Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Emma M. Jepsen, Juan Scheun, Martin Dehnhard, Vinod Kumar, Govindhaswamy Umapathy, Andre Ganswindt
Summary: Over the last century, wild tiger numbers have drastically declined, with a larger population of tigers in captivity. In South Africa, 280 tigers are held in 44 different facilities, where a study showed the impact of different environments on tiger stress responses and suggested management protocols be created for each population.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Flavia Santamaria, Rolf Schlagloth, Rupert Palme, Joerg Henning
Summary: This study highlights the importance of considering the suitability of faecal field samples for FCM analysis, with water loss being the main driver of FCM changes. Freshly defecated koala pellets are recommended for collection despite potential challenges in obtaining them, as environmental conditions can impact FCM stability.
Article
Ornithology
Celiwe A. A. Ngcamphalala, Susan W. W. Nicolson, Andre Ganswindt, Andrew E. E. McKechnie
Summary: Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) analysis is a non-invasive method for monitoring adrenocortical responses to stress. This study validates the use of enzyme-immunoassays (EIAs) to quantify fGCMs in two bird species. Results show species-specific suitability of EIAs and the time lag between stress initiation and peak fGCM concentration.
EMU-AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Business
Theshne Kisten
Summary: This study develops a new index to monitor financial stability in South Africa, selecting and aggregating financial indicators based on their incremental informational content to achieve the best balance between parsimony and efficacy. The index successfully captures not only key episodes of financial stress in South Africa, but also other global and idiosyncratic risks affecting the country's financial markets. Threshold vector autoregression models reveal nonlinearities and time-variation in the transmission of a financial shock to the real economy.
EMERGING MARKETS FINANCE AND TRADE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Eeva A. Ojala, Mika Kurkilahti, Anne Lene Hovland, Rupert Palme, Jaakko Mononen
Summary: The study validated the use of a 5 alpha-pregnane-3ss,11ss,21-triol-20-one enzyme immunoassay in measuring faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in farmed blue foxes, indicating FCMs as a valid indicator of stress in the species.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Satoshi Kusuda, Takashi Funahashi, Itsuki Adachi, Hanae Yamamoto, Eiji Nagao, Kirito Matsui, Yuki Akiba
Summary: The measurement of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in feces is a useful method for improving the husbandry and health management of the endangered Tsushima leopard cats. Changes in fecal GCM concentrations were observed during health examinations and treatment, indicating the role of GCMs in evaluating stress and disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavia Santamaria, Christopher K. Barlow, Rolf Schlagloth, Ralf B. Schittenhelm, Rupert Palme, Joerg Henning
Summary: The koala is an arboreal folivorous marsupial endemic to Australia. Due to threats from anthropogenic activities and climate change, a non-invasive method was used in this study to objectively measure stress in koalas, revealing tetrahydrocortisol as the main faecal cortisol metabolite.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
K. H. Kothmann, A. Jons, B. Wilhelmi, N. Kasozi, L. Graham, R. Gent, S. L. Atkin, A. C. Swart, A. E. Newell-Fugate
Summary: This study assessed fecal steroid levels and microbiome composition in wild southern white rhinoceros in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It found that pregnant females had high amounts of fecal progesterone metabolites, while non-pregnant females had similar steroid levels to males. The fecal microbiome of females was more diverse than that of males, and young rhinoceros had a richer core microbiome compared to old rhinoceros. Stress had a distinct effect on both steroid levels and the fecal microbiome.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Flavia Santamaria, Rupert Palme, Rolf Schlagloth, Edith Klobetz-Rassam, Joerg Henning
Summary: This study investigated measuring stress levels in koalas and established physiological baseline levels for male and female koalas during breeding and non-breeding seasons, serving as a reference for future studies. The research found significant differences in faecal cortisol metabolite values between males and females, breeding and non-breeding seasons, and morning and evening samples, using an enzyme immunoassay with high biological sensitivity.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Ingrid van der Merwe, Nigel C. Bennett, Abraham Haim, Andre Ganswindt, Maria K. Oosthuizen
Summary: The study highlights the significant impact of light wavelength on physiological and behavioral responses in African rodent species during the photophase. It shows that different wavelengths of light influence urine production rates, 6-SMT, and uGCM concentrations in nocturnal and diurnal rodents, indicating the central role of light wavelength in entrainment of rhythms.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. Chharang, S. Choudhary, V Kumar, S. Sharma, P. C. Sharma, S. Saini, G. Umapathy
Summary: The study found that providing probiotics to African elephants did not have a significant impact on the levels of physiological stress hormones in their feces.
INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marion E. Garai, Tenisha Roos, Tamara Eggeling, Andre Ganswindt, Yolanda Pretorius, Michelle Henley
Summary: This study is the first attempt to define behavioral and physiological welfare parameters for free-ranging elephants in fenced reserves in South Africa. The study found that history, age, sex, reserve size, and season contribute to the welfare indices and physiological responses of elephants.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle, Andre Ganswindt, Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt, Nicole Hagenah, Daniel William Hart, Nigel Charles Bennett
Summary: The naked mole-rat lives in colonies with a dominant hierarchy. Enzyme immunoassays were used to evaluate their reproductive capacity. Urine was not suitable for measuring hormone concentrations, but feces was. There were individual variations in hormone concentrations, and some individuals had reduced reproductive capacity when separated from the queen.
Article
Agronomy
Erinaldo Gomes Pereira, Leandro Azevedo Santos, Carlos Alberto Bucher, Marco Andre Alves de Souza, Humberto Josue de Oliveira Ramos, Manlio Silvestre Fernandes
Summary: The study revealed that nitrogen stress induces changes in DNA methylation, with the duration of stress conditioning affecting the methylation patterns of plants. Moreover, a strong correlation between methylation status and photosynthetic, agronomic, and nitrogen-use parameters was observed.
Article
Plant Sciences
Stacy D. Singer, Madeline Lehmann, Zixuan Zhang, Udaya Subedi, Kimberley Burton Hughes, Nathaniel Z. -L. Lim, Rodrigo Ortega Polo, Guanqun Chen, Surya Acharya, Abdelali Hannoufa, Tao Huan
Summary: In this study, comprehensive evaluations of the physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic responses of alfalfa to salt stress were conducted. It was found that alfalfa exhibited significant growth and photosynthetic reductions under salinity treatment. A total of 1233 differentially expressed genes and 60 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified, suggesting the involvement of important factors such as cell membranes and walls, cuticular waxes, osmoprotectants, antioxidant metabolic pathways, ion transporters, protective proteins, and transcription factors in alfalfa's salinity response process.
Article
Zoology
Juan Scheun, Sophie Neller, Nigel C. Bennett, Lucy Kemp, Andre Ganswindt
Summary: Throat coloration in male southern ground-hornbills is not primarily determined by androgens or social dynamics, with no significant difference in fecal androgen metabolite concentrations between males with blue, partially blue, and fully red throat skin. The study suggests that social dynamics, such as dominance, do not drive male gonadal activity or throat coloration in SGH.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ciska P. J. Scheijen, Fred B. Bercovitch, Ilse Luther-Binoir, Andre Ganswindt, Francois Deacon
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Patrick Siyambulela Mafunda, Liana Maree, Andre Ganswindt, Antoinette Kotze, Gerhard van van der Horst
Summary: This study provides a detailed description of the reproductive tract of African penguins and investigates the seasonal changes in gonadal steroid hormone concentrations. The breeding status of African penguins can be inferred based on the histological structures of the testicular and ovarian tissues.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
John R. Birrell, Martin L. Schulman, Alma E. Botha, Andre Ganswindt, Geoffrey T. Fosgate, Henk J. Bertschinger
Summary: Administering two doses of Improvac(R) in colts reduced their testicular volumes effectively before castration, leading to significant improvement in post-surgical local swelling. The study findings indicated a strong correlation between testis size and preputial and scrotal swelling after surgery.
EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gideon L. van den Berg, Els Vermeulen, Luciano O. Valenzuela, Martine Berube, Andre Ganswindt, Darren R. Grocke, Grant Hall, Pavel Hulva, Petra Neveceralova, Per J. Palsboll, Emma L. Carroll
Summary: The South African population of Southern right whales has undergone significant changes in reproductive output and foraging strategy over the past few decades, characterized by a northward shift and diversification in foraging grounds. This shift in foraging ecology is hypothesized to be a response to changes in preferred habitat or prey, such as the decrease in abundance and southward range contraction of Antarctic krill. The study highlights that altering foraging strategies may not be sufficient for Southern right whales to adapt to a changing ocean, as shown by the link between reproductive decline and changing foraging strategies.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
J. Scheun, K. Ludynia, A. Snyman, A. Ganswindt
Summary: Anthropogenic activities lead to seabird injury and mortality, with rehabilitation centers playing a key role in rescuing and treating affected birds. African penguins exhibit physiological stress responses during the rehabilitation process, especially for injured and emaciated individuals.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea B. Webster, Riana Rossouw, F. Javier Callealta, Nigel C. Bennett, Andre Ganswindt
Summary: This study conducted the widest range assessment of trace elements in protected terrestrial wildlife reserves in the South African savannah biome, revealing the presence of various potentially toxic elements in sediment and vegetation, indicating the potential deleterious consequences of environmental contamination with trace elements.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Andrew J. Abraham, Andrea B. Webster, Jessica Jordaan, Tomos O. Prys-Jones, Andre Ganswindt, Pieter De Jager, Christopher E. Doughty
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mmatsawela Ramahlo, Michael John Somers, Daniel William Hart, Andre Ganswindt
Summary: This study investigates the effects of anthropogenic activity and human-mediated land transformation on the native small mammal community in the Magaliesberg Biosphere of South Africa. The study finds that capture/recapture frequencies vary significantly between sites and seasons, with the highest frequencies observed at agricultural and residential farmsteads. The residential and mine-adjacent farmsteads, which experienced intermediate levels of disturbance, exhibited the highest species richness and diversity.
Article
Ornithology
Celiwe A. A. Ngcamphalala, Susan W. W. Nicolson, Andre Ganswindt, Andrew E. E. McKechnie
Summary: Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) analysis is a non-invasive method for monitoring adrenocortical responses to stress. This study validates the use of enzyme-immunoassays (EIAs) to quantify fGCMs in two bird species. Results show species-specific suitability of EIAs and the time lag between stress initiation and peak fGCM concentration.
EMU-AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle, Andre Ganswindt, Christian Walter Werner Pirk, Nigel Charles Bennett, Daniel William Hart
Summary: Naked mole-rat dispersers exhibit consistent behavioral responses and individual differences, indicating distinct personality traits. They also show different responses when faced with threats to their survival. Further investigation into the relationship between animal personality traits and social hierarchy is essential for understanding the social system of naked mole-rats.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle, Nigel Charles Bennett, Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt, Daniel William Hart, Andre Ganswindt
Summary: The study aimed to validate enzyme immunoassays for monitoring stress-related hormones in naked mole-rats using urine and feces as matrices. The results showed that a 5 alpha-pregnane-3 beta,11 beta,21-triol-20-one EIA was the most suitable for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in male urine, while an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone EIA was the most suitable for quantifying glucocorticoid metabolites in female urine. An 11-oxoaetiocholanolone EIA was also the most suitable for quantifying glucocorticoid metabolites in the feces of both sexes.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kelsey Lee Brown, Andre Ganswindt, Gerhard Steenkamp, Adrian Stephen Wolferstan Tordiffe
Summary: This study investigated how offering larger quantities of food less frequently could affect the health of captive-born cheetahs. The results suggest that reducing feeding frequency could improve the gastrointestinal health of captive cheetahs without causing significant stress.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle, Andre Ganswindt, Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt, Nicole Hagenah, Daniel William Hart, Nigel Charles Bennett
Summary: The naked mole-rat lives in colonies with a dominant hierarchy. Enzyme immunoassays were used to evaluate their reproductive capacity. Urine was not suitable for measuring hormone concentrations, but feces was. There were individual variations in hormone concentrations, and some individuals had reduced reproductive capacity when separated from the queen.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura Lacomme, Chloe Guerbois, Herve Fritz, Andre Ganswindt, Benjamin Rey
Summary: This study validated a field-friendly method for drying and storing African elephant feces, addressing the logistical challenges of quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) and promoting the consideration of welfare in conservation management.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
