Stress load along a gradient of human disturbance in two sympatric lemur species

两种同域狐猴物种沿人类干扰梯度的应力负荷

• 批准号: 256175664
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Peter M. Kappeler
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Abteilung Soziobiologie/ Anthropologie
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2013-12-31 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/256175664?language=en
• 关键词: Stress; load; along; gradient; human

Because the HPA axis responds in the same way to social, physiological and ecological challenges, stress hormone levels are often used as an integrative indicator of health, whereby especially long-term (chronic) stress is associated with negative health outcomes. Within an on-going project on the conservation physiology of two closely-related lemur species, the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius), and the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), we here focus on the pivotal role of stress in mediating the sensitivity of these species to anthropogenic change. Hair provides a unique matrix for assessing long-term stress, because it integrates HPA activity over several weeks to months. Using hair cortisol levels, we will evaluate the hypothesis that the slow-living specialist C. medius is more sensitive to anthropogenic change than the fast-living generalist M. murinus by comparing stress loads along a gradient of human disturbance. To interpret our findings and to thus assess individual and population health more robustly, we will then evaluate the relationship between stress levels and two more indicators of health, body condition and parasite loads. Finally, we will test whether increased stress loads are indeed associated with decreased survival probabilities and quantify this relationship for the two study species. Combining sensitivity estimates with its demographic consequences in predictive population models provides a sound basis for conservation decisions.

由于HPA轴以相同的方式对社会，生理和生态挑战做出反应，因此压力激素水平通常被用作健康的综合指标，特别是长期（慢性）压力与负面健康结果相关。在两个密切相关的狐猴物种，肥尾矮狐猴（Cheirogaleus medius），和灰鼠狐猴（Microcebus murinus）的保护生理正在进行的项目，我们在这里专注于调解这些物种的敏感性，人为变化的压力的关键作用。头发为评估长期压力提供了独特的矩阵，因为它整合了数周到数月的HPA活动。利用头发皮质醇水平，我们将评估慢生活专家C。medius对人为变化的敏感度高于生活节奏快的通才M。murinus通过比较应力负荷沿着梯度的人类干扰。为了解释我们的研究结果，从而更有力地评估个人和人群的健康，我们将评估压力水平与健康，身体状况和寄生虫负荷的两个指标之间的关系。最后，我们将测试是否增加压力负荷确实与生存概率下降，并量化这两个研究物种的关系。在预测种群模型中将敏感性估计与其人口后果相结合，为保护决策提供了良好的基础。

项目成果

Does habitat disturbance affect stress, body condition and parasitism in two sympatric lemurs?

• DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow034
• 发表时间: 2016
• 期刊: Conservation physiology
• 影响因子: 2.7
• 作者: Rakotoniaina JH;Kappeler PM;Ravoniarimbinina P;Pechouskova E;Hämäläinen AM;Grass J;Kirschbaum C;Kraus C
• 通讯作者: Kraus C