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<p>Assessing physiological stress responses is a central focus in wildlife endocrinology. Glucocorticoids (cortisol and corticosterone), the end-products of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, are commonly measured non-invasively using faecal and urine samples. These matrices, however, primarily reflect cumulative hormone secretion over hours to days and can be influenced by acute events. Hair cortisol analysis, in contrast, provides an integrated measure of long-term HPA-axis activity. We investigated within- and between-individual variation in hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in 17 wild adult <i>Papio ursinus</i>. Specifically, we examined consistency in HCC across two body locations (upper and lower back) and the hair shaft (proximal and distal segments) and tested for effects of age and dominance rank on HCC. Hair cortisol concentrations were significantly positively correlated between the two body locations but were significantly higher (and more variable) in the lower back compared with the upper back. In the upper back, HCC were significantly higher in the proximal (i.e., closer to the skin) segment than in the distal segment, whereas we found no difference in HCC between segments in the lower back. Hair cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with age. Consistent with previous work on faecal and urinary cortisol concentrations in the same individuals, dominance rank did not predict HCC. Further research is needed to understand the sources of variation between body locations and hair segments in <i>Papio ursinus</i>. Nonetheless, with consistent sampling protocols, HCC can be used to investigate how individuals respond to environmental change or human disturbance, with direct relevance for understanding population health, management interventions, and conservation outcomes.</p>

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Within- and Between-Individual Variation in Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Wild Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月22日

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  • Oliver J. Davidson,
  • Charlotte Christensen,
  • Anna M. Bracken,
  • M. Justin O’Riain,
  • Andrew J. King,
  • Ines Fürtbauer

摘要

Assessing physiological stress responses is a central focus in wildlife endocrinology. Glucocorticoids (cortisol and corticosterone), the end-products of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, are commonly measured non-invasively using faecal and urine samples. These matrices, however, primarily reflect cumulative hormone secretion over hours to days and can be influenced by acute events. Hair cortisol analysis, in contrast, provides an integrated measure of long-term HPA-axis activity. We investigated within- and between-individual variation in hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in 17 wild adult Papio ursinus. Specifically, we examined consistency in HCC across two body locations (upper and lower back) and the hair shaft (proximal and distal segments) and tested for effects of age and dominance rank on HCC. Hair cortisol concentrations were significantly positively correlated between the two body locations but were significantly higher (and more variable) in the lower back compared with the upper back. In the upper back, HCC were significantly higher in the proximal (i.e., closer to the skin) segment than in the distal segment, whereas we found no difference in HCC between segments in the lower back. Hair cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with age. Consistent with previous work on faecal and urinary cortisol concentrations in the same individuals, dominance rank did not predict HCC. Further research is needed to understand the sources of variation between body locations and hair segments in Papio ursinus. Nonetheless, with consistent sampling protocols, HCC can be used to investigate how individuals respond to environmental change or human disturbance, with direct relevance for understanding population health, management interventions, and conservation outcomes.