TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of temperature on plasma corticosterone in a native lizard
AU - Racic, Andrea
AU - Tylan, Catherine
AU - Langkilde, Tracy
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank B. Assis, H. Engler, D. Owen, C. Venable, and K. Wild for assistance in the field, H. Engler, D. Ens-minger, and D. Owen for assistance performing experimental procedures, H. Engler, J. Heppner, and K. Spray-berry for assistance with animal care and husbandry, and A. Knight for assistance obtaining sufficiently warm room temperatures without setting off error alarms across campus. We thank personnel at Edgar Evins State Park, Standing Stone State Park, Land Between the Lakes National Recreational Area, Blakeley State Park, Geneva State Forest, Conecuh National Forest, and especially Joel Martin and the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, for logistical support in Alabama, and the Hancock Biological Station for logistical support in Kentucky and Tennessee. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (IOS1456655 to T.L.) and the Pennsylvania State University (Undergraduate Research Support from the Office of Science Engagement in the Eberly College of Science, to A.R.).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).
PY - 2020/12/1
Y1 - 2020/12/1
N2 - The glucocorticoid stress response is frequently used to indicate vertebrate response to the environment. Body temperature may affect glucocorticoid concentrations, particularly in ectotherms. We conducted lab manipulations and field measurements to test the effects of body temperature on plasma corticosterone (predominant glucocorticoid in reptiles) in eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus). First, we acclimated lizards to one of 4 treatments: 22 °C, 29 °C, 33 °C, or 36 °C, and measured cloacal temperatures and plasma corticosterone concentrations at baseline and after exposure to a standardized stressor (cloth bag). Both baseline and stress-induced corticosterone concentrations were lower in lizards with lower body temperatures. Second, we acclimated lizards to 22 °C or 29 °C and exposed them to a standardized (cloth bag) stressor for 3 to 41 min. Lizards acclimated to 29 °C showed a robust increase in plasma corticosterone concentrations with restraint stress, but those at 22 °C showed no such increases in corticosterone concentrations. Third, we measured lizards upon capture from the field. There was no correlation between body temperature and baseline plasma corticosterone in field-caught lizards. These results suggest body temperature can significantly affect plasma corticosterone concentrations in reptiles, which may be of particular concern for experiments conducted under laboratory conditions but may not translate to the field.
AB - The glucocorticoid stress response is frequently used to indicate vertebrate response to the environment. Body temperature may affect glucocorticoid concentrations, particularly in ectotherms. We conducted lab manipulations and field measurements to test the effects of body temperature on plasma corticosterone (predominant glucocorticoid in reptiles) in eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus). First, we acclimated lizards to one of 4 treatments: 22 °C, 29 °C, 33 °C, or 36 °C, and measured cloacal temperatures and plasma corticosterone concentrations at baseline and after exposure to a standardized stressor (cloth bag). Both baseline and stress-induced corticosterone concentrations were lower in lizards with lower body temperatures. Second, we acclimated lizards to 22 °C or 29 °C and exposed them to a standardized (cloth bag) stressor for 3 to 41 min. Lizards acclimated to 29 °C showed a robust increase in plasma corticosterone concentrations with restraint stress, but those at 22 °C showed no such increases in corticosterone concentrations. Third, we measured lizards upon capture from the field. There was no correlation between body temperature and baseline plasma corticosterone in field-caught lizards. These results suggest body temperature can significantly affect plasma corticosterone concentrations in reptiles, which may be of particular concern for experiments conducted under laboratory conditions but may not translate to the field.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-73354-z
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-73354-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 33004871
AN - SCOPUS:85091764122
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 10
JO - Scientific reports
JF - Scientific reports
IS - 1
M1 - 16315
ER -