Submit to Animals Review for Animals Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 15216

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Isabel Barja Núñez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: animal behavior; chemical communication; ecology, etho- and eco-physiology; reproduction; vertebrates; wildlife conservation

Dr. Álvaro Navarro-Castilla

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
Interests: animal behavior; ecology; etho- and eco-physiology; inter-species interactions; vertebrates; wildlife conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wildlife populations are continuously exposed to environmental and human changes that inevitably impose different challenges. The endocrine system is particularly involved in addressing such situations because hormones play a key role in the successful adaptation to the ever-changing environment, by helping to maintain homeostasis, i.e., keeping appropriate internal conditions, while also controlling several physiological processes intimately connected with behavior, reproduction, growth, health, and survival. In this regard, the innovation in hormone analysis techniques has advanced in recent years providing valuable insights to understand how animals cope and act when facing every changing situation in nature. Today, hormone analysis is an accurate, effective, and widely accepted tool for monitoring both physiological stress responses and the reproductive function in wildlife, two major components for the conservation of species. Furthermore, hormonal analysis can be measured not only in plasma but also non-invasively, for example in faeces, which represents a more practical alternative for carrying out endocrinological studies, especially in endangered or hard to capture species. Overall, endocrine approaches may help to recognize the real impact of environmental changes and other perturbations on individuals and populations, understanding associated behavioral responses, and even anticipating the decline of a threatened population by revealing problems leading to reproductive failure. Therefore, contributions targeting, but not limited to, the following topics are welcome:

research on wildlife endocrine requirements;
potential causes altering hormones function;
physiological stress responses to environmental (competition, predation risk, climatic change…) and anthropogenic stressors;
hormone monitoring for analyzing biological mechanisms linked to some observed behaviors of animals;
developments of new and innovative methods for monitoring endocrine responses in wildlife;
advances in conservation endocrinology, i.e., studies showing application of innovative approaches to the conservation of threatened or endangered species;
laboratory and captive performed studies with clear implications on the management and conservation free-ranging populations;

This Special Issue aims at gathering the latest findings and technical developments in wildlife endocrinology and reproduction needed for achieving a proper understanding and its successful application for animal welfare, reproduction, and conservation strategies.

Prof. Dr. Isabel Barja Núñez
Dr. Álvaro Navarro-Castilla
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

animal physiology
behavior
ecology
hormone monitoring
reproductive biology
steroids
stressors

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 2152 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Findings on How Different Management Systems and Social Interactions Influence Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

by Leticia Martínez, Gema Silván, Sara Cáceres, Jose Manuel Caperos, Jesús Fernández-Morán, Miguel Casares, Belén Crespo, Paloma Jimena de Andrés and Juan Carlos Illera

Animals 2022, 12(7), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070897 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

White rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) are the most social and gregarious species of all rhinoceroses known worldwide. One of the most critical effects of elevated glucocorticoid concentrations, especially in threatened species, is its relation to chronic stress, which could potentially lead to immunosuppression and reduced reproductive activity. Our aim is to determine how different social environments and management systems might be influencing the secretion of fecal glucocorticoids in white rhinoceroses. We have analyzed the concentration of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in 658 fecal samples from 14 white rhinoceroses, seven free-ranging rhinos, and seven rhinos from two different managed captive populations. HPLC techniques were used to determine the main glucocorticoid metabolite found in this species, and a competitive EIA was used to establish fecal 5α-pregnan-3 3β, 11β, 21-triol-20-oneglucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels. Our results reveal that management systems and social interactions had an influence on fGCM levels, suggesting that the more restrictive the management and social conditions are, the higher the glucocorticoid concentrations that are found. Additionally, sex was also found to influence fGCM levels, as in females, fGCM concentrations were higher than in males. We conclude that the analysis of glucocorticoids in relation to other factors is a powerful tool to assess adrenocortical response in white rhinoceros in order to broaden the knowledge of their reproductive biology and improve the management of the species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Number of Primordial Follicles in Juvenile Ringed Seals (Pusa hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and West Greenland

by Britta Schmidt, Julia Hollenbach, Christian Mühlfeld, Christiane Pfarrer, Sara Persson, Tina Kesselring, Christian Sonne, Frank Rigét, Rune Dietz and Ursula Siebert

Animals 2022, 12(5), 669; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050669 - 7 Mar 2022

Viewed by 1922

Abstract

Primordial follicles are important for the reproduction cycle and, therefore, also for the survival of the whole population of a species. Mammals have a large pool of primordial follicles, and it is thought that this pool represents the total number of oocytes. The aim of the present study was to determine the total primordial follicle number of juvenile ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from the Gulf of Bothnia and Greenland. Overall, 52 ovaries from two ringed seal populations (West Greenland (N = 6), Gulf of Bothnia, region in the Baltic Sea (N = 46)) were examined. All ovaries were cut into 2 mm thick slices and every slice was embedded in paraffin. Out of each tissue block, a 5 µm thick section was cut and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. The mean volume of the follicles and the total volume of primordial follicles per ovary were estimated by stereology and used to calculate the total estimated number of primordial follicles. The median of the total estimated number of primordial follicles seemed to be higher in Baltic individuals than in Greenland individuals (Gulf of Bothnia = 565,657; Greenland Sea = 122,475). This widens the total range of primordial follicles in ringed seals overall and might bear some potential for discussions regarding the influence of endocrine disruptors and environmental influences depending on different regions/populations and their exposure to various factors. Thus, this study aims to provide basic reference data of the number and mean volume of ringed seal primordial follicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Tailed Pygmy Rice Rats Modify Their Behavioural Response and Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites in Response to Culpeo Fox but Not to Lesser Grison

by María del Carmen Hernández, André V. Rubio and Isabel Barja

Animals 2021, 11(11), 3036; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113036 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1675

