fecal glucocorticoids were significantly elevated in pregnant females and mature males compared to nonpregnant females. Calf fecal samples had elevated concentrations of all fecal hormones. Fecal thyroid hormones showed a significant seasonal decline from spring to summer. Though sample sizes were small, and sampling was necessarily opportunistic, these patterns indicate that noninvasive fecal hormone analysis may facilitate studies of reproduction, stress and potentially energetics in humpback whales. Article in Journal/Newspaper Megaptera novaeangliae University of Groningen research database General and Comparative Endocrinology 280 24 34 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Groningen research database |
op_collection_id |
ftunigroningenpu |
language |
English |
topic |
Cetacea Hormones Endocrinology Noninvasive Fecal hormones Stress Reproduction Thyroid ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES GLUCOCORTICOID ASSAY STEROID-HORMONES THYROID-HORMONE DIVERSE ARRAY TESTOSTERONE WILD SEX CETACEANS MAMMALS |
spellingShingle |
Cetacea Hormones Endocrinology Noninvasive Fecal hormones Stress Reproduction Thyroid ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES GLUCOCORTICOID ASSAY STEROID-HORMONES THYROID-HORMONE DIVERSE ARRAY TESTOSTERONE WILD SEX CETACEANS MAMMALS Hunt, Kathleen E. Robbins, Jooke Buck, C. Loren Bérubé, Martine Rolland, Rosalind M. Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
topic_facet |
Cetacea Hormones Endocrinology Noninvasive Fecal hormones Stress Reproduction Thyroid ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES GLUCOCORTICOID ASSAY STEROID-HORMONES THYROID-HORMONE DIVERSE ARRAY TESTOSTERONE WILD SEX CETACEANS MAMMALS |
description |
Fecal hormone analysis shows high potential for noninvasive assessment of population-level patterns in stress and reproduction of marine mammals. However, the marine environment presents unique challenges for fecal sample collection. Data are still lacking on collection methodology and assay validations for most species, particularly for those mysticete whales that have variable diets. In this study we tested collection techniques for fecal samples of free-swimming humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and validated immunoassays for five steroid and thyroid hormones. Resulting data were used for preliminary physiological validations, i.e., comparisons to independently confirmed sex and reproductive state. Pregnant females had significantly higher fecal progestins and glucocorticoids than did other demographic categories of whales. Two possible cases of previously undetected pregnancies were noted. Males had significantly higher fecal testosterone metabolites than nonpregnant females. Fecal glucocorticoids were significantly elevated in pregnant females and mature males compared to nonpregnant females. Calf fecal samples had elevated concentrations of all fecal hormones. Fecal thyroid hormones showed a significant seasonal decline from spring to summer. Though sample sizes were small, and sampling was necessarily opportunistic, these patterns indicate that noninvasive fecal hormone analysis may facilitate studies of reproduction, stress and potentially energetics in humpback whales. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hunt, Kathleen E. Robbins, Jooke Buck, C. Loren Bérubé, Martine Rolland, Rosalind M. |
author_facet |
Hunt, Kathleen E. Robbins, Jooke Buck, C. Loren Bérubé, Martine Rolland, Rosalind M. |
author_sort |
Hunt, Kathleen E. |
title |
Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_short |
Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_full |
Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_fullStr |
Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) |
title_sort |
evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( megaptera novaeangliae ) |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/11370/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/119068813/1_s2.0_S0016648018306944_main.pdf |
genre |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_source |
Hunt , K E , Robbins , J , Buck , C L , Bérubé , M & Rolland , R M 2019 , ' Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) ' , General and Comparative Endocrinology , vol. 280 , pp. 24-34 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 |
op_relation |
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/fcdfee70-3675-4b85-9505-9e571b51569a |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004 |
container_title |
General and Comparative Endocrinology |
container_volume |
280 |
container_start_page |
24 |
op_container_end_page |
34 |
_version_ |
1810456567158407168 |