The conservation physiology toolbox: status and opportunities.

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Physiology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Physiological tools have long aided research on organismal responses to environmental changes and human impacts.
• These tools are integral to conservation physiology, aiding in monitoring, prediction, conservation, and restoration of threatened populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the current conservation physiology toolbox.
• To identify research emphasis in taxa and physiological sub-disciplines based on recent publications.
• To outline ongoing tool validation efforts and provide recommendations for future refinement.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of articles published in 'Conservation Physiology' over the past 5 years focusing on tool introduction, refinement, and validation.
• Assessment of publication patterns concerning taxa and physiological sub-disciplines.
• Summary of validation types, including logistics, trait interpretation, and conservation relevance.

Main Results:

• Stress physiology metrics (especially glucocorticoids) and studies on mammals dominate the field, accounting for over 45% of publications.
• Active validation efforts cover sample handling, physiological trait interpretation, and conservation applicability.
• A diversity of tools exists, but emphasis is concentrated on specific areas.

Conclusions:

• Future research should focus on glucocorticoid applicability, integrating diverse tools, developing plant conservation physiology, linking physiology to fitness, validating tools in under-represented taxa, and prioritizing tool validation.
• Conservation physiology is poised to expand its reach to more taxa, develop non-invasive methods, clarify limitations, and define interpretation contexts for both wild and captive settings.