Records |
Author |
Touma, C.; Palme, R. |
Title |
Measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in mammals and birds: the importance of validation |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ann N Y Acad Sci |
Volume |
1046 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
54-74 |
Keywords |
Animals; Birds/*metabolism; Circadian Rhythm; Feces/*chemistry; Glucocorticoids/*analysis; Mammals/*metabolism; Reproducibility of Results; Seasons; Sex Factors |
Abstract |
In recent years, the noninvasive monitoring of steroid hormone metabolites in feces of mammals and droppings of birds has become an increasingly popular technique. It offers several advantages and has been applied to a variety of species under various settings. However, using this technique to reliably assess an animal's adrenocortical activity is not that simple and straightforward to apply. Because clear differences regarding the metabolism and excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) exist, a careful validation for each species and sex investigated is obligatory. In this review, general analytical issues regarding sample storage, extraction procedures, and immunoassays are briefly discussed, but the main focus lies on experiments and recommendations addressing the validation of fecal GCM measurements in mammals and birds. The crucial importance of scrutinizing the physiological and biological validity of fecal GCM analyses in a given species is stressed. In particular, the relevance of the technique to detect biologically meaningful alterations in adrenocortical activity must be shown. Furthermore, significant effects of the animals' sex, the time of day, season, and different life history stages are discussed, bringing about the necessity to seriously consider possible sex differences as well as diurnal and seasonal variations. Thus, comprehensive information on the animals' biology and stress physiology should be carefully taken into account. Together with an extensive physiological and biological validation, this will ensure that the measurement of fecal GCMs can be used as a powerful tool to assess adrenocortical activity in diverse investigations on laboratory, companion, farm, zoo, and wild animals. |
Address |
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, D-80804 Munich, Germany. touma@mpipsykl.mpg.de |
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0077-8923 |
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PMID:16055843 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4073 |
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Author |
Mostl, E.; Rettenbacher, S.; Palme, R. |
Title |
Measurement of corticosterone metabolites in birds' droppings: an analytical approach |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ann N Y Acad Sci |
Volume |
1046 |
Issue |
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Pages |
17-34 |
Keywords |
Animals; Birds/*metabolism; Corticosterone/*analysis/metabolism; Feces/*chemistry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Immunoassay; Molecular Structure; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity |
Abstract |
Fecal steroid analyses are becoming increasingly popular among both field and laboratory scientists. The benefits associated with sampling procedures that do not require restraint, anesthesia, and blood collection include less risk to subject and investigator, as well as the potential to obtain endocrine profiles that are not influenced by the sampling procedure itself. In the feces, a species-specific pattern of metabolites is present, because glucocorticoids are extensively metabolized. Therefore, selection of adequate extraction procedures and immunoassays for measuring the relevant metabolites is a serious issue. In this review, emphasis is placed on the establishment and analytical validation of methods to measure glucocorticoid metabolites for a noninvasive evaluation of adrenocortical activity in droppings of birds. |
Address |
Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinarplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. erich.moestl@vu-wien.ac.at |
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0077-8923 |
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PMID:16055841 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4082 |
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Author |
Palme, R.; Rettenbacher, S.; Touma, C.; El-Bahr, S.M.; Mostl, E. |
Title |
Stress hormones in mammals and birds: comparative aspects regarding metabolism, excretion, and noninvasive measurement in fecal samples |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ann N Y Acad Sci |
Volume |
1040 |
Issue |
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Pages |
162-171 |
Keywords |
Adrenal Glands/chemistry/metabolism; Animals; Birds; Catecholamines/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism; Feces/*chemistry; Glucocorticoids/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism; Hormones/analysis/metabolism; Mammals; Species Specificity; Stress/*metabolism |
Abstract |
A multitude of endocrine mechanisms are involved in coping with challenges. Front-line hormones to overcome stressful situations are glucocorticoids (GCs) and catecholamines (CAs). These hormones are usually determined in plasma samples as parameters of adrenal activity and thus of disturbance. GCs (and CAs) are extensively metabolized and excreted afterwards. Therefore, the concentration of GCs (or their metabolites) can be measured in various body fluids or excreta. Above all, fecal samples offer the advantages of easy collection and a feedback-free sampling procedure. However, large differences exist among species regarding the route and time course of excretion, as well as the types of metabolites formed. Based on information gained from radiometabolism studies (reviewed in this paper), we recently developed and successfully validated different enzyme immunoassays that enable the noninvasive measurement of groups of cortisol or corticosterone metabolites in animal feces. The determination of these metabolites in fecal samples can be used as a powerful tool to monitor GC production in various species of domestic, wildlife, and laboratory animals. |
