Effect of weather conditions and presence of visitors on adrenocortical activity in captive African penguins (Spheniscus demersus)

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• 作者：L. Ozella^a ; ^{laura.ozella@unito.it} ; L. Anfossi^b ; F. Di Nardo^b ; D. Pessani^a
• 关键词：Jackass penguin ; Stress ; Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites ; Microclimatic conditions ; Visitor effect ; Immersive zoo
• 刊名：General and Comparative Endocrinology
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：1 February 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：242
• 期：Complete
• 页码：49-58
• 全文大小：934 K
• 卷排序：242

文摘

We investigated the adrenocortical activity of a colony of captive African penguins. We used the non-invasive method of assessing faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs). The number of visitors did not influence the FGM concentration of the penguins. The local weather conditions influenced the physiological stress on these birds. Two climatic indices (THI and WCI) are useful indicators of weather discomfort in this species.