Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand


Linking glucocorticoid variations to monthly and daily behavior in a wild endangered neotropical primate

Full text
Author(s):
Kaisin, Olivier ; Bufalo, Felipe ; Amaral, Rodrigo ; Palme, Rupert ; Poncin, Pascal ; Brotcorne, Fany ; Culot, Laurence
Total Authors: 7
Document type: Journal article
Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY; v. 85, n. 7, p. 15-pg., 2023-05-08.
Abstract

Identifying the factors swaying physiological stress levels in wild animals can help depict how they cope with environmental and social stressors, shedding light on their feeding ecology, behavioral plasticity, and adaptability. Here, we used noninvasive methods to explore the link between glucocorticoid levels and behavior in an endangered neotropical primate facing habitat fragmentation pressure, the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus). We investigated monthly and day-to-day glucocorticoid variations independently to attempt to disentangle the complex nature of the adrenocortical activity. Between May 2019 to March 2020, we followed two groups of black lion tamarins in two different areas, a continuous forest and a small fragment, and gathered behavioral data (over 95 days in total; 8.6 +/- 3.9 days/month) and fecal samples (N-samples = 468; 4.93 +/- 3.5 samples/day) simultaneously. Preliminary analyses enabled us to identify circadian variations linked to the biological rhythm, which were taken into account in subsequent models. Monthly analyses revealed that black lion tamarin fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels vary according to changes in activity budget associated with the fruit consumption, movement, and resting time of the groups. At a day-to-day level, while intergroup encounters led to increases in fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations, we found that changes in food intake or activity level did not trigger physiological stress responses. These findings suggest that diet and ranging patterns, driven by food availability and distribution, influence physiological stress at a seasonal scale, while acute stressors such as interspecific competition trigger short-term stress responses. Exploring fecal glucocorticoid metabolite variations over different timescales can help uncover the predictive and reactive facets of physiological stress in wild species. Moreover, having a comprehensive understanding of the physiological state of species is a valuable conservation tool for evaluating how they cope in changing environments. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/14739-0 - The effect of fragmentation on primate ecological functions
Grantee:Laurence Marianne Vincianne Culot
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
FAPESP's process: 21/06668-0 - Primate resilience in an anthropogenic landscape
Grantee:Laurence Marianne Vincianne Culot
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2