Address |
Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. rupert.palme@vu-wien.ac.at |
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0077-8923 |
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PMID:15891021 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4083 |
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Author |
Nettle, D. |
Title |
The evolution of personality variation in humans and other animals |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
The American Psychologist |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am Psychol |
Volume |
61 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
622-631 |
Keywords |
Animals; Birds; *Evolution; Female; Fishes; Humans; Insects; Male; Personality/*genetics/*physiology |
Abstract |
A comprehensive evolutionary framework for understanding the maintenance of heritable behavioral variation in humans is yet to be developed. Some evolutionary psychologists have argued that heritable variation will not be found in important, fitness-relevant characteristics because of the winnowing effect of natural selection. This article propounds the opposite view. Heritable variation is ubiquitous in all species, and there are a number of frameworks for understanding its persistence. The author argues that each of the Big Five dimensions of human personality can be seen as the result of a trade-off between different fitness costs and benefits. As there is no unconditionally optimal value of these trade-offs, it is to be expected that genetic diversity will be retained in the population. |
Address |
University of Newcastle, Newcastle, United Kingdom. daniel.nettle@ncl.ac.uk |
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0003-066X |
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PMID:16953749 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4105 |
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Author |
Bergmann, H.H.; Klaus, S.; Muller, F.; Wiesner, J. |
Title |
[Individuality and type specificity in the songs of a population of hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia bonasia L., Tetraoninae, Phasianidae)] |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1975 |
Publication |
Behaviour |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behaviour |
Volume |
55 |
Issue |
1-2 |
Pages |
94-114 |
Keywords |
Animals; *Birds; Female; *Individuality; Male; Time Factors; *Vocalization, Animal |
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German |
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Individualitat und Artspezifitat in den Gesangsstrophen einer Population des Haselhuhns (Bonasa bonasia bonasia L., Tetraoninae, Phasianidae) |
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0005-7959 |
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PMID:1191217 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4152 |
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Author |
Salzen, E.A.; Cornell, J.M. |
Title |
Self-perception and species recognition in birds |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
1968 |
Publication |
Behaviour |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behaviour |
Volume |
30 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
44-65 |
Keywords |
Animals; Birds; Color Perception; Discrimination Learning; Generalization, Response; Imprinting (Psychology); *Perception; *Self Concept; Social Isolation; *Species Specificity; Water |
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0005-7959 |
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PMID:5644775 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4154 |
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Author |
Nakagawa, S.; Waas, J.R. |
Title |
'O sibling, where art thou?' – A review of avian sibling recognition with respect to the mammalian literature |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
79 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
101-119 |
Keywords |
Birds; Direct familiarisation; Indirect familiarisation; Individual recognition; Kin discrimination; Kin recognition; Mammals; Sibling recognition |
Abstract |
Avian literature on sibling recognition is rare compared to that developed by mammalian researchers. We compare avian and mammalian research on sibling recognition to identify why avian work is rare, how approaches differ and what avian and mammalian researchers can learn from each other. Three factors: (1) biological differences between birds and mammals, (2) conceptual biases and (3) practical constraints, appear to influence our current understanding. Avian research focuses on colonial species because sibling recognition is considered adaptive where 'mixing potential' of dependent young is high; research on a wider range of species, breeding systems and ecological conditions is now needed. Studies of acoustic recognition cues dominate avian literature; other types of cues (e.g. visual, olfactory) deserve further attention. The effect of gender on avian sibling recognition has yet to be investigated; mammalian work shows that gender can have important influences. Most importantly, many researchers assume that birds recognise siblings through 'direct familiarisation' (commonly known as associative learning or familiarity); future experiments should also incorporate tests for 'indirect familiarisation' (commonly known as phenotype matching). If direct familiarisation proves crucial, avian research should investigate how periods of separation influence sibling discrimination. Mammalian researchers typically interpret sibling recognition in broad functional terms (nepotism, optimal outbreeding); some avian researchers more successfully identify specific and testable adaptive explanations, with greater relevance to natural contexts. We end by reporting exciting discoveries from recent studies of avian sibling recognition that inspire further interest in this topic. |
