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Visible implant elastomer ( VIE ) tagging and simulated predation risk elicit similar physiological stress responses in three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
Author(s) -
Fürtbauer I.,
King A. J.,
Heistermann M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.12662
Subject(s) - gasterosteus , biology , stickleback , three spined stickleback , predator , predation , zoology , ecology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii>
The effect of visible implant elastomer ( VIE ) tagging on the immediate physiological stress response was tested in female three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus , using non‐invasive waterborne cortisol analysis. Post‐tagging cortisol levels were significantly higher compared with pretreatment baseline concentrations; however, when comparing post‐tagging cortisol levels with cortisol levels after exposure to a simulated aerial predator, no significant differences were found. This study indicates that VIE tagging elicits a physiological stress response similar to those occurring in the everyday lives of this important biological model organism.