Stress physiological responses to tourist pressure in a wild population of European pine marten.

The tourist pressure in natural parks is a potential source of stress and may cause an increase in the adrenal activity of wild populations of European pine marten (Martes martes). Seventy-six faecal samples were collected during 15 months in a natural park of Northwest Spain. Analysis of faecal DNA was used for the specific identification using the PCR-RFLPs technique. Faecal steroid determinations were performed by EIA. Natural park was divided in three areas: free entry, restricted area, and integral reservation, and number of daily human visitors recorded. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (ng/g dry faeces) were significantly higher in spring (56.36+/-19.62) and summer (31.27+/-11.98) compared to autumn (15.33+/-6.89) and winter (11.13+/-3.30). These data are closely related to daily number of visitors (spring: 3204, summer: 1672, winter: 646, autumn: 551). Androgen, progestin and oestrogen levels were also significantly higher in spring (reproductive season) showing values of 43.62+/-18.6, 154.31+/-53.50 and 829.62+/-456.1, respectively. Glucocorticoid levels were significantly lower in integral reservation (15.95+/-3.56) compared to restricted (31.4+/-16.30) and free entry areas (41.59+/-12.73), respectively. Wild populations of European pine marten showed stress physiological response induced by the tourist pressure and this response is higher during reproductive season.