Use of thermal imaging to collect fresh faeces for non-invasive evaluation of stress levels in the European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Kód výsledku v 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>

Nalezeny alternativní kódy

RIV/60460709:41320/25:106282 RIV/00216224:14740/25:00142779 RIV/62156489:43410/25:43927744

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Use of thermal imaging to collect fresh faeces for non-invasive evaluation of stress levels in the European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Use of thermal imaging to collect fresh faeces for non-invasive evaluation of stress levels in the European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

40301 - Veterinary science

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/SS05010238" target="_blank" >SS05010238: Podpora zbytkových populací zajíce polního (Lepus europaeus) v různých typech zemědělské krajiny: od výzkumu k aplikované ochraně</a><br>

Návaznosti

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

ISSN

2297-1769

e-ISSN

2297-1769

Svazek periodika

12

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

NOV 20 2025

Stát vydavatele periodika

CH - Švýcarská konfederace

Počet stran výsledku

8

Strana od-do

1682443

Kód UT WoS článku

001630847100001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-105023981480