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Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2023) | Viewed by 17291

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Claudia Mettke-Hofmann

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Guest Editor

School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Interests: birds; behavior; cognition; personality; welfare; conservation

Dr. Andrew Smith

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
Interests: primates; behavioural ecology; colour vision; welfare; zoos

Dr. Paul Rose

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Guest Editor

Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Washington Singer, Perry Road, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
Interests: zoo animal behaviour; zoo animal welfare; zoo animal husbandry; birds; conservation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Enclosure design can greatly affect behavior and physiology in captive animals. However, we know little about the effects of enclosure design beyond size and complexity. How do background, substrate, barriers, lighting (e.g., UV), or the environment outside the enclosure change behavior and stress in animals? How do animals use their environment in relation to the provided structures in their enclosure? How are the immediate surroundings outside the enclosure (noise, light, etc.) perceived by animals, and what are their impact?

The Special Issue aims to collate recent advances in enclosure design and its relationship to behavior and welfare across a broad range of holding conditions and taxa. We are interested in contributions from all holding conditions ranging from zoos to laboratory and research facilities, and farm animals covering mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. We welcome original research articles and review papers.

Dr. Claudia Mettke-Hofmann
Dr. Andrew Smith
Dr. Paul Rose
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

enclosure design
welfare
enrichment
holding conditions

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Environment and Management Practices Improve Foot Health in Zoo-Housed Flamingos

by Andrew Mooney, Kelly McCall, Scott Bastow and Paul Rose

Animals 2023, 13(15), 2483; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152483 - 01 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3139

Abstract

Foot lesions are a highly prevalent phenomenon among zoo-housed flamingos, with up to 99.8% of birds affected. These lesions are a recognized welfare concern, increasing the likelihood of bacterial infections, and even septicemia. Although several risk factors have been linked to foot lesions in flamingos (including age, climate, and substrate), there have been few studies looking at changes in foot lesions over time. This study tracked changes in foot lesions for an individual flock of Chilean Flamingos (97 birds) at Dublin Zoo, Ireland, over an 18-month period in response to a mandatory indoor housing order imposed by the Irish Government as a seasonal precautionary measure to prevent the spread of avian influenza. Using a pre-defined scoring system for four common types of foot lesions (hyperkeratosis, fissures, nodular lesions, and papillomatous growths), we show that providing unrestricted access to outdoor habitats and natural substrates (both terrestrial and aquatic) can improve the health and wellbeing of zoo-housed flamingos. This longitudinal study highlights the importance of regular foot health monitoring in flamingos, and the importance of natural aquatic substrates when managing flamingos. As many zoo-housed birds have been spending more time indoors on artificial substrates over recent years due to avian influenza housing orders, it is critical that we assess the impact of such changes in management and habitat access on bird health and welfare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals)

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26 pages, 3368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Benefits of Increased Space and Habitat Complexity for the Welfare of Zoo-Housed King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

by Grace Fuller, Megan Jones, Kylen N. Gartland, Sara Zalewski, Matthew R. Heintz and Stephanie Allard

Animals 2023, 13(14), 2312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142312 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1735

Abstract

Zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums embrace animal welfare as a foundational principle of habitat design. Modern habitats are designed to provide animals with choices and agency over their environment, and to encourage species-appropriate behavior and space use. In 2016, the Detroit Zoological Society opened the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, a 3065.80 m² facility that features a naturalistic design. The building was designed to optimize animal welfare by incorporating various substrates, nesting sites, and a 1234 kL pool with elements of underwater complexity. The facility houses a mixed-species group of penguins that were previously housed in a smaller habitat that opened in 1968. Between 2015 and 2022, we opportunistically monitored the behavior of ten king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) as they moved back and forth between the two buildings while additional modifications were made to the new habitat. We collected 695 h of behavioral observations and 10,416 h of data from flipper-mounted time–depth recorders. We found that the king penguins spent less time engaged in aggression and more time engaged in swimming and positive social behaviors in the redesigned space. They also spent less time in proximity to other species of penguins and more time alone. These behavioral trends suggest that increased space and environmental complexity had positive welfare benefits for these penguins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals)

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19 pages, 1934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behaviour, Furnishing and Vertical Space Use of Captive Callimico (Callimico goeldii): Implications for Welfare

by Amanda Bartlett, Lena Grinsted and Marianne Sarah Freeman

Animals 2023, 13(13), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132147 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1188

