Publications

Non-aversive handling in laboratory animals and its effects on depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors: A scoping review

Stress is an adaptive response to environmental demands, but increased intensity and frequency can lead to impaired adaptive functions. Stress is considered a risk factor for Major Depressive Disorder, a multifactorial disorder that often coexists with anxiety. Picking up laboratory...

Year Published: 2025Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Castro de Jesus, L., S․ Rodrigues, A. L. 2025. Non-aversive handling in laboratory animals and its effects on depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors: A scoping review. Physiology & Behavior 294, 114883.

The role of line-of-sight in operant experiments using food reinforcers in guinea pigs

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a species utilized as a model in laboratory science and is a popular companion animal. The study aimed to assess the role of line-of-sight with a food reinforcer in the ramp climbing behaviour of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive TestingAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Cameron, K. E., Hoult, C., Walker, T. W. 2025. The role of line-of-sight in operant experiments using food reinforcers in guinea pigs. Behavioural Processes 228, 105189.

Future aviary design: The science of circular flight aviaries for avian welfare

Birds are kept in captive settings globally, and many of these birds are not flight-restrained. It is generally considered more ethical to house birds in aviaries than to practice flight restraint through wing clipping or pinioning, which means that aviaries...

Year Published: 2025Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Finch, Other Bird, Parrot

Citation: Brereton, J. E., Coe, J. C., Fernandez, E. J. 2025. Future aviary design: The science of circular flight aviaries for avian welfare. Zoo Biology 44(4), 293–303.

The ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals

In light of an increasing interest in the human ability to read equine emotions, Braun et al. (2024) recently showed that horse-experienced individuals performed better in interpreting affective states in horses’ body language than horse-inexperienced individuals. Further, individuals with a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Braun, M. N., Bülow, S., Müller-Klein, A. et al. 2025. The ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 290, 106716.

The use of infra-red thermography to study emotions of wild crested macaques (Macaca nigra) in their natural habitat

Infra-red thermography (IRT) has been validated across a range of taxa as a non-invasive method to quantify physiological changes (variation in skin temperature) that serve as a proxy for emotional arousal in humans and other animals. While its effectiveness has...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Berthier, J. M., Wheeler, B. C., Qomariah, I. N. et al. 2025. The use of infra-red thermography to study emotions of wild crested macaques (Macaca nigra) in their natural habitat. Physiology & Behavior 296, 114904.

Environmental enrichment with aquatic plants: Impact of the environment of choice on performance of bettas

This study aimed to evaluate the choice between environments with aquatic plants and the impact of the environment of choice on the performance of bettas (Betta splendens). First, the choice between environments with natural and artificial plants was evaluated. Adult...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Bender, M., Oliveira dos Santos Neves, N., Regina Delziovo, F. et al. 2025. Environmental enrichment with aquatic plants: Impact of the environment of choice on performance of bettas. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 740–749.

Optimization of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in geriatric mice

Aged mice are becoming increasingly important models for human senescence. Many studies require anesthesia. Standard rodent ketamine/xylazine injectable regimens have been associated with increased incidences of death, unreliable surgical planes, and prolonged recoveries in geriatric mice. We hypothesized that the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Beecy, S., Meuse, D., Kizielewicz, N. et al. 2025. Optimization of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in geriatric mice. JAALAS 64(4), 778–787.

The effects of music designed for canine and human relaxation on short-term stress in dogs

Auditory stimuli such as music can be an inexpensive and accessible option to help relieve stress for pet dogs. In some studies, classical music has been shown to have a stress-relieving effect on dogs experiencing a long-term stressor. However, the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Beecy, S. J., Dowling-Guyer, S., Patel, A. D. et al. 2025. The effects of music designed for canine and human relaxation on short-term stress in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106766.

Quantifying use of elevated surfaces for climbing Sichuan takins (Budorcas taxicolor) in human care

Sichuan takins (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana) are capable climbers whose movements in the wild appear to be driven by seasonal variations in resources. Ex situ habitats for takins frequently incorporate elevated features to encourage species-appropriate climbing. We opportunistically observed three takins...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Baskir, E., Callagy, C., Poelker, C. et al. 2025. Quantifying use of elevated surfaces for climbing Sichuan takins (Budorcas taxicolor) in human care. Zoo Biology 44(4), 377–382.

Gestational enrichment of commercial breeding dams (Canis familiaris) influences offspring behaviour

The benefits of environmental enrichment for kennelled dog welfare have been widely demonstrated. Research in rodents shows that provision of maternal environmental enrichment during gestation can also influence the behavioural development of the offspring. However, the effects of prenatal enrichment...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, ReproductionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Baqueiro-Espinosa, U., McEvoy, V., Donnelly, P. et al. 2025. Gestational enrichment of commercial breeding dams (Canis familiaris) influences offspring behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106779.