Environmental Enrichment

Consequences of enhancing environmental complexity for laboratory rodents – a review with emphasis on the rat

Where the behavioural benefits of environmental enrichment justify the use of more animals [increased variabilty], better welfare should be more highly valued than a reduction in the number of animals used.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Ottesen, J. L., Hansen, A. K. 2004. Consequences of enhancing environmental complexity for laboratory rodents - a review with emphasis on the rat. Animal Welfare 13, 193-204.

The effect of environmental manipulation on behavior, salivary cortisol, and growth of piglets weaned at 14 days of age

Environmental enrichment [hanging rope and rubber tire tube] results in less anomalous behaviour, reduced fear response to humans and better growth. Environmental enrichment did not affect salivary cortisol.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Rodarte, L. F., Ducoing, A., Galindo, F. 2004. The effect of environmental manipulation on behavior, salivary cortisol, and growth of piglets weaned at 14 days of age. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 7, 171-179.

Environmental enrichment enhances auditory takeover of the occipital cortex in anophthalmic mice

Enrichment of the environment is an effective means of enhancing neuronal development and plasticity but its effect on the cross-modal compensation resulting from sensory deprivation has never been investigated. The present study used c-Fos immunohistochemistry and dextran-biotin neuronal tracing to...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Piche, M., Robert, S., Miceli, D. et al. 2004. Environmental enrichment enhances auditory takeover of the occipital cortex in anophthalmic mice. European Journal of Neuroscience 20, 3463-3472.

Long-term effects of the periadolescent environment on exploratory activity and aggressive behaviour in mice: social versus physical enrichment

The aims of the present study were (i) to investigate the effects of environmental enrichment during periadolescence on different behavioural and neurochemical responses in male CD-1 mice at adulthood and (ii) to describe the relative role of the physical and...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pietropaolo, S., Branchi, I., Cirulli, F. et al. 2004. Long-term effects of the periadolescent environment on exploratory activity and aggressive behaviour in mice: social versus physical enrichment. Physiology and Behavior 81, 443-453.

Enrichment of laboratory caging for rats: A review

Rats demonstrate high demand for social contact and prefer lager cages, and cages with shelters, nesting material and foraging devices.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G. 2004. Enrichment of laboratory caging for rats: A review. Animal Welfare 13(S), 209-214.

Foraging enrichment for stabled horses: Practicality and effects on behaviour

Multiple versus single forage promoted more foraging activities.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Thorne, J. B., Goodwin, D., Kennedy, M. J. et al. 2004. Foraging enrichment for stabled horses: Practicality and effects on behaviour. Animal Welfare 13(S), 256 (Abstract).

Development of an environmental enrichment program utilizing simple strategies

A generally applicable enrichment program is described. The goal of this article was to provide ideas and strategies that are easy and cost-effective to implement.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Stewart, K. 2004. Development of an environmental enrichment program utilizing simple strategies. Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) Bulletin 12(1-2), 1-2 & 5-5.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals

Includes regulatory compliance, program development and management, common environmental enrichment strategies, program assessment and monitoring. A key component to the enrichment program development is the understanding of the natural behavior and habitat of each species housed in the animal facility....

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Stewart, K. L. , Bayne, K. 2004. Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals. In: Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management. Reuter, J. D. , Suckow, M. A. (Eds). International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca, New York.

Environmental Enrichment – A Guide for Schools

The overall goal of this web-based resource is to show how observable behaviour can be described, recorded and interpreted using an environmental enrichment model, and to show how an enriched environment can be beneficial to an animals welfare. .. Environmental...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Stewart, F. 2004. Environmental Enrichment - A Guide for Schools .

Environmental enrichment rescues protetin deficits in a mouse model of Huntington’s disease, indicating a possible disease mechanism

These results suggest that environmental enrichment benefits animals at early stages of the disease by rescuing protein deficits, possibly through rescuing transcription or protein transport problems.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Spires, T. L., Grote, H. E., Varshney, N. K. et al. 2004. Environmental enrichment rescues protetin deficits in a mouse model of Huntington's disease, indicating a possible disease mechanism. Journal of Neuroscience 24, 2270-2276.