Publications

Managed care of naked mole-rats

Naked mole-rats are a burgeoning model species in the field of biomedical research and are also housed at many zoos throughout the world. These mammals possess many traits that have a large impact on the way that they are kept...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Identification Method, Rearing & Weaning, Relocation & Transport, Reproduction, Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Smith, M., Buffenstein, R. 2021. Managed care of naked mole-rats. In: R. Buffenstein, T. J. Park, M. M. Holmes (Eds.), The Extraordinary Biology of the Naked Mole-Rat. Springer International Publishing, pp. 381–407.

Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others

Environmental enrichment is important for the long-term wellbeing of captive organisms and is an understudied topic in aquatic taxa, particularly ectothermic organisms such as elasmobranchs. This study examines how individual elasmobranchs use environmental enrichment objects before and after feeding. The...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Smith, A. B., Landesman, J., Williamson, L. et al. 2025. Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106829.

Quantifying the cumulative impact of use in teaching and research: An initial assessment of an objective tool developed to safeguard working horse welfare in a university setting

Universities offering veterinary and equine science education typically keep horses to support teaching and research activities. The Australian Code requires approval of horse use by an independent Animal Ethics Committee and that cumulative use over an individual’s working lifetime is...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Skyner, L., Wassens, S., Dennis, A. et al. 2025. Quantifying the cumulative impact of use in teaching and research: An initial assessment of an objective tool developed to safeguard working horse welfare in a university setting. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 80, 39–48.

A case of thanatosis in domestic sheep

Thanatosis (feigning death, defensive tonic immobility) is a widespread anti-predator behavioural strategy in animals. Animals that have evolved this behaviour react to physical contact with the predator by displaying a persistent tonic immobility that makes them look like dead prey....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Skok, J., Prevolnik Povše, M., Škorjanc, D. 2025. A case of thanatosis in domestic sheep. Behaviour 162(6–8), 569–578.

Most preferred light color of female Syrian hamster during day and night

The light regulation within laboratory environments is critical for ensuring the wellbeing and accurate study of nocturnal animals like Syrian hamsters. This study evaluated the instinctual light color preferences of 18 adult female Syrian hamsters under controlled conditions. The experiment...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Shadman, A. F. 2025. Most preferred light color of female Syrian hamster during day and night. Laboratory Animals 59(4), 518–522.

Individually ventilated cages severely attenuate inter-cage ultrasonic vocalizations in rats

Individually ventilated cages (IVCs) benefit rodent and researcher health but may limit animals’ ability to communicate with cage-neighbours via ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Despite USVs’ importance in rodent social behaviour, no previous research has investigated IVCs’ impact on between-cage USV transmission....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, VocalizationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Scott, K. J., Bilkey, D. K. 2025. Individually ventilated cages severely attenuate inter-cage ultrasonic vocalizations in rats. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 730–739.

Improving pain management for murine orthotopic xenograft models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Despite ongoing research, realistic in vitro models for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that can mimic the complex pathology are still not available, highlighting the need for continuous animal-based investigation. As part of the 3R principles, constant refinement of animal experiments...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Analgesia, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Schreiber, T., Lange, S., Talbot, S. R. et al. 2025. Improving pain management for murine orthotopic xenograft models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Lab Animal 54(11), 313–320.

Social housing conditions, hierarchical status and testing order affect behavioral test outcomes of male C57BL6/J mice

Male mice are frequently used for behavioral neuroscience research, but outcomes of behavioral tests are often variable across studies, contributing to poor reproducibility. Social housing conditions, social hierarchical status and within-cage order of testing are factors that likely influence behavioral...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Schipper, L., van Heijningen, S., Karapetsas, G. et al. 2025. Social housing conditions, hierarchical status and testing order affect behavioral test outcomes of male C57BL6/J mice. Physiology & Behavior 293, 114859.

Non-invasive ultrasound measurements for determination of hepato-somatic index in Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides)

Hepato-somatic index (HSI) is widely used to indicate fish body condition and level of energy reserves related to feeding/physiology and reproduction. HSI is traditionally obtained by dissection and measurement of liver mass versus body mass, but ultrasound technology may provide...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Schilling, J. W., Hussey, N. E., Hedges, K. J. et al. 2025. Non-invasive ultrasound measurements for determination of hepato-somatic index in Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). Journal of Fish Biology 107(4), 1313–1322.

Effects of light spectrum on pig behaviour, health and growth

Pigs show preferences to display certain behaviours under specific light spectra. Moreover, adding UVB light to the spectrum might enhance pigs’ vitamin D status. Despite the potential, there are still gaps in understanding the broader effects of light spectrum on...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Scaillierez, A. J., van Nieuwamerongen - de Koning, S. E., van der Tol, R. P. P. J. et al. 2025. Effects of light spectrum on pig behaviour, health and growth. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 291, 106711.