Identifying hormonal habituation in field studies of stress

Cyr, Nicole E.; Romero, L. Michael

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2009.02.001

Cited by 167 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…These modulations of behaviour through individual experiences and therefore through ageing are assumed to evolve from changes in the reactivity of the nervous system (Grandin and Dessing, 1998). The graduate adaption to repeated external stimuli is referred to as habituation (Cyr and Romero, 2009). In livestock production, habituation is mainly determined by the adaptability to human-made environments and the frequency of human-animal contact overall, depending on the production system.…”

Section: Cattle Temperament and Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetics of cattle temperament and its impact on livestock production and breeding – a review

2015

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Abstract.Cattle temperament, which describes individual behaviour differences with regard to a stressor or environmental challenge, is known for its impact on working safety, adaptability to new housing conditions, animal productivity and for evaluation of animal welfare. However, successful use of temperament in animal breeding and husbandry to improve keeping conditions in general or animal welfare in particular, requires the availability of informative and reproducible phenotypes and knowledge about the genetic modulation of these traits. However, the knowledge about genetic influences on cattle temperament is still limited. In this review, an outline is given for the interdependence between production systems and temperament as well as for the phenotyping of cattle temperament based on both behaviour tests and observations of behaviour under production conditions. In addition, the use of temperament as a selection criterion is discussed.

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Section: Cattle Temperament and Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetics of cattle temperament and its impact on livestock production and breeding – a review

2015

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“…If, as the above discussion suggests, physiological stress is a rare event, we might only expect detectable or sustained stress responses in wild fish in response to sustained environmental challenge or change. This effect is present in other vertebrates, particularly birds where unpredictable environmental changes such as extreme weather or storms initiate stressmediated changes in behaviour (reviewed in Wingfield 1994;Wingfield & Ramenofsky 1999;Cyr & Romero 2009). Interestingly, extreme but predictable events do not have the same effect.…”

Section: Reproductive Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish physiology and ecology: the contribution of the Leigh Laboratory to the collision of paradigms

Pankhurst

Herbert

2013

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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The often pragmatic division of studies of function (physiology), and the regulation of distribution and abundance of organisms (ecology), as laboratory and field studies respectively, can create an unhelpful intellectual division that runs the risk of ignoring the interaction of physiology, behaviour and environment that regulates the lives of animals in the wild. This review examines the historical and current contribution of ecophysiological research conducted from the University of Auckland's Leigh Laboratory in bridging these paradigms, and generating new insights into animal function and community organisation. The assessment focuses on endocrine control processes, and metabolic and behavioural responses of fish to artificial and natural stressors, and examines tracks of future research needed to underpin understanding of likely effects of predicted environmental change on individuals and populations.

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“…Concerned with the condition of animals, zoos are increasingly keen to reduce sources of stress in captivity. In vertebrates, glucocorticoids secreted by the adrenal cortex are part of the natural stress response (Sapolsky 2002), and high glucocorticoid concentrations secreted over long periods of time potentially lead to problems in behavior, health, and fertility (Cyr and Romero 2009;Sheriff et al 2011;Wingfield and Romero 2001). Various methods exist for improving housing conditions of zoo animals to minimize potential stress.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Fission–Fusion Zoo Housing on Hormonal and Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

2014

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The welfare of captive animals could be improved if zoos were to place more emphasis on their species-specific needs. In the wild, orangutans live in a fission-fusion social system and have a semisolitary lifestyle. However, most zoos keep orangutans in permanent groups, which may be stressful for them. Apenheul Primate Park in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, houses 14 Bornean orangutans in a simulated fissionfusion social system. To assess how this housing system affects indicators of stress, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) and determined proportions of self-directed behavior (scratching and autogrooming). We compared fGCM concentrations of the Apenheul animals to those of zoo orangutans kept in permanent groups. In addition, we tested the effect of group size, visitor number, sex, age, and change of group composition on fGCM concentrations and proportions of self-directed behavior in the Apenheul orangutans. In contrast to Bornean orangutans housed in permanent groups, we did not find a group size effect on fGCM or on self-directed behavior in Apenheul's fission-fusion housing system. In addition, fGCM concentrations in Apenheul orangutans increased significantly with visitor numbers. Visitor number also affected proportions of self-directed behavior, and mean proportions of scratching were positively correlated with mean values of fGCM concentrations. Although these results suggest that the fission-fusion housing system in Apenheul reduces the group size effect leading to social stress in Bornean orangutans, they also show that visitors are an important factor that needs to be mitigated if the well-being of captive primates and other zoo animals is to be improved. Abstract The welfare of captive animals could be improved if zoos were to place more emphasis on their species-specific needs. In the wild, orangutans live in a fission-fusion social system and have a semisolitary lifestyle. However, most zoos keep orangutans in permanent groups, which may be stressful for them. Apenheul Primate Park in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, houses 14 Bornean orangutans in a simulated fission-fusion social system. To assess how this housing system affects indicators of stress, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) and determined proportions of self-directed behavior (scratching and autogrooming). We compared fGCM concentrations of the Apenheul animals to those of zoo orangutans kept in permanent groups. In addition, we tested the effect of group size, visitor number, sex, age, and change of group composition on fGCM concentrations and proportions of self-directed behavior in the Apenheul orangutans. In contrast to Bornean orangutans housed in permanent groups, we did not find a group size effect on fGCM or on self-directed behavior in Apenheul's fissionfusion housing system. In addition, fGCM concentrations in Apenheul orangutans increased significantly with visitor numbers. Visitor number also affected proportions of self-directed behavior, and mean proportions of scratching were positively cor...

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Identifying hormonal habituation in field studies of stress

Cited by 167 publications

References 43 publications

Genetics of cattle temperament and its impact on livestock production and breeding – a review

Genetics of cattle temperament and its impact on livestock production and breeding – a review

Fish physiology and ecology: the contribution of the Leigh Laboratory to the collision of paradigms

The Effect of Fission–Fusion Zoo Housing on Hormonal and Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

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