Influence of environmental conditions and facility on faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in captive pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis)
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine if housing conditions, specifically pen size and soil enrichment, had an effect on faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in the endangered pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). The success of the captive breeding programme has been limited, so one hypothesis is that chronic stress due to sub-optimal housing conditions may be responsible for poor fecundity. Faecal glucocorticoid concentrations were assessed in 50 females housed among several pen types at two breeding facilities. The highest glucocorticoid concentrations were found in females housed in 0.37 m2crates as compared to enclosures ranging from 0.96 to 75 m2in size. Results also indicated that enrichment of enclosures with soil had a significant influence on adrenal activity, based on a reduction in glucocorticoid excretion for females moved from non-soil pens to those with soil. Last, a significant facility effect on glucocorticoid concentrations was observed, suggesting that factors other than housing influenced adrenal activity in these rabbits. In conclusion, based on measurements of faecal glucocorticoids, pygmy rabbits are best managed in enclosures that contain soil for digging burrows. Pen size had little effect on stress hormones, except for crates where limited space and/or absence of soil was associated with higher glucocorticoid concentrations. These results underline the importance of monitoring glucocorticoid concentrations in captive breeding programmes to id…
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Analysing the excretion of GC metabolites in faeces is one way to evaluate physiological responses to environmental stressors.
“One way to evaluate physiological responses to environmental stressors is by analysing the excretion of GC metabolites in faeces (Schwarzenberger, 2007;Scarlata et al., 2013).”
From Effect of weather conditions and presence of visitors on adrenocortical activity in captive African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) (2017) · cites this paper as Scarlata et al., 2013
Cites
Wielebnowski, N. C., Fletchall, N., Carlstead, K., Busso, J. M., & Brown, J. L. (2002) · Zoo Biology · doi:10.1002/zoo.10005 · Cited by 344 · see citing works
Self-citationEffects of environmental enrichment on reproduction
Carlstead, K., & Shepherdson, D. (1994) · Zoo Biology · doi:10.1002/zoo.1430130507 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Self-citationMoreira, N., Brown, J. L., Moraes, W., Swanson, W. F., & Monteiro‐Filho, E. L. A. (2007) · Zoo Biology · doi:10.1002/zoo.20139 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
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Ozella, L., Anfossi, L., Di Nardo, F., & Pessani, D. (2017) · General and Comparative Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.12.002 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
- Authors
- Scarlata, C., Elias, B., Godwin, Jr., Powell, R., Shepherdson, D., Shipley, L., & Brown, J.
- Affiliations
- Washington State University (US)
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Oregon Zoo (US)
- Venue
- Animal Welfare
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2013-08
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 357-368
- ISSN
- 0962-7286 (ISSN-L)
- 2054-1538
- OpenAlex
- W2328478749
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 3.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Animal Welfare (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Keywords
- pygmy rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis, fecal glucocorticoids, captive breeding, housing conditions, pen size, soil enrichment, chronic stress, adrenal function, facility effects, burrowing behavior
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