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Effects of capture stress on free-ranging, reproductively active male Weddell seals
Citation
Harcourt, RG and Turner, E and Hall, A and Waas, JR and Hindell, M, Effects of capture stress on free-ranging, reproductively active male Weddell seals , Journal of Comparative Physiology A: sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology, 196, (2) pp. 147-154. ISSN 0340-7594 (2010) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
DOI: doi:10.1007/s00359-009-0501-0
Abstract
Abstract Physiological stress responses to capture may
be an indicator of welfare challenges induced by animal
handling. Simultaneously, blood chemistry changes
induced by stress responses may confound experimental
design by interacting with the biological parameters being
measured. Cortisol elevation is a common indicator of
stress responses in mammals and reproductive condition
can profoundly influence endocrine response. We mea-
sured changes in blood cortisol and testosterone induced by
handling reproductively active male Weddell seals (Lep-
tonychotes weddellii) early and late in the breeding season.
Weddell seals have the highest resting cortisol levels of all
mammals yet showed a clear, prolonged elevation in cor-
tisol in response to capture. Responses were similar when
first caught and when caught a second time, later in the
breeding season. Baseline testosterone levels declined over
the breeding season but were not altered by capture.
Administering a light dose of diazepam significantly
ameliorated the cortisol response of handled animals
without affecting testosterone levels. This may be an
effective way of reducing acute capture stress responses.
Male breeding success in years males were handled was no
different to the years they were not, despite the acute
capture response, suggesting no long-term impact of han-
dling on male reproductive output.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Marine mammals - Leptonychotes weddellii - Handling stress - Cortisol - Antarctica |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Zoology |
| Research Field: | Animal physiological ecology |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Coastal and estuarine systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Hindell, M (Professor Mark Hindell) |
| ID Code: | 64657 |
| Year Published: | 2010 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 33 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2010-08-16 |
| Last Modified: | 2014-11-24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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