Address |
Department of Biological Sciences, University Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand |
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Cited By (since 1996): 9; Export Date: 23 October 2008; Source: Scopus |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4567 |
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Author |
George, I.; Cousillas, H.; Richard, J.-P.; Hausberger, M. |
Title |
Song perception in the European starling: hemispheric specialisation and individual variations |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Comptes Rendus Biologies |
Abbreviated Journal |
Compt. Rend. Biol. |
Volume |
325 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
197-204 |
Keywords |
lateralisation; perception; birdsong; starling; electrophysiology; individual variations; latéralisation; perception; chant; étourneaux; électrophysiologie; variations individuelles |
Abstract |
Hemispheric specialisation for speech in humans has been well documented. The lateralisation for song production observed in songbirds is reminiscent of this hemispheric dominance. In order to investigate whether song perception is also lateralised, we made multiunit recordings of the neuronal activity in the field L of starlings during the presentation of species-specific and artificial non-specific sounds. We observed a systematic stronger activation in one hemisphere than in the other one during the playback of species-specific sounds, with inter-subject variability in the predominant hemisphere for song perception. Such an asymmetry was not observed for artificial non-specific sounds. Thus, our results suggest that, at least at the individual level, the two hemispheres of the starlings' brain perceive and process conspecific signals differently. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4636 |
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Author |
Lefebvre, L.; Reader, S.M.; Sol, D. |
Title |
Brains, Innovations and Evolution in Birds and Primates |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Brain, Behavior and Evolution |
Abbreviated Journal |
Brain. Behav. Evol. |
Volume |
63 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
233-246 |
Keywords |
Innovation W Brain evolution W Hyperstriatum ventrale W Neostriatum W Isocortex W Birds W Primates W Tool use W Invasion biology |
Abstract |
Abstract
Several comparative research programs have focusedon the cognitive, life history and ecological traits thataccount for variation in brain size. We review one ofthese programs, a program that uses the reported frequencyof behavioral innovation as an operational measureof cognition. In both birds and primates, innovationrate is positively correlated with the relative size of associationareas in the brain, the hyperstriatum ventrale andneostriatum in birds and the isocortex and striatum inprimates. Innovation rate is also positively correlatedwith the taxonomic distribution of tool use, as well asinterspecific differences in learning. Some features ofcognition have thus evolved in a remarkably similar wayin primates and at least six phyletically-independent avianlineages. In birds, innovation rate is associated withthe ability of species to deal with seasonal changes in theenvironment and to establish themselves in new regions,and it also appears to be related to the rate atwhich lineages diversify. Innovation rate provides a usefultool to quantify inter-taxon differences in cognitionand to test classic hypotheses regarding the evolution ofthe brain. |
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0006-8977 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4738 |
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Author |
Reboreda, J.C.; Clayton, N.S.; Kacelnik, A. |
Title |
Species and sex differences in hippocampus size in parasitic and non-parasitic cowbirds |
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Journal Article |
Year |
1996 |
Publication |
Neuroreport |
Abbreviated Journal |
Neuroreport |
Volume |
7 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
505-508 |
Keywords |
Animals; Birds/*physiology; Female; Hippocampus/*anatomy & histology; Male; Nesting Behavior/*physiology; Sex Characteristics; Species Specificity; Telencephalon/anatomy & histology |
Abstract |
To test the hypothesis that selection for spatial abilities which require birds to locate and to return accurately to host nests has produced an enlarged hippocampus in brood parasites, three species of cowbird were compared. In shiny cowbirds, females search for host nests without the assistance of the male; in screaming cowbirds, males and females inspect hosts' nests together; in bay-winged cowbirds, neither sex searches because this species is not a brood parasite. As predicted, the two parasitic species had a relatively larger hippocampus than the non-parasitic species. There were no sex differences in relative hippocampus size in screaming or bay-winged cowbirds, but female shiny cowbirds had a larger hippocampus than the male. |
Address |
Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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0959-4965 |
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PMID:8730816 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4798 |
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