Moving house: long-term dynamics of corticosterone secretion are unaltered in translocated populations of a rare reptile (the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus).
Translocations are an important conservation tool used to restore at-risk species to their historical range. Unavoidable procedures during translocations, such as habitat disturbance, capture, handling, processing, captivity, transport and release to a novel environment, have the potential to be stressful for most species. In this study, we examined acute and chronic stress (through the measurement of the glucocorticoid corticosterone) in a rare reptile (the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus). We found that: (i) the acute corticosterone response remains elevated during the initial translocation process but is not amplified by cumulative stressors; and (ii) the long-term dynamics of corticosterone secretion are similar in translocated and source populations. Taken together, our results show that translocated tuatara are generally resistant to cumulative acute stressors and show no hormonal sign of chronic stress. Translocation efforts in tuatara afford the potential to reduce extinction risk and restore natural ecosystems.
Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution , School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington , PO Box 600, Wellington 6140 , New Zealand.
Lindsay E
LE
Anderson
Department of Zoology , University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 , New Zealand.
Alison
A
Cree
Ecosystem Development Team, Science and Technical Group , Department of Conservation , Private Bag 68-908 Newton, Auckland 1145 , New Zealand.
David R
DR
Towns
Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution , School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington , PO Box 600, Wellington 6140 , New Zealand.
Nicola J
NJ
Nelson
Corticosterone; reptile; stress; translocation; tuatara