Abstract

Even though behavioural and physiological reactions to predation risk exhibited by prey species have received considerable attention in scientific journals, there are still many questions still unsolved. Our aim was to broaden the knowledge on one specific question: do long-tailed pygmy rice rats adapt their behavioural and physiological antipredator strategies depending on the predator species? For this question, we live-trapped in a temperate forest in Southern Chile long-tailed pygmy rice rats (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus), which were exposed to three predator odour phases (Phase 0: preliminary, no predator cues; Phase 1: one plot with culpeo fox faeces (Lycalopex culpaeus), one plot with lesser grison (Galictis cuja) faeces and one plot acting as a control with no odour; Phase 2: post treatment, no predator cues). We measured the behavioural response by the capture ratio. To assess the physiological stress response, we collected fresh faecal samples to quantify faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM). Our results showed that O. longicaudatus increased both the capture ratio and FCM levels in the presence of culpeo cues. Culpeo foxes have higher densities in the study area than G. cuja and exhibit a higher activity pattern overlap with O. longicaudatus. Moreover, it has been also been reported in other regions that L. culpaeus consumption of O. longicaudatus is more frequent compared to G. cuja diet. The increase in capturability could be because traps can be regarded as a shelter in high-risk settings, but it can also be explained by the predator inspection behaviour. The increase in FCM concentrations during culpeo treatment can be linked to the adaptive mobilisation of energy to execute antipredator responses to increase survival chances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Invasive Determination of Annual Fecal Cortisol, Androstenedione, and Testosterone Variations in a Herd of Male Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) and Their Relation to Some Climatic Variables

by Paloma Jimena de Andrés, Sara Cáceres, Belén Crespo, Gema Silván and Juan Carlos Illera

Animals 2021, 11(9), 2723; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092723 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2630

Abstract

The measurement of stress and reproductive hormones in wild animal species by non-invasive methods is of special interest. To assess whether the adrenal and gonadal hormones show annual variations in male Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and to evaluate whether there is any influence of climatic variables on hormonal secretion, fecal samples were taken from a herd of 7 Asian elephants over a 14-month period to subsequently determine the concentrations of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A4), and cortisol (C) by a validated immunoassay technique. Data referring to three climatic variables in the place and period of study were collected, namely monthly mean values of temperature, humidity and rainfall. Levels of T and A4 showed two major increases in July (T: 1088.35 ± 131.04 ng/g; A4: 480.40 ± 50.86 ng/g) and October (T: 825.09 ± 31.60 ng/g; A4: 319.96 ± 32.69 ng/g) (p < 0.05). Our results show a secretion of fecal androgens dependent on temperature (T and A4), and humidity (T). Male musth was detected during the initial increases of T and A4 levels. The highest concentrations of C were observed in September (156.67 ± 60.89 ng/g) (p < 0.05), probably due to the stressful fights that occurred during the musth period. The observed results of the fecal levels of T, A4 and C were similar to those obtained by invasive methods. In conclusion, fecal secretion of the three hormones in these captive male Asian elephants showed variations related in some cases to different weather factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 362 KiB

Open AccessReview

Reproductive Technologies Used in Female Neo-Tropical Hystricomorphic Rodents

by Kavita Ranjeeta Lall, Kegan Romelle Jones and Gary Wayne Garcia

Animals 2022, 12(5), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050618 - 1 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2706

Abstract

This is the second of two literature reviews that focuses on the female reproductive anatomy and reproductive technologies used in selected neo-tropical hystricomorphic rodents. The rodents chosen included the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), and the paca (Cuniculus paca). Over seventy references were used, spanning the years 1919–2021. Knowledge of the reproductive tract is important in understanding any unique features, which may affect the use of reproductive technologies. Some unique characteristics common to these species included the presence of a vaginal closure membrane and a lobulated placenta with a vascular sub-placenta. The capybara had hyperpigmentation of the vagina that was unique to each individual, while the agouti and paca had accessory corpora lutea, in addition to the main one. Some reproductive technologies have been used, with attempts at estrous induction and synchronization taking place within the past five years. Even though most work has been done over the past twenty years, there is still a dearth of information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction)

9 pages, 639 KiB

Open AccessReview

Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) Applied to Female Cervids Adapted from Domestic Ruminants

by Anna J. Korzekwa and Angelika M. Kotlarczyk

Animals 2021, 11(10), 2933; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102933 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2562

Abstract

There are about 150 Cervidae species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Only a small part is counted among farm animals, and most of them are free roaming. The universality and large numbers of representatives of cervids such as red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) may predispose these species to be used as models for research on reintroduction or assisted reproduction of deer at risk of extinction. We outlined the historical fluctuation of cervids in Europe and the process of domestication, which led to breeding management. Consequently, the reproductive techniques used in domestic ruminants were adapted for use in female deer which we reviewed based on our results and other available results. We focused on stress susceptibility in cervids depending on habitat and antropopression and proposed copeptin as a novel diagnostic parameter suitable for stress determination. Some reproductive biotechniques have been adopted for female cervids with satisfactory results, e.g., in vitro fertilization, while others still require methodological refinement, e.g., cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wildlife Endocrinology and Reproduction)

► Show Figures