title: Hormonal and behavioral variation in pied tamarins housed in different management conditions.
abstract: Pied tamarins are an endangered Amazonian primate that has limited breeding success in zoos. Unfortunately, little is known about their reproductive biology and adrenocortical activity. Objectives were: (1) determine if fecal hormones could be utilized to monitor gonadal and adrenocortical activity; (2) characterize male and female gonadal and adrenocortical hormones; and (3) determine if there were differences between adrenocortical activity and behavior in a nonbreeding, on-exhibit (NB-ON) pair compared to a breeding, off-exhibit (B-OFF) pair. Fecal samples were collected from four (two males; two females) individuals. Hormones were analyzed for fecal progesterone (FPM), androgen (FAM), and glucocorticoid (FGM) metabolites by enzyme immunoassay. Behavioral observations were conducted for 6 months. Data were collected on instantaneous behavior, location, and all occurrences of intraspecific behaviors. Fecal progesterone metabolites were validated by pregnancy (mean ± SE, pregnant: 28.47 ± 1.60 μg/g; nonpregnant: 8.63 ± 0.89 μg/g). Fecal androgen metabolites were higher (T = 31,971, P < 0.05) in the B-OFF male (863.66 ± 46.30 μg/g) than the NB-ON male (838.63 ± 60.70 μg/g). Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites were validated by response to veterinary procedure with elevated values (7.31 ± 1.48 μg/g) seven times the baseline (0.37 ± 0.04 μg/g) at 24-hr postphysical. Females had higher baseline FGM than the males (P < 0.05). Baseline FGM were higher (P < 0.05) in the NB-ON female (0.93 ± 0.03 μg/g) compared to the B-OFF female (0.38 ± 0.02 μg/g). Similarly, the NB-ON male's FGM baseline (0.71 ± 0.03 μg/g) were higher (P < 0.05) than the B-OFF male (0.21 ± 0.01 μg/g). Behavioral data revealed stereotypical behaviors in the NB-ON pair but no stereotypical behaviors in the B-OFF pair. Fecal hormone monitoring and behavioral analysis may provide insight on the limited breeding success of pied tamarins in zoos.
authors.affiliation: Conservation and Science Department, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. darmstrong@lpzoo.org
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Santymire
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056727:Endangered Species; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000032:analysis; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012452:Saguinus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000728:Androgens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D011374:Progesterone