Changes in Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Captive Coyotes (Canis latrans): Influence of Gender, Time, and Reproductive Status

Authors

Eric M. Gese, USDA APHIS WS NWRC UtahFollow
Patricia A. Terletzky, Utah State UniversityFollow
Cole A. Bleke, Utah State UniversityFollow
Erika T. Stevenson, USDA APHIS WS NWRC UtahFollow
Susannah S. French, Utah State UniversityFollow

ORCID IDs

Gese 0000-0001-8910-7397

Bleke 0000-0003-1919-1559

Date of this Version

2023

Citation

MDPI Animals (2023) 13: 3596

doi: 10.3390/ani13233596

Academic editor: Xavier Manteca

Comments

United States government work

and

License: CC BY 4.0

Abstract

Simple summary

Biologists have long considered producing offspring a demanding time in the life of any animal, with reproducing and raising offspring being physiologically stressful. We examined whether breeding and producing pups was more stressful than other life-history stages among captive coyotes (Canis latrans) using fecal sampling and subsequent assays for glucocorticoid metabolites. Using 12 pairs of coyotes (five pairs produced pups, seven pairs did not), we examined fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) covering 11 biological time periods for one year. We found high individual variability among both females and males with no apparent statistical effect of reproduction on fGCM concentrations across the time periods; however, fGCMs spiked in mid-gestation for both pregnant and non-pregnant females, indicating some level of stress of producing pups. Levels of fGCM’s were highest among females regardless of reproductive status as compared to male coyotes. Knowledge of factors influencing fGCM concentrations among captive animals can assist in the interpretation of levels found in free-ranging animals.

Abstract

Reproduction is considered an energetically and physiologically demanding time in the life of an animal. Changes in physiological stress are partly reflected in changes in glucocorticoid metabolites and can be measured from fecal samples. We examined levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 24 captive coyotes (Canis latrans) to investigate responses to the demands of reproduction. Using 12 pairs of coyotes (five pairs produced pups, seven pairs did not), we analyzed 633 fecal samples covering 11 biological periods (for example, breeding, gestation, and lactation). Levels of fGCMs showed high individual variability, with females having higher fGCM levels than males. The production of pups showed no statistical effect on fGCM levels among females or males. Among females, fGCM levels were highest during 4–6 weeks of gestation compared to other periods but were not significantly different between pregnant and non-pregnant females. Among males, the highest fGCM levels were during 1–3 weeks of gestation compared to other periods, but were not significantly different between males with a pregnant mate versus non-pregnant mate. Of females producing pups, litter size did not influence fGCM levels. Given that they were fed ample food throughout the year, we found that the demands of producing pups did not appear to statistically influence measures of fGCM concentrations in captive coyotes.