Environmental Enrichment

Evaluation of disinfection methods for artificial plants in zebrafish (Danio rerio) recirculating water systems

The use of artificial plants as environmental enrichment for zebrafish (Danio rerio) in biomedical research facilities has been shown to provide benefits in animal welfare and care. Despite the benefits of artificial plants to zebrafish welfare, some research facilities are...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Camson, C. T., Palillo, J. A., Fehrenbach, L. A. et al. 2023. Evaluation of disinfection methods for artificial plants in zebrafish (Danio rerio) recirculating water systems. JAALAS 62(6), 512–517.

Environmental enrichment for pig welfare during transport

This study aimed to assess the effects of environmental enrichment for pigs during transportation in different phases of their productive cycle. Two trials were conducted, the first during transportation of pigs from the piglet production unit (PPU) to the nursery...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Crone, C., Caldara, F. R., Martins, R. et al. 2023. Environmental enrichment for pig welfare during transport. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 26(3), 393–403.

Don’t use it? Don’t lose it! Why active use is not required for stimuli, resources or “enrichments” to have welfare value

Current frameworks for designing and evaluating good enclosures and “enrichments” typically focus on animals' active interactions with these features. This has undoubtedly improved the welfare of zoo-housed animals over the last 30 years or more. However, literature reviews from this...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Decker, S., Lavery, J. M., Mason, G. J. 2023. Don't use it? Don't lose it! Why active use is not required for stimuli, resources or “enrichments” to have welfare value. Zoo Biology 42(4), 467–475.

Comparison of three environmentally friendly enrichments in single-housed Sprague Dawley rats

Numerous studies have shown the negative side effects the lack of enrichment has on the overall health of animals in research. This lack in data may lead to unnecessary risks for welfare issues, like the single housed lab rats that...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Strickland, B. 2023. Comparison of three environmentally friendly enrichments in single-housed Sprague Dawley rats. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 11(5) (September/October), 56-57.

Increasing the psychological wellbeing of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) at the Cleveland Clinic

With the increased use of aquatic animals in research, especially zebrafish and African clawed frogs, there has been an increased interest in how to best address their psychological wellbeing. In this article, we have shown various ways to improve the...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Fish, Frog & Toad, Zebrafish

Citation: Wood, H., Voros, G. B. 2023. Increasing the psychological wellbeing of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) at the Cleveland Clinic. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 11(6) (November/December), 38-40.

Enriching the lives of zebra finches

Zebra finches are an uncommon animal model in the biomedical industry but are widely used in language development, memory, and learning studies. Native to Australia, they are desert birds that like warm days and 40%+ relative humidity. As a social...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Finch

Citation: Warner-Hough, M. 2024. Enriching the lives of zebra finches. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(1) (January/February), 28-30.

Overcoming the hurdles of lab animal enrichment: Natural behaviors vs. scientific need

The Animal Resources Core (ARC) at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) faces many of the same challenges other institutions manage in terms of enrichment for laboratory animals. A Behavior Assessment Team (BAT) was developed...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Fish, Goat, Mouse, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Zebrafish

Citation: Mantz, M., Pugerud, A. 2024. Overcoming the hurdles of lab animal enrichment: Natural behaviors vs. scientific need. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(1) (January/February), 32-34.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Not much if they’re provided with the right enrichment!

Husbandry & Management,Environmental Enrichment

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Brennan, J. 2024. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Not much if they're provided with the right enrichment! Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(1) (January/February), 46-48.

How outing conditions relate to the motivation of movement-restricted cattle to access an outdoor exercise yard

Assessing animal motivation to access a given resource is one method available to evaluate what to provide in the living environments of captive animals. Providing increased opportunities for movement can be seen as an important source of enrichment, but we...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Aigueperse, N., Boyer, V., Vasseur, E. 2023. How outing conditions relate to the motivation of movement-restricted cattle to access an outdoor exercise yard. Behavioural Processes 213, 104957.

Meeting ferret enrichment needs in infectious disease laboratory settings

Environmental enrichment is a necessary component of all research vivarium settings. However, appropriate enrichment decisions vary greatly depending on the species involved and the research use of the animals. The increasing use of ferrets in research settings—notably for modeling the...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Anderson-Mondella, C. J., Maines, T. R., Tansey, C. M. et al. 2023. Meeting ferret enrichment needs in infectious disease laboratory settings. JAALAS 62(6), 518–524.