Naslov
Monitoring cortisol metabolites in the faeces of captive fallow deer (Dama dama L.)

Autori
Konjević, Dean ; Janicki, Zdravko ; Slavica, Alen ; Severin, Krešimir ; Krapinec, Krešimir ; Želježić, Darko ; Božić, Frane

Izvornik
Veterinarski arhiv (0372-5480) 86 (2016), 3; 363-371

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Fallow deer; cortisol metabolites; 11; 17-DOA; faeces

Sažetak
Monitoring of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) of various wildlife species has become an important non-invasive tool for wildlife managers that enables them to understand influences of season, sex, age and physiological status on animal’s organism and to realize potential stressors in order to adjust management practice and thus to minimize its negative impact. Here we present a one-year study on fallow deer kept in extensive captive breeding in inland Croatia. We measured fGCM with an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay. Obtained results confirmed a seasonal pattern of cortisol release with highest concentrations of 11, 17-dioxoandrostanes (11, 17-DOA) during the winter period (950 ; 430-2385 ng/g faeces, expressed as median, min and max values), followed by early summer (864 ; 186-3271 ng/g) and spring (610 ; 129-2896 ng/g). Significantly lower concentrations were determined during the late summer period (306 ; 95-2071 ng/g). Compared with fGCM levels in free-ranging fallow deer, concentrations in captive animals followed the same pattern, but with lower values in every season. This may be attributed to habituation and to a less challenging and more predictable environment under captive conditions.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina, Šumarstvo

POVEZANOST RADA