Measuring oxidative stress has become increasingly valuable in ecological studies, especially\nwhen different markers are measured on the same individual. However, many of the\ncurrent methods lack sensitivity for analysis of low blood volume samples, which represent\na challenge for longitudinal field studies of small organisms. Small blood volumes can usually\nonly be analysed by using a single assay, therefore providing limited information on individualâ??s\noxidative profile. In this study, we used blood collected from a population of wild\neastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and modified methods presented in the literature to\nimprove analytical selectivity and sensitivity required for small blood volumes. Specifically,\nwe proposed a modified malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis protocol by HPLC and also optimized\nboth the uric acid independent ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and hypochlorous\nacid shock capacity (HASC) assays. Development of the three modified methods\nwas achieved with a sensitivity and repeatability that meets standards of field ecology while\nallowing measurement of all three assays in duplicate using less than...........
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