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Handling, Blood Sampling, and Temporary Captivity Do Not Affect Plasma Corticosterone or Movement Patterns of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus Polyphemus)

Abstract Researchers often must capture or trap and physically handle wild animal species to obtain basic morphometric, physiological, or health data. Although these activities affect glucocorticoid levels in many species, few studies have been conducted to determine if they induce changes in animals' subsequent behavior. This is of particular concern to researchers who study Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), a threatened species often subjected to trapping and prolonged handling. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine if protocols requiring trapping, handling, blood sampling, injections with innocuous substances, nasal lavages, and temporary captivity affect Gopher Tortoises as indicated by changes in their plasma corticosterone levels, movement patterns, burrow usage, and home ranges. We examined these parameters four weeks prior to and four weeks following implementation of the manipulation protocols (experimental group) or a control date (control group). We found no effect resulting from implementation of the protocol on tortoises' plasma corticosterone levels or movement patterns, including mean distance traveled per move, mean number of days between moves, mean number of burrows used, and home range. The only significant finding was that tortoises in the experimental group showed an increase in the number of times they moved to other burrows from pre- to post-manipulation. However, the slight increase in the number of moves occurred during a time in the season when other studies have also documented increases in movement. Additionally, the increase in number of moves did not change the actual number of burrows used or home range. We conclude that the use of mildly invasive protocols involving short-term procedures and temporary handling do not significantly affect the subsequent corticosterone levels or daily movement patterns of Gopher Tortoises.