Abstract

Provision of optimal captive care should be supported by species-specific evidence. Callimico (Callimico goeldii) is a small South American callitrichid primate. This study sought to address gaps in species-specific knowledge and captive management research by examining differences in callimico behaviour across multiple collections, investigating vertical enclosure use and a possible association between specific behaviours and vertical zones. Observational research was conducted at five European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) organisations, in exhibits that were visually divided into four vertical zones. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to record behaviour and location of callimico over a six-day period at each collection, exceeding 160 observational hours. Significant differences were observed in foraging between collections and were much lower than the recommendations in Best Practice Guidelines, although near-wild levels were recorded in one enclosure. At an average height of 2 m, callimico utilized a similar vertical space across very different enclosures, regardless of overall available height, reflective of their natural ecology. The association between whole food items and increased foraging time, horizontal branches and locomotion and deep substrate and diversity of behaviours, offers further species-specific evidence of how the callimico use their captive environment. Our findings complement current EAZA guidelines to support species appropriate care for callimico and makes specific recommendations for further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals)

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12 pages, 1156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enclosure Background Preferences Differ between Sexes and Color Morphs in the Gouldian Finch

by Robert I. Moise, Georgina R. Eccles and Claudia Mettke-Hofmann

Animals 2023, 13(8), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081353 - 15 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1566

Abstract

Most wild animals camouflage well into their environment, providing protection from predators, whereas captive animals often contrast with their background. This can cause stress for the animal, which may perceive it as being exposed. Theory suggests that prey is more difficult to detect in front of complex backgrounds; hence, animals should prefer complex over simple backgrounds. We tested this in the polymorphic Gouldian finch by providing a complex background pattern in one half of the flight cage and a simple background pattern in the other half for 10 days (phase 1). Patterns were then swapped and presented for another week (phase 2). Groups of four birds consisting of either pure black-headed or red-headed or mixed head color (two black-headed and two red-headed) pairings were tested. Gouldian finches spent significantly more time in front of the simple background in phase 1 but not in phase 2. Specifically, females preferred the simple background in phase 1 significantly more than males. Moreover, red-headed birds consistently perched in front of the simple background, whereas black-headed birds used both backgrounds, particularly in phase 2. Results indicate that background preferences differ between sexes and morphs, which should be considered when designing backgrounds. Moreover, natural habitat preferences need consideration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals)

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13 pages, 2480 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Assessment of Stress Caused by Environmental Changes for Improving the Welfare of Laboratory Beagle Dogs

by Gwang-Hoon Lee, Woori Jo, Tae-Ku Kang, Taeho Oh and KilSoo Kim

Animals 2023, 13(6), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13061095 - 19 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2658

Abstract

Animal stress is influenced by environmental factors, yet only a few studies have evaluated the effects of environmental stress on captive dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of environmental and social enrichment on the stress levels of captive dogs housed in a lab. We assessed stress levels in eight Beagle dogs by measuring their body weight, cortisol levels, a stress hormone, the alkaline phosphatase activity in serum, the number of steps per hour, as well as clinical sign observations in a changed environment for 6 weeks. Four dogs assigned to a control group were raised alone in a relatively narrow place without toys; four dogs assigned to an experimental group were raised together in a relatively large place with toys. The body weight of the control group remained unchanged, while that of the experimental group decreased. Cortisol levels in the control group increased throughout, whereas those in the experimental group increased for up to 2 weeks and decreased thereafter. Consequently, cortisol levels in the experimental group significantly decreased compared to the control group at 6 weeks (p = 0.048). Fighting was observed among the dogs in the experimental group at 3 weeks; thus, one dog was separated from the group. The number of steps per hour was more than twice as high in the experimental than in the control group. Thereby, we determined that social housing, with appropriate companions and environmental enrichment materials, can reduce stress levels in captive dogs more efficiently than in single housing without such materials. Our study provides useful insights for captive animal organizations, such as kenneled dogs’ management, to improve animal welfare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals)

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Review

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19 pages, 991 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of the Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on the Behaviour and Physiology of Zoo Animals

by Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo, Cynthia Fernandes Cipreste, Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto and Robert John Young

Animals 2023, 13(8), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081277 - 07 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6005

Abstract

The complexity of the habitat refers to its physical geometry, which includes abiotic and biotic elements. Habitat complexity is important because it allows more species to coexist and, consequently, more interactions to be established among them. The complexity of the habitat links the physical structure of the enclosure to the biological interactions, which occur within its limits. Enclosure complexity should vary temporally, to be able to influence the animals in different ways, depending on the period of the day and season and throughout the year. In the present paper, we discuss how habitat complexity is important, and how it can positively influence the physical and mental states of zoo animals. We show how habitat complexity can ultimately affect educational projects. Finally, we discuss how we can add complexity to enclosures and, thus, make the lives of animals more interesting and functional. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on Behavior and Physiology in Captive Animals)

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