Use of thermal imaging to collect fresh faeces for non-invasive evaluation of stress levels in the European hare (Lepus europaeus).
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00020702%3A_____%2F25%3AN0000100" target="_blank" >RIV/00020702:_____/25:N0000100 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/60460709:41320/25:106282 RIV/00216224:14740/25:00142779 RIV/62156489:43410/25:43927744
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1682443/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1682443/full</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1682443" target="_blank" >10.3389/fvets.2025.1682443</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Use of thermal imaging to collect fresh faeces for non-invasive evaluation of stress levels in the European hare (Lepus europaeus).
Original language description
Assessing long-term stress in wild animal populations is extremely complicated and, in some species, practically impossible due to the complexity of sampling. Here, we tested and verified a unique non-invasive method for collecting fresh faecal samples located using thermal imaging cameras from a model species, the European hare. Subsequent analysis of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) allows for the determination of stress levels without capture of individuals in hare populations. fGCM values ranged from 1.8 to 65.8 ng/g. Whilst the average value across locations in winter was 15.6 ng/g +/- 9.9 SD, values in spring (April/March) were significantly higher (18.2 ng/g +/- 11.2 SD; p < 0.05). These higher values coincided with the peak in European hare reproduction in spring. Significantly higher values were also confirmed in urban environments, indicating increased stress levels compared to natural environments, despite hares appearing to have adapted to the urban landscape. Higher values were also found in structurally poorer landscapes than Austrian rich agroecosystems. Having proved the usefulness of thermal imaging cameras for collecting large numbers of fresh droppings for the non-invasive evaluation of stress in wild hare sub-populations, we suggest the method could be applied to other species where capture and handling exert stress, injury or mortality.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
40301 - Veterinary science
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/SS05010238" target="_blank" >SS05010238: Conservation measures for fragmented populations of European hare (Lepus europaeus) in contrasting farmlands: from research to applied conservation</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
ISSN
2297-1769
e-ISSN
2297-1769
Volume of the periodical
12
Issue of the periodical within the volume
NOV 20 2025
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
8
Pages from-to
1682443
UT code for WoS article
001630847100001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105023981480