Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39896770›Full record

ArticleEcology and evolution2025

Using Faecal Cortisol Metabolites to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Wild-Living Alpine Marmot

Friederike Zenth, Elena Morocutti, Rupert Palme, Sandro Nicoloso, Stefano Giacomelli, Sabine Macho-Maschler, Ilse Storch, Luca Corlatti

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ecology and evolution, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Friederike ZenthChair of Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5979-7710
Elena MorocuttiDepartment of Life Sciences University of Siena Siena Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7051-3354
Rupert PalmeDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Experimental Endocrinology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9466-3662
Sandro NicolosoResearch, Ecology and Environment Dimensions (D.R.E.Am. Italia) Pistoia Italy.
Stefano GiacomelliVeterinary Service, DFTVCS ATS Della Montagna Sondrio Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4168-1458
Sabine Macho-MaschlerDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Experimental Endocrinology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2428-6141
Ilse StorchChair of Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3252-2036
Luca CorlattiChair of Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2706-3875

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Faecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) have become increasingly popular as an easy-to-sample, non-invasive and feedback-free alternative to assess glucocorticoid (GC) levels, key components of the neuroendocrine stress response and other physiological processes. While FCMs can be a powerful aid, for instance, for gaining insights into ecological and evolutionary processes, as well as to assess animal welfare or impacts of anthropogenic stressors on wildlife populations, this method comes with specific challenges. Because GCs are heavily metabolised before excretion, it is critical to validate the enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) used to measure FCMs. Additionally, because species may differ in metabolite profiles, assay validation must be performed separately for each focal species. Despite this, the use of unvalidated assays remains widespread. We performed a biological validation experiment to test a set of EIAs to measure FCMs and adrenocortical activity in free-living Alpine marmots

Indexed as

captureFCMsmarmotstressvalidationwelfare

Identifiers

PMID39896770
PMCPMC11779559

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.