Environmental Contingencies as Sources of Stress in Animals

Overmier, J. Bruce; Patterson, Jeff; Wielkiewicz, Richard M.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-1042-6_1

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 102 publications

(131 reference statements)

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“…Control is thought to be psychologically and physiologically important to animals (Chamove and Anderson, 1989;Hanson et al, 1976;Mineka et al, 1986;Overmier et al, 1980) but although the concept of control over positive stimuli is relatively well developed in the enrichment literature (e.g. Buchanan-Smith, 1997) its application is primarily limited to feeding (e.g.…”

Section: Effects Of Control On Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lambeth et al, 2001). An event is deemed controllable if there is a difference in the likelihood of it occurring depending on an animal's behaviour (Overmier et al, 1980;Sambrook and BuchananSmith, 1997). Experimental evidence suggests that animals have a preference for control (Overmier et al, 1980).…”

Section: Effects Of Control On Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

“…An event is deemed controllable if there is a difference in the likelihood of it occurring depending on an animal's behaviour (Overmier et al, 1980;Sambrook and BuchananSmith, 1997). Experimental evidence suggests that animals have a preference for control (Overmier et al, 1980). For example, deer mice, which may have an aversion to bright lighting, will use a lever to turn off a light when it comes on automatically at regular intervals (Kavanau, 1963).…”

Section: Effects Of Control On Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of predictability on the welfare of captive animals

Bassett

Buchanan‐Smith

2007

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

282

253

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Variations in the predictability of a stressor have pronounced effects on the behavioural and physiological effects of stress in rats. It is reasonable to expect that variations in the predictability of husbandry routines thought to be aversive to animals might have similar effects on stress indices. Similarly, variations in the predictability of positive events, of which feeding is an obvious example, may affect welfare. This review examines the behavioural and physiological effects of the predictability of aversive and appetitive stimuli, and the application of experimental findings to animal husbandry in practice. It is argued here that two distinct but overlapping types of predictability exist. 'Temporal' predictability describes whether an event occurs at fixed or variable intervals, whereas 'signalled' predictability relates to the reliability of a signal preceding the event. This review examines the effects of each of these types of predictability in relation to positively and negatively perceived events, and examines the link between predictability and control. Recommendations are made for relatively simple and inexpensive modifications to husbandry routines that may be easy to incorporate into the schedules of busy staff yet could have a profound impact on the welfare of animals in their care.

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Section: Effects Of Control On Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Control On Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Control On Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Effects of predictability on the welfare of captive animals

Bassett

Buchanan‐Smith

2007

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

282

253

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“…The present paper is concerned with another possible indicant of emotionality-the secretion of corticosterone. Most stressors enhance the activity of the pituitary-adrenal system (Axelrod & Reisine, 1984;Miller, 1980), and corticosteroid levels often correlate with performance in tasks thought to involve emotionality (e.g., Coover, Sutton, Welle, & Hart, 1978;Coover, Murison, Sundberg, Jellestad, & Ursin, 1984;Overmier, Patterson, & Wielkiewicz, 1980;Weinberg & Levine, 1980). There is also evidence that a loss of reward or a reduction in reward will elevate corticosteroid levels.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of corticosterone elevation and negative contrast varies as a function of postshift day

Flaherty

Becker

Pohorecky

1985

Animal Learning & Behavior

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In three experiments, rats shifted from 32% to 4% sucrose consumed less of the 4% sucrose than did rats that had received only the 4% solution. Experiment 1 showed that this negative contrast effect was not accompanied by a corticosterone elevation on the first day subsequent to the shift. Experiments 2 and 2a showed that corticosterone levels were substantially elevated on the 2nd postshift day and that there was a tendency for degree of elevation in corticosterone to be related to degree of lick suppression. These results are discussed in terms of other data suggesting that anxiolytic drugs and disinhibitory stimuli are more effective in alleviating contrast on the 2nd postshift day than on the 1st postshift day. It is suggested that, in the present paradigm, reaction to stimulus change may be the primary determinant of contrast on the 1st postshift day, but emotional processes related to reward loss and/or conflict develop by the 2nd postshift day.Rats shifted from a 32 % sucrose solution to a 4 % sucrose solution consume substantially less of the 4 % solution than animals that have experienced only 4 %sucrose.

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Effects of environmental enrichment on reproduction

1994

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Although there have been few demonstrations of a direct empirical relationship between environmental enrichment and reproductive success in captive animals, indirect and anecdotal evidence indicates the importance of physical and temporal complexity for reproduction. We discuss three major mechanisms through which environmental enrichment that specifically increases the complexity of an animal's surroundings may influence reproductive physiology and behavior: developmental processes, modulation of stress and arousal, and modification of social interactions. In complex environments developing animals learn that performing active behavior produces appropriate functional outcomes. Learning to control their environment influences their ability to adapt to novel situations, which may profoundly influence their reproductive behavior as adults in breeding situations. Chronic stress may compromise reproductive physiology and behavior; enrichment reduces stress by providing increased opportunity for behavioral coping responses. However, some degree of acute stress may be beneficial for reproduction by maintaining an animal's level of responsiveness to socio‐sexual stimuli necessary for sexual arousal and reproductive activation. Finally, environmental enrichment may influence reproductive success by stabilizing social groups, reducing aggression and increasing affiliative and play behaviors. It is concluded that multi‐variate multi‐institutional behavioral research in zoos will play an increasingly important role in the successful captive propagation of many species by closely examining relationships between environmental variables and reproductive potential of individual animals. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Environmental Contingencies as Sources of Stress in Animals

Cited by 34 publications

References 102 publications

Effects of predictability on the welfare of captive animals

Effects of predictability on the welfare of captive animals

Correlation of corticosterone elevation and negative contrast varies as a function of postshift day

Effects of environmental enrichment on reproduction

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