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Effect of environmental enrichment devices on behaviors of single- and group-housed squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)Squirrel monkeys display an interest in novel places, habituate to new situations, and spend most of their daily activity in the wild in large groups engaging in feeding behaviors over a broad area. Captivity limits these behaviors and consequently may disrupt normal social organizations. In captivity, squirrel monkeys may exhibit stereotypical behaviors that are believed to indicate decreased psychologic well-being. When a monkey's behavior can be made to approach that seen in the wild, and stereotypical behaviors are minimal, it is assumed that psychologic well-being is adequate. Environmental enrichment devices have been used to address the Animal Welfare Act requirement that psychologic well-being of captive nonhuman primates be considered. The purpose of the study reported here was to examine whether various environmental enrichment devices improve the psychologic well-being of captive squirrel monkeys. In the study, we used behavioral observation to quantify the effectiveness of several environmental enrichment devices for reducing stereotypical behaviors in squirrel monkeys housed alone or in groups. Analysis of our results revealed that the environmental enrichment devices did not affect the expression of normal or stereotypical behaviors, but that the type of housing did.
Document ID
20040089285
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Spring, S. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field CA United States)
Clifford, J. O.
Tomko, D. L.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Contemporary topics in laboratory animal science / American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Volume: 36
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1060-0558
Subject Category
Behavioral Sciences
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Neuroscience
NASA Center ARC

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