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... AIMS: To describe the gross and light microscopic characteristics of skin lesions observed on the ventral skin of captive Archey’s frogs (Leiopelma archeyi) between 2000 and 2012, and to investigate their occurrence, possible aetiology and association with survival. METHODS: Postmortem skin samples were obtained for histological evaluation from 37 frogs, with and without skin lesions, that died wh ...
... Individual animal personalities interact with environmental conditions to generate differences in behavior, a phenomenon of growing interest for understanding the effects of environmental enrichment on captive animals. Wheels are common environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents, but studies conflict on how this influences behavior, and interaction of wheels with individual personalities has ...
... We present the first data on age structure, growth pattern, and lines of arrested growth (LAG) for Leptodactylus latrans in temperate wetlands. Based on these data, we estimate LAG periodicity, age, size at sexual maturity and longevity for this species. We also tested for differences of these parameters between sexes. The age was determined through skeletochronology. Female maturity was determine ...
... The crayfish plague pathogen (Aphanomyces astaci) causes mass mortalities of European crayfish when transmitted from its original North American crayfish hosts. Little is known, however, about interspecific transmission of the pathogen between different American crayfish species, although evidence from trade of ornamental crayfish suggests this may happen in captivity. We screened signal and viril ...
... The ability to predict regular events can be adaptive for nonhuman animals living in an otherwise unpredictable environment. Animals may exhibit behavioral changes preceding a predictable event; such changes reflect anticipatory behavior. Anticipatory behavior is broadly defined as a goal-directed increase in activity preceding a predictable event and can be useful for assessing well being in anim ...
... The endangered Burmese brow antlered deer (Rucervus eldii thamin) is a medium sized tropical cervid kept in a number of European zoos. Studbook data and anecdotal reports have suggested that this species suffers from poor reproductive success and relatively high neonatal mortality in captivity. Questionnaires were sent to 10 European zoos, holding 91 (20.71.0) deer, in order to record information ...
body condition; captive animals; death; necropsy; production technology; snakes; survival rate; venoms
Abstract:
... We evaluate adaptation of eleven species of wild-caught snakes maintained in captivity for venom production using two procedures for estimating survival rates. Kaplan-Meier estimations of survival time provide a better account of subsistence in captivity than estimations based solely on mean time to death. Highland and mid-elevation species are better adapted to our captive settings, but factors s ...
Cebus; Dasyprocta; Lagothrix; Nasua nasua; Tapirus terrestris; body weight; captive animals; decision making; females; genitalia; hunters; life history; monkeys; population growth; pregnancy; sustainable development; ungulates; wildlife; wildlife management
Abstract:
... Wildlife subsistence hunting is a major source of protein for tropical rural populations and a prominent conservation issue. The intrinsic rate of natural increase. (rₘₐₓ) of populations is a key reproductive parameter in the most used assessments of hunting sustainability. However, researchers face severe difficulties in obtaining reproductive data in the wild, so these assessments often rely on ...
D. Garrido; I. Varó; A.E. Morales; M.C. Hidalgo; J.C. Navarro; F. Hontoria; O. Monroig; J. Iglesias; J.J. Otero; A. Estévez; J. Pérez; M.V. Martín; C. Rodríguez; E. Almansa; G. Cardenete
... The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is a promising species for aquaculture diversification, but massive mortality during the first life-cycle stages (paralarvae) is the main bottleneck for its commercial production in captivity. The aim of this study was to assess stress and nutritional condition biomarkers (HSP70, ROS enzymes and lipid peroxidation) (RNA/DNA, RNA/protein, protein/DNA and protei ...
Isabelle Desprez; Michael J. Yabsley; Susan B. Fogelson; Jill A. Hicks; Renee Barber; Izidora Sladakovic; Scott A. Secrest; Stephen J. Divers; Jörg Mayer
Baylisascaris procyonis; Castor canadensis; Procyon lotor; captive animals; early diagnosis; granuloma; histology; larva migrans; prognosis; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); zoos; Georgia
Abstract:
... Baylisascaris procyonis larva migrans was diagnosed in two North American beavers (Castor canadensis) belonging to a zoological park in Clarke County, Georgia. Both beavers presented with neurological signs. One beaver died naturally and despite attempted treatment, the other beaver was euthanatized because of severe clinical signs and poor prognosis. Histologic evaluation of the beavers revealed ...
