1H NMR based metabolic profiling distinguishes the differential impact of capture techniques on wild bighorn sheep

Abstract Environmental metabolomics has the potential to facilitate establishment of a new suite tools for assessing physiological status important wildlife species. A first step in developing such is evaluate impacts various capture techniques on metabolic profiles as necessary obtain biological samples required assays. This study employed 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolite profiling 562 blood serum from wild bighorn sheep identify characteristic molecular makers three (dart, dropnet, and helicopter-based captures) inform future sampling protocols studies, provide insights into capture. We found that different induce distinct changes amino acid profiles, urea cycle, glycolysis, attribute differences patterns physical activity stress caused by methods. These results suggest when designing experiments involving animals, it may be prudent employ single technique reduce confounding factors. Our also supports administration tranquilizers soon animals are restrained mitigate short-term responses using pursuit restraint techniques.