Behavioral and physiological effects of environmental enrichment for Garnett's bushbaby (Otolemur garnettii). (Health Sciences).Correction of affiliation in bold Asim Haque (1)(*), Dora E. Angelaki (2), and J. David Dickman (1), Washington (1) University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, and Washington (2) University, St. Louis, MO 63110 AFFERENT afferent /af·fer·ent/ (af´er-ent) 1. conveying toward a center. 2. something that so conducts, such as a fiber or nerve. af·fer·ent adj. INNVERVATION PATTERNS OF THE HORIZONTAL CRISTA AMPULLARIS The crista ampullaris is a part of the inner ear, specifically it can be found in the semicircular canal. The function of the cristae ampularis is to sense angular acceleration and deceleration. IN PIGEONS Asim Haque (*) and J. David Dickman, Washington University Washington University, at St. Louis, Mo.; coeducational; est. as Eliot Seminary 1853, opened 1854, renamed 1857. It has a well-known medical school and school of social work as well as research centers for radiology, space studies, engineering computing, and the Medical Center, St. Louis, MO 63110 Psychology and Social Science Poster presentation BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT Environmental enrichment, also called behavioral enrichment, refers to the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmental stimuli. The goal of environmental enrichment is to improve an animal's quality of life by increasing physical activity, FOR GARNETT'S BUSHEABY (OTOLEMUR GARNETTII) S. Watson (*), A. Gray, E. Taylor, B. Johnson, B. Fahm, A. McGee, W. Bingham, and P. Banks. Jackson State University Jackson State University, often abridged as Jackson State or by its initials JSU is a historically black university located in Jackson, Mississippi founded in 1877. , Jackson, MS 39217 The Animal Welfare Act requires researchers who use nonhuman primates nonhuman primate see primate. as research subjects to provide a physical environment adequate to reduce stress and promote the psychological well being of the captive primates. A strategy for providing an enriched environment, which includes provision of manipulanda (e.g., toys) and opportunities for species-typical behavior, has been prescribed by the United States Department of Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), n.pr established in 1862, USDA is responsible for the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products. It conducts ongoing research in areas from human nutrition to new crop technologies and also helps ensure open . However, little empirical evidence has been collected to establish whether these techniques are beneficial for prosimians. This study assessed the usefulness of three specific enrichment interventions for captive bushbabies. We examined 10 male and 8 female Garnett's bushbabies to determine the extent of their interaction with 3 levels of environmental enrichment. Level 1 consisted of manipulanda only, Level 2 consisted of swinging and climbing apparati only, and Level 3 consisted of manipulanda and swinging/climbing apparati combined. The animals' behavior was video recorded for 15/min day for six days over a three week period. Baseline levels of cortisol cortisol (kôr`tĭsôl') or hydrocortisone, steroid hormone that in humans is the major circulating hormone of the cortex, or outer layer, of the adrenal gland. were assessed as a physiological indicator of stress. The bushbabies interacted with the swinging/climbing toys significantly more than with manipulanda (p=.04). Animals that had access to swinging/climbing apparati spent less time grooming than those with manipulanda only (p=.02). Further, all animals spent significantly more time at the top than at the bottom of their cages (p=.004). Cortisol levels did not differ among the groups. These results indicate that cage configuration and swinging/climbing opportunities are more effective forms of enrichment for bushbabies than the provision of manipulanda. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||

Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion