Stress physiological responses to tourist pressure in a wild population of European pine marten.
The tourist pressure in natural parks is a potential source of stress and may cause an increase in the adrenal activity of wild populations of European pine marten (Martes martes). Seventy-six faecal samples were collected during 15 months in a natural park of Northwest Spain. Analysis of faecal DNA was used for the specific identification using the PCR-RFLPs technique. Faecal steroid determinations were performed by EIA. Natural park was divided in three areas: free entry, restricted area, and integral reservation, and number of daily human visitors recorded. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (ng/g dry faeces) were significantly higher in spring (56.36+/-19.62) and summer (31.27+/-11.98) compared to autumn (15.33+/-6.89) and winter (11.13+/-3.30). These data are closely related to daily number of visitors (spring: 3204, summer: 1672, winter: 646, autumn: 551). Androgen, progestin and oestrogen levels were also significantly higher in spring (reproductive season) showing values of 43.62+/-18.6, 154.31+/-53.50 and 829.62+/-456.1, respectively. Glucocorticoid levels were significantly lower in integral reservation (15.95+/-3.56) compared to restricted (31.4+/-16.30) and free entry areas (41.59+/-12.73), respectively. Wild populations of European pine marten showed stress physiological response induced by the tourist pressure and this response is higher during reproductive season.
Barja
Isabel
I
Departamento de Biología y Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad SEK, Segovia, Spain.
Silván
Gema
G
Rosellini
Stefano
S
Piñeiro
Ana
A
González-Gil
Alfredo
A
Camacho
Laura
L
Illera
Juan Carlos
JC
D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000032:analysis; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000502:physiology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000473:pathology*
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011372:Progestins; D006854:Hydrocortisone