Salvelinus alpinus; body length; captive animals; courtship; data collection; farms; females; fish; males; sexual maturity
Abstract:
... The behaviour of sexually mature Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus specimens (fifth farm generation) was observed in captivity for four consecutive days. Only agonistic interactions between males of different size were facilitated on the first 2 days, while both agonistic and courtship interactions were possible from the third day up to the end of the experiment. The reliability of behavioural analy ...
Melursus ursinus; Ursus arctos; captive animals; data collection; monitoring; personality; questionnaires; social behavior; stereotyped behavior
Abstract:
... Three brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) individuals and two sloth bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus) individuals were observed in captivity to produce behavioural profiles for each individual. Data collected through behavioural observations were used to produce activity budgets, and to identify space usage and certain aspects of social behavior. Behaviour monitoring allowed the researchers to evalua ...
... It is important to understand how wild-caught animals may respond to captivity, and whether their behaviours in captivity are reflective of their wild counterparts. We observed the behaviour of wild-caught western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) and red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus; formerly M. rufus) that were transferred to a large naturally vegetated enclosure. Observations were made on th ...
... Social species in captivity may face allostatic overload due to artificial grouping and other social constraints. In rescue centres, groups of psittacines are constantly mixed due to the arrival and/or release of individuals; this procedure is potentially harmful to animal welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the possible impacts of mate replacement on the stress levels of captive blue-fronted ...
... Boredom is likely to have adaptive value in motivating exploration and learning, and many animals may possess the basic neurological mechanisms to support it. Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and understimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioural flexibility. Wild and domesticated animals are at particular risk in captivity, which is often spatially and temporally mo ...
Gallus gallus; animal research; biometry; captive animals; eggs; germplasm; heterozygosity; microsatellite repeats; neck; plumage; population structure; India
Abstract:
... The present investigation was conducted to study the morphology, production potential and genetic architecture of Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus) kept in captivity. Records of 104 birds of RJF (65 males and 39 females) were utilized in study. Males had prominent plumage pattern with neck hackles, greenish black tails, and prominent bright red single comb, while females were comparatively smaller w ...
Octopodidae; bycatch; captive animals; common names; genes; haplotypes; microsatellite repeats; morphs; new species; texture; Alaska
Abstract:
... We tested whether body patterns distinguished two haplotypes of large octopus in Prince William Sound Alaska. Live octopuses were photographed in captivity and assigned to a morphotype based on whether longitudinal mantle folds (a characteristic body pattern feature of the giant Pacific octopus (GPO), Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker 1910)) were present (the GPO morphotype, N = 14) or absent (a novel ...
Alces alces; Betula; Cervus elaphus; Pinus sylvestris; bark; browsing; byproducts; captive animals; chemical defenses; foraging; forestry; herbivores; leaves; mammals; repellents; seedlings; tree damage; trees
Abstract:
... Mammalian browsers can cause ecologically and economically significant damage to important tree species, particularly at the vulnerable seedling stage. Some tree species or particular parts of trees are less preferred as a result of chemical defences – harnessing such defences could reduce the appeal of more preferred trees and thus their loss to browsing. We tested the potential of birch bark ext ...
Panthera leo; biomedical research; body condition; captive animals; clinical examination; confidence interval; correlation; databases; enzymes; hematologic tests; information systems; leptin; medicine; models; monocytes; national parks; normal values; veterinarians; wildlife; zoos; South Africa
Abstract:
... The International Species Information System has set forth an extensive database of reference intervals for zoologic species, allowing veterinarians and game park officials to distinguish normal health parameters from underlying disease processes in captive wildlife. However, several recent studies comparing reference values from captive and free-ranging animals have found significant variation be ...
