With a growing number of species of conservation concern, understanding the physiological effects of routine sampling of vertebrate species remains a priority to maintain the welfare status of wildlife and ensure such activities are not counter to conservation goals. The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a species of conservation concern throughout its range and is among the most frequently trapped turtles globally (for both research and conservation activities). Several studies have found equivocal results on the effects of trapping and handling on the glucocorticoid stress response. In this study, we tested how multiple physiological biomarkers (i.e. plasma lactate, corticosterone (cort), heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (HLR) and bactericidal ability (BA)) respond to four different combinations of trapping conditions in comparison to baseline reference sampling. We found that trapping and handling of gopher tortoises yielded a rapid rise in plasma lactate concentration followed by elevations of cort and stress-associated immune changes. In visibly distressed animals that were in traps for fewer than 2 hours, lactate, cort, HLR and BA were all elevated, and generally more so than animals that remained calm in traps for a similar amount of time. Animals that had been trapped and then held for a 3-hour restraint showed similar degrees of physiological alteration as those that showed outward signs of distress. This study demonstrates that trapping may yield physiological disturbances in gopher tortoises, although the intensity of this response is highly variable between individuals and the duration of such alterations remains unknown. This research emphasizes the need for continued work to refine trapping and handling processes in an effort to minimize impacts on individuals and populations.

中文翻译：

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地鼠陆龟 (Gopherus polyphemus) 对诱捕的生理反应

随着越来越多的物种受到保护，了解脊椎动物物种常规取样的生理影响仍然是维持野生动物福利状况并确保此类活动不违背保护目标的优先事项。地鼠陆龟 (Gopherus polyphemus) 在其整个分布范围内都是一种受到保护的物种，并且是全球最常被困的海龟之一（用于研究和保护活动）。几项研究发现了关于诱捕和处理对糖皮质激素应激反应的影响的模棱两可的结果。在这项研究中，我们测试了多种生理生物标志物（即血浆乳酸、皮质酮 (cort)、嗜异性蛋白）如何：与基线参考采样相比，淋巴细胞比率 (HLR) 和杀菌能力 (BA)) 对四种不同的诱捕条件组合有反应。我们发现，诱捕和处理地鼠陆龟会导致血浆乳酸浓度迅速升高，然后是皮质升高和与压力相关的免疫变化。在被困在陷阱中不到 2 小时的明显痛苦的动物中，乳酸、皮质、HLR 和 BA 都升高了，而且通常比在陷阱中保持相似时间保持冷静的动物更高。被困并被拘禁 3 小时的动物表现出与那些表现出痛苦外在迹象的动物相似程度的生理变化。这项研究表明，诱捕可能会对地鼠陆龟产生生理干扰，尽管这种反应的强度在个体之间存在很大差异，并且这种改变的持续时间仍然未知。这项研究强调需要继续努力改进诱捕和处理过程，以尽量减少对个人和人群的影响。