Non-invasive fecal analysis to evaluate stress in vulnerable marine mammals
Presentation Abstract
A growing number of anthropogenic stressors have been found to impact marine mammals, leading to deleterious effects at both the individual and sometimes population-level. Hormones are an important facet of wildlife health, and can be used to quantify a range of anthropogenic stressors such as vessel noise, habitat disturbance, and pollution. Fecal analysis provides a non-invasive form of stress assessment that allows for evaluation of hormone levels, which can be utilized for marine mammal species whose feces float. Fecal analysis, mostly targeting the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol and its metabolites, has been widely employed in the terrestrial animal realm and is now being extended to marine systems. Here, we reviewed all known studies that have employed fecal analysis on threatened or endangered marine mammals. We found that large whales, both baleen and toothed, have been sampled comparatively more than other vulnerable marine mammal species, with no dolphin and few pinniped species being sampled. Non-invasive fecal analysis remains largely underutilized on vulnerable marine mammals due to logistical difficulties associated with obtaining marine fecal matter, coupled with logistical challenges associated with fecal processing. We opportunistically interviewed experts working with threatened or endangered marine mammal species that have not been targeted for fecal analysis to obtain information on whether or not those species would be potential candidates for fecal stress research. We then draw on various anthropogenic interactions that have been documented on vulnerable marine mammals that would warrant additional hormonal scat research to gain a better understanding of animal physiology and behavior. We chronicle the evolution of fecal analysis for cortisol as a viable technique for stress evaluation, and highlight future challenges and potential opportunities to expand this approach to studying other vulnerable marine mammals.
Session Title
From plankton to whales: underwater noise and its impacts on marine life
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Whales--Feces--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Study and teaching; Whales--Effect of human beings on--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Marine mammals--Effect of human beings on; Marine mammals--Feces
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Non-invasive fecal analysis to evaluate stress in vulnerable marine mammals
2016SSEC
A growing number of anthropogenic stressors have been found to impact marine mammals, leading to deleterious effects at both the individual and sometimes population-level. Hormones are an important facet of wildlife health, and can be used to quantify a range of anthropogenic stressors such as vessel noise, habitat disturbance, and pollution. Fecal analysis provides a non-invasive form of stress assessment that allows for evaluation of hormone levels, which can be utilized for marine mammal species whose feces float. Fecal analysis, mostly targeting the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol and its metabolites, has been widely employed in the terrestrial animal realm and is now being extended to marine systems. Here, we reviewed all known studies that have employed fecal analysis on threatened or endangered marine mammals. We found that large whales, both baleen and toothed, have been sampled comparatively more than other vulnerable marine mammal species, with no dolphin and few pinniped species being sampled. Non-invasive fecal analysis remains largely underutilized on vulnerable marine mammals due to logistical difficulties associated with obtaining marine fecal matter, coupled with logistical challenges associated with fecal processing. We opportunistically interviewed experts working with threatened or endangered marine mammal species that have not been targeted for fecal analysis to obtain information on whether or not those species would be potential candidates for fecal stress research. We then draw on various anthropogenic interactions that have been documented on vulnerable marine mammals that would warrant additional hormonal scat research to gain a better understanding of animal physiology and behavior. We chronicle the evolution of fecal analysis for cortisol as a viable technique for stress evaluation, and highlight future challenges and potential opportunities to expand this approach to studying other vulnerable marine mammals.
