Improving zebrafish laboratory welfare and scientific research through understanding their natural history

Abstract

Globally, millions of zebrafish (Danio rerio) are used for scientific laboratory experiments for which researchers have a duty of care, with legal obligations to consider their welfare. Considering the growing use of the zebrafish as a vertebrate model for addressing a diverse range of scientific questions, optimising their laboratory conditions is of major importance for both welfare and improving scientific research. However, most guidelines for the care and breeding of zebrafish for research are concerned primarily with maximising production and minimising costs and pay little attention to the effects on welfare of the environments in which the fish are maintained, or how those conditions affect their scientific research. Here we review the physical and social conditions in which laboratory zebrafish are kept, identifying and drawing attention to factors likely to affect their welfare and experimental science. We also identify a fundamental lack knowledge of how zebrafish interact with many biotic and abiotic features in their natural environment to support ways to optimise zebrafish health and well-being in the laboratory, and in turn the quality of scientific data produced. We advocate that the conditions under which zebrafish are maintained need to become a more integral part of research and that we understand more fully how they influence experimental outcome and in turn interpretations of the data generated.

Housing Conditions Affect Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Behavior but Not Their Physiological Status

“…Over the years, the scientific community has been raising and housing zebrafish in barren tanks to reduce experimental variation, and facilitate health monitoring and husbandry practices. However, in the wild, these fish encounter enriched environments [ 1 ] and a variety of stimuli that have a direct impact on their behavioral and physiological responses. Therefore, the exposure to laboratory conditions limits captive animals from expressing a complete behavior repertoire and it may induce stress [ 2 ].…”

Housing conditions affect adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior but not their physiological status

“…However, in the wild, these fish encounter enriched environments [1] and a variety of stimuli that have a direct impact on their behavioral and physiological responses. Therefore, the exposure to laboratory conditions not only increases the expression of stereotypical behaviors and stress but also limits captive animals from expressing a complete behavior repertoire [2].…”

Exploiting animal personality to reduce chronic stress in captive fish populations

“…Moreover, growing recognition of stress-related problems in the pet trade (50,51) has prompted the suggestion that improved understanding of natural behavior and ecology could greatly benefit welfare in ornamental species (52). That the same suggestion has been made with respect to zebrafish housed in scientific establishments (53) highlights the point that behavioral ecological perspectives should be valuable across aquaculture sectors.…”