Non-invasive monitoring of physiological stress in the Western lowland gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ): Validation of a fecal glucocorticoid assay and methods for practical application in the field

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology Vol. 179; no. 2; pp. 167 - 177
• Main Authors: Shutt, Kathryn, Setchell, Joanna M, Heistermann, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2012
• Subjects: alcohols; ambient temperature; Animals; Animals, Wild - physiology; Animals, Zoo - physiology; application methods; captive animals; Central African Republic; Circadian Rhythm; corticosterone; cortisol; Diurnal; diurnal variation; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Ethanol; excretion; Fecal glucocorticoids; feces; Feces - chemistry; Female; forest habitats; Glucocorticoids - analysis; Gorilla gorilla; Gorilla gorilla - physiology; Hormone degradation; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; metabolites; monitoring; Primate; researchers; Sample storage; Specimen Handling - methods; Stress; Stress, Physiological; vertebrates; wild animals; Central African Republic; Primate; Hormone degradation; Sample storage; Diurnal; Stress; Fecal glucocorticoids
• ISSN: 0016-6480; 1095-6840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.08.008

Highlights ► We validated a group specific fecal cortisol metabolite (FGCM) assay for the lowland gorilla. ► A field hormone extraction method performed as well as a laboratory method. ► Dried FGCM extracts at ambient temperature were equally stable as fecal extracts stored at −20 °C over 1 yr. ► FGCMs in alcohol were stable up to 28 days at ambient temperatures. ► FGCMs in un-preserved gorilla feces degrade to 50% of original value over 6 h.