@article{5b7cbe50855d4fb591de67e53f840c11,
title = "Evaluation of fecal hormones for noninvasive research on reproduction and stress in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)",
abstract = "Fecal hormone analysis shows high potential for noninvasive assessment of population-level patterns in stress and reproduction of marine mammals. However, the marine environment presents unique challenges for fecal sample collection. Data are still lacking on collection methodology and assay validations for most species, particularly for those mysticete whales that have variable diets. In this study we tested collection techniques for fecal samples of free-swimming humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and validated immunoassays for five steroid and thyroid hormones. Resulting data were used for preliminary physiological validations, i.e., comparisons to independently confirmed sex and reproductive state. Pregnant females had significantly higher fecal progestins and glucocorticoids than did other demographic categories of whales. Two possible cases of previously undetected pregnancies were noted. Males had significantly higher fecal testosterone metabolites than nonpregnant females. Fecal glucocorticoids were significantly elevated in pregnant females and mature males compared to nonpregnant females. Calf fecal samples had elevated concentrations of all fecal hormones. Fecal thyroid hormones showed a significant seasonal decline from spring to summer. Though sample sizes were small, and sampling was necessarily opportunistic, these patterns indicate that noninvasive fecal hormone analysis may facilitate studies of reproduction, stress and potentially energetics in humpback whales.",
keywords = "Cetacea, Endocrinology, Fecal hormones, Hormones, Noninvasive, Reproduction, Stress, Thyroid",
author = "Hunt, {Kathleen E.} and J. Robbins and Buck, {C. Loren} and Martine B{\'e}rub{\'e} and Rolland, {Rosalind M.}",
note = "Funding Information: We are indebted to the research staff of the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), especially David Mattila, Scott Landry and Jennifer Tackaberry. We also thank Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog contributors and collaborators, especially Boston Harbor Cruises, Blue Ocean Society, Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises, the Dolphin Fleet, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Whale Center of New England. The CCS Marine Animal Entanglement Response program provided the sample from the entangled whale. Samples from tagged whales were from parallel research by CCS , the Australian Antarctic Division, the Marine Mammal Laboratory/Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Marine Mammal Center supported by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), ExxonMobile Exploration Company, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. We particularly thank Alex Zerbini for his involvement. We are also grateful to Jodie Treloar and Danielle Dillon for technical assistance with hormone assays, and Per Palsb{\o}ll and Wenzi Hao for molecular genetic sexing. Research was conducted under NOAA research permits # 16325, 14245, 633-1778, 932-1905 and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the New England Aquarium (protocol #2012-05). Funding Information: This work was supported by (1) Pacific Life Foundation Marine Mammal Research Fund at The Ocean Foundation, (2) the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, (3) the Center for Bioengineering Innovation at Northern Arizona University and (4) parallel research by the Center for Coastal Studies. Funding Information: We are indebted to the research staff of the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), especially David Mattila, Scott Landry and Jennifer Tackaberry. We also thank Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog contributors and collaborators, especially Boston Harbor Cruises, Blue Ocean Society, Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises, the Dolphin Fleet, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Whale Center of New England. The CCS Marine Animal Entanglement Response program provided the sample from the entangled whale. Samples from tagged whales were from parallel research by CCS, the Australian Antarctic Division, the Marine Mammal Laboratory/Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Marine Mammal Center supported by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ExxonMobile Exploration Company, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. We particularly thank Alex Zerbini for his involvement. We are also grateful to Jodie Treloar and Danielle Dillon for technical assistance with hormone assays, and Per Palsb{\o}ll and Wenzi Hao for molecular genetic sexing. Research was conducted under NOAA research permits # 16325, 14245, 633-1778, 932-1905 and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the New England Aquarium (protocol #2012-05). Funding Information: We are indebted to the research staff of the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), especially David Mattila, Scott Landry and Jennifer Tackaberry. We also thank Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog contributors and collaborators, especially Boston Harbor Cruises, Blue Ocean Society, Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises, the Dolphin Fleet, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Whale Center of New England. The CCS Marine Animal Entanglement Response program provided the sample from the entangled whale. Samples from tagged whales were from parallel research by CCS, the Australian Antarctic Division, the Marine Mammal Laboratory/Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Marine Mammal Center supported by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ExxonMobile Exploration Company, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. We particularly thank Alex Zerbini for his involvement. We are also grateful to Jodie Treloar and Danielle Dillon for technical assistance with hormone assays, and Per Palsb?ll and Wenzi Hao for molecular genetic sexing. Research was conducted under NOAA research permits # 16325, 14245, 633-1778, 932-1905 and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the New England Aquarium (protocol #2012-05). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2019",
month = sep,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.004",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "280",
pages = "24--34",
journal = "General and Comparative Endocrinology",
issn = "0016-6480",
publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",
}