... Over 13 seasons, from 1992 to 2016, field studies detailing the life habits of Phausis inaccensa LeConte were carried out primarily in Mississippi and Tennessee with additional data from Arkansas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Minnesota. From late March to May in the southern states, ≈45 minutes after sunset, apterous, neotenic females emerge from their daytime shelters in the leaf litter, glo ...
adults; cannibalism; captive animals; demography; females; juveniles; lizards; males; phylogeny; population density; probability; Andes region
Abstract:
... Cannibalism is a recurrent behavior across the animal kingdom, with important ecological and evolutionary consequences due to its potential trade-offs on the fitness of involved individuals and demography dynamics. Cannibalism has been reported in eight species of several phylogenetic lineages within Liolaemus , a highly diverse genus of Neotropical lizards. Within the Liolaemus montanus series, t ...
Labeo coubie; Labeo victorianus; ammonium nitrogen; aquaculture; body size; body weight; breeding stock; captive animals; diet; dissolved oxygen; eggs; fecundity; females; fish; humans; indigenous species; juveniles; larvae; males; mortality; seeds; transportation; zooplankton; Lake Victoria
Abstract:
... African carp, Labeo victorianus, is one of the threatened endemic fishes of Lake Victoria which requires conservation and has potential for aquaculture. We conducted a series of experiments on L. victorianus aiming at producing juveniles for both human consumption and stock enhancement. A total of 79 broodstock (mean body weight = 227.06 g) were collected from the wild; packed at 200, 300, and 500 ...
... Immobilization and anesthesia of impala (Aepyceros melampus) has become a popular research theme. This demand is brought about by the increased need to immobilize and anesthetize impala and other medium-sized wild ungulates because of their increased value in game ranching and zoological collections. To improve our understanding of immobilization and general anesthesia in these species, it is para ...
... Successful culture of marine fish relies upon availability of high quality fertilized eggs obtained from broodstock. However, some of the most critical aspects of obtaining such eggs are often overlooked. These aspects include the capture, transport, acclimation, and spawning of sexually mature wild-caught fish. Mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as dolphinfish, have been identified as on ...
... CASE HISTORY A little penguin (Eudyptula minor) of wild origin, in captivity at Wellington Zoo, became inappetent and lethargic in March 2013. Despite supportive care in the zoo’s wildlife hospital, the bird died within 24 hours. CLINICAL FINDINGS Weight loss, dehydration, pale mucous membranes, weakness, increased respiratory effort and biliverdinuria were apparent on physical examination. Micros ...
... Striped red mullet is a commercial valuable species for fisheries. Due to its economic importance, captivity studies were carried out to check the suitability of this species to culture conditions. In order to improve it, a wild-caught broodstock was created and kept in captivity for 4 years. Mullets were very susceptible to handling stress resulting in a high mortality during capture and quaranti ...
Lauren M. Robinson; Drew M. Altschul; Emma K. Wallace; Yulán Úbeda; Miquel Llorente; Zarin Machanda; Katie E. Slocombe; Matthew C. Leach; Natalie K. Waran; Alexander Weiss
Pan troglodytes; animal behavior; animal welfare; captive animals; coprophagy; factor analysis; linear models; principal component analysis; questionnaires; zoos
Abstract:
... Facilities housing captive animals are full of staff who, every day, interact with the animals under their care. The expertise and familiarity of staff can be used to monitor animal welfare by means of questionnaires. It was the goal of our study to examine the association between chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) welfare, happiness, and personality. To these ends we collected two waves of welfare and ...
... The Gough bunting (Rowettia goughensis) is indigenous to Gough Island and critically endangered due to predation by invasive house mice (Mus musculus). A planned ecosystem restoration by eradication of house mice via aerially delivered rodenticide requires a reproductively balanced population of Gough buntings being held in captivity to avoid primary and secondary poisoning. To aid disease detecti ...
Enterococcus; Escherichia coli; Gallinula; Klebsiella; Mus musculus; Pseudomonas; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus intermedius; adults; bacteria; birds; captive animals; disease detection; ecological restoration; egg yolk; feces; females; globulins; head; hematology; males; morphometry; parasites; poisoning; predators; protein content; rodenticides; sex determination; sex determination analysis; Tristan da Cunha
Abstract:
... The Gough moorhen (Gallinula comeri) is native to Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, and listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its restricted range and susceptibility to introduced predators. A planned ecosystem restoration by eradication of introduced house mice (Mus musculus) via aerially delivered rodenticide requires a reproductively balanced population ...
