A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes
Monitoring stress-related faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations is a reliable, popular and established approach for understanding wildlife responses to perceived stressors. To maintain fGCM integrity post-defaecation, faecal material must be promptly stored frozen, or dried to preve...
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | MethodsX |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016124005284 |
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| author | Kayla Rae Osburn Bruce Crossey Tshepiso L Majelantle Andre Ganswindt |
| author_facet | Kayla Rae Osburn Bruce Crossey Tshepiso L Majelantle Andre Ganswindt |
| author_sort | Kayla Rae Osburn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Monitoring stress-related faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations is a reliable, popular and established approach for understanding wildlife responses to perceived stressors. To maintain fGCM integrity post-defaecation, faecal material must be promptly stored frozen, or dried to prevent continued suspected bacterial enzyme activity. We compare the effectiveness of freeze-drying with other field-friendly drying techniques (food dehydrator and homemade solar oven). We collected 10 fresh faecal samples each from nine species (giraffe, impala, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, African elephant, white rhino, cheetah, spotted hyena, and leopard) and monitored alterations in fGCM concentrations over time utilizing these different drying techniques. Our findings indicate that a homemade solar oven is as effective as freeze-drying faecal samples. A food dehydrator is also a suitable method for drying faecal samples for the carnivores monitored. Our findings provide field-friendly methods for researchers dealing with logistical constraints in remote field sites. • For all species examined, a homemade solar oven offers a practical and affordable alternative to freeze-drying faeces for fGCM quantification. • A food dehydrator provides an affordable alternative to freeze-drying faeces for fGCM analysis when monitoring carnivores. • Different faecal sample drying techniques should not be utilized within a single study to ensure comparable analyses of fGCM values. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36fffe5505354f158fbb49d8b03e04e9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2215-0161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MethodsX |
| spelling | doaj-art-36fffe5505354f158fbb49d8b03e04e92025-08-20T02:31:03ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612024-12-011310307710.1016/j.mex.2024.103077A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classesKayla Rae Osburn0Bruce Crossey1Tshepiso L Majelantle2Andre Ganswindt3Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0028 Hatfield, South Africa; Endocrine Research Lab, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; Corresponding author.Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0028 Hatfield, South Africa; Endocrine Research Lab, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0028 Hatfield, South Africa; Endocrine Research Lab, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0028 Hatfield, South Africa; Endocrine Research Lab, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South AfricaMonitoring stress-related faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations is a reliable, popular and established approach for understanding wildlife responses to perceived stressors. To maintain fGCM integrity post-defaecation, faecal material must be promptly stored frozen, or dried to prevent continued suspected bacterial enzyme activity. We compare the effectiveness of freeze-drying with other field-friendly drying techniques (food dehydrator and homemade solar oven). We collected 10 fresh faecal samples each from nine species (giraffe, impala, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, African elephant, white rhino, cheetah, spotted hyena, and leopard) and monitored alterations in fGCM concentrations over time utilizing these different drying techniques. Our findings indicate that a homemade solar oven is as effective as freeze-drying faecal samples. A food dehydrator is also a suitable method for drying faecal samples for the carnivores monitored. Our findings provide field-friendly methods for researchers dealing with logistical constraints in remote field sites. • For all species examined, a homemade solar oven offers a practical and affordable alternative to freeze-drying faeces for fGCM quantification. • A food dehydrator provides an affordable alternative to freeze-drying faeces for fGCM analysis when monitoring carnivores. • Different faecal sample drying techniques should not be utilized within a single study to ensure comparable analyses of fGCM values.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016124005284Alternative drying methods for glucocorticoid metabolites quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| spellingShingle | Kayla Rae Osburn Bruce Crossey Tshepiso L Majelantle Andre Ganswindt A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes MethodsX Alternative drying methods for glucocorticoid metabolites quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| title | A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| title_full | A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| title_fullStr | A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| title_short | A field-friendly alternative to freeze-drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| title_sort | field friendly alternative to freeze drying faeces for glucocorticoid metabolite quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| topic | Alternative drying methods for glucocorticoid metabolites quantification in animals of different feeding classes |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016124005284 |
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