Environmental Enrichment

Dry bedding provides cost-effective enrichment for group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Dry bedding has been shown to be an effective enrichment strategy for small groups of captive nonhuman primates housed in cages or in small enclosures with concrete flooring. However, dry bedding is used infrequently for large groups because of the...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Doane, C. J., Andrews, K., Schaefer, L. J. et al. 2013. Dry bedding provides cost-effective enrichment for group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 52(3), 247-252.

Colored enrichment devices influence behavior and circadian metabolism and physiology in Sprague-Dawley rats

Enrichment devices and strategies, as currently endorsed by the Guide, are used to improve laboratory animal health and wellbeing. Many conclusions supporting this premise, however, are based primarily on observational studies with minimal consideration for circadian physiology and metabolism. Our...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wren, M. A., Dauchy, R. T., Hill, S. M. et al. 2013. Colored enrichment devices influence behavior and circadian metabolism and physiology in Sprague-Dawley rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 608 (Abstract #PS2).

Fresh façades for rodent homes: Revisiting enrichment naturally

Currently, enrichment consists of a variety of plastic toys to promote natural behaviors, but why use artificial devices when you could use natural materials like the animals experience in their native environment? ... From these three tests it appears that...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wasko, K., Acklin, C. J. 2013. Fresh façades for rodent homes: Revisiting enrichment naturally. Enrichment Record 16, 9-11.

Assessing the application of the 3Rs: A survey among animal welfare officers in The Netherlands

Implementation of the 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) in animal studies is a legal requirement in many countries. In The Netherlands, animal welfare officers (AWOs) are appointed to monitor the welfare of laboratory animals. As part of this task, AWOs...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: van Luijk, J., Cuijpers, Y., van der Vaart, L. et al. 2013. Assessing the application of the 3Rs: A survey among animal welfare officers in The Netherlands. Laboratory Animals 47(3), 210-219.

Reaction to novel pool enrichment by indoor group-housed juvenile Macaca nemestrina

Environmental enrichment is provided to laboratory-housed nonhuman primates to encourage species-typical behaviors. Some enrichment is labor intensive so quantitative studies should be undertaken to assure that the benefit is worth the effort expended. This study examined the effect of water...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Lee, G. H., Christie, D. M., Kroeker, R. H. et al. 2013. Reaction to novel pool enrichment by indoor group-housed juvenile Macaca nemestrina. American Journal of Primatology 75(S1), 82. (36th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #164)

Increased produce enrichment reduces alopecia in captive outdoor socially-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Alopecia is relatively rare in wild primates but more frequent in captive settings. We investigate whether increasing the quantity and variety of produce enrichment reduces alopecia. Alopecia was scored bimonthly from September 2011 through mid-November 2012 for eight social groups...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hannibal, D., Cassidy, L., Day, A. et al. 2013. Increased produce enrichment reduces alopecia in captive outdoor socially-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 75(S1), 92. (36th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #195)

Play caging benefits the behavior of singly housed laboratory rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

This study addresses a recommendation in The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals to provide singly housed nonhuman primates with intermittent access to large, enriched (play) caging. Research on the potential benefits of this type of caging...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Griffis, C. M., Martin, A. L., Perlman, J. et al. 2013. Play caging benefits the behavior of singly housed laboratory rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 52(5), 534-540.

The relationship between environmental enrichment, temperament, and stereotypy in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Stereotypic behaviors are common in captive primate colonies, and it would be beneficial to know effective methods of remediation, and which animals are most likely to express the behavior. The first goal of this research was to determine the relationship...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gottlieb, D. H., Maier, A., Coleman, K. 2013. The relationship between environmental enrichment, temperament, and stereotypy in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 75(S1), 91. (36th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #193)

Enrichment for laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This article discusses how behavioral management, enrichment structures, diet, and light cycle can be used to help improve the welfare of zebrafish.

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Collymore, C., Lawrence, C., Lieggi, C. 2014. Enrichment for laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio). Laboratory Animal Science Professional 2(3) (September), 51-54.

The effects of music on animal physiology, behavior and welfare

Physiological and psychological effects of listening to music have been documented in humans. The changes in physiology, cognition and brain chemistry and morphology induced by music have been studied in animal models, providing evidence that music may affect animals similarly...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Bird, Capuchin, Cattle, Chicken, Chimpanzee, Fish, Fowl, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Fish, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Alworth, L. C., Buerkle, S. C. 2013. The effects of music on animal physiology, behavior and welfare. Lab Animal 42(2), 54-61.