Validating a new method for measuring stress levels of Adelie penguins

A non-invasive method of measuring stress levels was tested on Adelie (Pygoscelis adeliae) penguins at Cape Bird. The previous accepted normal measurements of stress levels of animals involved blood samples being taken to test for corticosterone levels after the animals were exposed to human and/or ecological disturbance. This new method tested involved enzymes immunoassayed using faecal samples to minimise disturbance and increase the accuracy of stress measurements. Two non-breeding Adelie penguins were captured, injected with adrenocorticotropic hormone and placed in individual pens for 3 days. Their faeces were collected every 3 hours (33 samples from each penguin obtained). 20 faecal samples from birds outside the breeding colonies were collected to obtain control values. The samples were analysed (enzyme immunoassay) for glucocorticoid hormone metabolites to validate the method. The two penguins were weighed before and after the experiment and marked and monitored for a week after the experiment. Two feathers from each penguin for later DNA analyses to determine the gender of the birds was collected.