Social Housing & Companionship

Long-term effects of housing and enrichment on affective behavior and responsiveness of Sprague-Dawley rats

Most rodent studies evaluate different caging paradigms over short periods of time, which may not be realistic for typical colony settings. Inappropriate housing may lead to boredom, aggression, stereotypies, and altered metabolism, which in turn may affect experimental responses. In...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Turner, P. V., Ovari, J., Pinelli, C. et al. 2010. Long-term effects of housing and enrichment on affective behavior and responsiveness of Sprague-Dawley rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 658-659 (Abstract #PS12).

Effects of social separation on rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) pairs in the laboratory

The benefits to nonhuman primates living in social groupings are well established. However, when certain research that requires housing subjects singly is performed, there are no guidelines as to how paired nonhuman primates should best be separated from one another....

Year Published: 2010Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Truelove, M. A., Perlman, J. E., Martin, A. et al. 2010. Effects of social separation on rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) pairs in the laboratory. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 668 (Abstract #PS52).

The effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior of captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

The authors provided different forms of environmental enrichment to six old laboratory male tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and studied the behavior of the monkeys during a baseline period and during three enrichment periods. Each observation period lasted 5 d,...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Jacobsen, K. R. 2010. The effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior of captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Lab Animal 39(9), 269-277.

Post-surgical environmental enrichment in rodents

Environmental enrichment is a key component of rodent animal welfare since it influences the animal's overall well-being, provides opportunities for activity, and encourages rodent appropriate behaviors. Many aspects of rodent enrichment have received a significant amount of attention during the...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Baran, S. W., Froberg-Fejko, K., Lecker, J. et al. 2010. Post-surgical environmental enrichment in rodents. Enrichment Record 3, 4-6.

Rearing condition can affect success in social groups of rhesus macaques

Forming successful groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) can be challenging. Males in particular do not always get along, and some need to be permanently removed due to fighting and trauma. Early rearing condition may play a role in social...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Housing, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Maier, A., Coleman, K. 2010. Rearing condition can affect success in social groups of rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 72(S1), 36. (33rd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #35)

Using environmental enrichment to reduce fighting in mice

A colony of mice (base strain C57Bl6) was transferred to Oregon State University. Fighting was observed in six cages of males (2 to 5 mice per cage) at cage change, but not during daily checks. After discussion with the principal...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Araki, A. 2010. Using environmental enrichment to reduce fighting in mice. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 15(4), 6.

Factors affecting wounding aggression in a colony of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Previous research has suggested that chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) display higher levels of aggression in captivity than in the wild. One of the challenges of captive management, therefore, is to balance the chimpanzees' need for social interaction with managements' desire to...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Williams, R. C., Nash, L. T., Scarry, C. J. et al. 2010. Factors affecting wounding aggression in a colony of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Zoo Biology 29(3), 351-364.

Effectiveness of perforated plexiglass dividers as social grooming devices between neighboring, individually housed adult male Macaca fascicularis

A clear, perforated, plexiglass divider was installed between neighboring cynos to test whether it altered their proximity to one another, or prompted any behavioral changes. ... Adult male cynomolgus monkeys tend not to spend a large amount of time in...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Housing, Natural Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Watson, L. M. 2010. Effectiveness of perforated plexiglass dividers as social grooming devices between neighboring, individually housed adult male Macaca fascicularis. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 49(4), 1-4.

Behavior of female pairs vary between protected contact and full contact pair housing in rhesus macaques but not longtailed macaques

However, tactile contact can also be provided by means of barred or perforated panels that permit physical interaction but prevent entry into pair-mates' cages. Behavioral outcomesmay differ between these housing configurations and between species. To explore the interaction between these...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Baker, K. C., Crockett, C. M., Lee, G. H. et al. 2011. Behavior of female pairs vary between protected contact and full contact pair housing in rhesus macaques but not longtailed macaques. American Journal of Primatology 73(S1), 107. (34th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #224)

Separating cage-mates temporarily ? A LAREF discussion

The question was asked: “Research protocols sometimes require that compatible macaque pairs be physically separated for a limited time period (e.g., controlled food-intake studies; sample collection from chair-restrained subjects). Obviously – and as documented in the literature – partner separation...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Anonymous. 2011. Separating cage-mates temporarily ? A LAREF discussion. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 51, 10.