Establishment of a non-invasive method for the measurement of water-borne corticosterone in conservation efforts of imperiled species of newts.

Wildlife endocrinology monitors hormones to assess the impacts of stressors on wildlife populations. Studies include investigating how stress affects the welfare and reproduction of at-risk species. Measuring water-borne stress hormones, or glucocorticoids, has been validated as a non-invasive method for accurately quantifying stress in a variety of species. It has previously been shown that higher levels of corticosterone, the primary glucocorticoid identified in amphibians, can be detected within hours following a stressful event. The goal of this study was to quantify corticosterone levels in water-borne samples from the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC) Striped Newt (Notophthalmusperstriatus) population to assess their ability to cope with stressors and improve captive-breeding efforts to better conserve them. Our methodology of corticosterone quantification from water-borne samples was first tested in a population of Emperor Spotted Newts (Neurergus kaiseri). Water samples were collected for testing from 6 group housed individuals. Corticosterone collection was successfully accomplished using C18 solid phase extraction columns under vacuum pressure with distilled water and HPLC-grade methanol. They were then eluted with methanol under positive pressure and extracts were quantified using an ELISA kit (Arbor Assays). Following this effective methodology, we collected water samples from 7 individually housed Striped Newts at the OCIC. Samples were collected prior to handling, and then every 60 minutes for three hours after handling. Ultimately, the results were inconclusive. However, the methodology was shown to be effective for extracting and analyzing water-borne steroids, and efforts will continue to establish a stress baseline for the Striped Newt. Acknowledgment of NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]