... Inclusion of sustained-release androgen implants into fertility treatment regimes of female freshwater eels has been proposed to benefit artificial maturation outcomes. This study sought to test whether co-administration of the androgen 17-methyltestosterone (17-MT) in combination with ‘traditional’ hypophysation of female European silver eels would affect egg quality and subsequent larval surviva ...
... Trade-offs such as the ones between reproduction and longevity or present and future reproduction are believed to shape reproductive patterns. We here used zoo data to investigate trade-offs and life histories in four taxa of Asiatic (Equus hemionus ssp.) and African wild asses (Equus africanus ssp.). All taxa showed even in captivity peak birth rates during the periods of highest food availabilit ...
... Fatal injuries caused by attacks by large wild cats are extremely rare in forensic medical practice in Europe. There are very few cases described in the forensic medical literature concerning incidents in zoos similar to the tiger attack on a 58-year-old male zoo employee that we present here. While preparing a runway for tigers, the man was attacked by a male Sumatran tiger. Another zoo employee ...
... Chemical elements exposure of endangered golden takins (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) living in the Qinling Mountains and in a captive breeding center was assessed by analyzing fecal samples. Concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Se were significantly higher in the feces of captive golden takins than the wild. There was no significant difference in the fecal concentrations of Cd, Mn, Hg, Pb or Z ...
Bruno César Miranda Oliveira; Walter Bertequini Nagata; David Giraldo Arana; Gabriela Cortellini Ferreira; Heliton Aparecido Sitton; Marcelo Rodrigues Freitas de Oliveira; Marcelo Vasconcelos Meireles
... Cryptosporidiosis in birds manifests as an acute or chronic disease of the respiratory or digestive tracts. The objective of our study was to perform the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild psittacines kept in captivity at the Araçatuba Municipal Zoo, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 47 fecal samples were collected from Amazona aestiva, Psittacara leucophthalma, and Ara araraun ...
Campostoma anomalum; Clinostomus; DNA; DNA barcoding; Nocomis; captive animals; eggs; fish larvae; genes; genetic databases; gravel; mitochondria; nests; nucleotide sequences; predation; rivers; spawning; streams; surveys; taxonomy; Virginia
Abstract:
... Chubs Nocomis spp. (Cyprinidae) in freshwater streams build conspicuous gravel mounds upon which they and other nest‐associative cyprinids spawn. Our understanding of such interactions is incomplete and hindered by the inability to observe all interactions directly and to identify the larvae that emerge from the mounds based on morphological traits. We used visual surveys and DNA barcoding to iden ...
Leopardus wiedii; Puma yagouaroundi; South Americans; animal behavior; captive animals; cats; feral animals; photoperiod; South America
Abstract:
... The authors analyzed the daily activity rhythms of the domestic cat and of eight of the ten feral felid species that are indigenous to South America. All species showed daily rhythmicity of activity in captivity under a natural light-dark cycle. The robustness of the rhythmicity varied from species to species, but the grand mean of 34% was within the range of robustness previously described for ma ...
Passer domesticus; adults; antipredatory behavior; birds; body condition; captive animals; corticosterone; escape behavior; fledglings; humans; juveniles; long term effects; nestlings
Abstract:
... Acute, short-term effects of early-life stress and associated glucocorticoid upregulation on behavior are widely documented across vertebrates. However, the persistence and severity of these effects are largely unknown, especially through the adult stage and in wild species. Here, we investigate long-term effects of experimental post-natal increases in a circulating glucocorticoid on antipredator ...
... Intranuclear coccidiosis of tortoises (TINC) has been described in association with systemic disease in various species of tortoises. TINC has been detected in numerous tortoises from the United States, but there are only a few reports from tropical tortoises in Germany and no reports from Asia. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, samples from 1,011 tortoises were screened for the p ...
DNA; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; Procavia capensis; antibodies; blood serum; captive animals; death; diarrhea; enteritis; excretion; feces; gastrointestinal system; histology; human resources; livestock; polymerase chain reaction; quarantine; respiratory system; ruminants; sequence analysis; veterinarians; wildlife; young animals; zoos; South Africa
Abstract:
... Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes chronic, progressive, and consecutively fatal enteritis, especially in ruminants. MAP distribution among wildlife is not yet clear. In this study, three wild-born rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) had been imported from South Africa to a German zoological garden. During the quarantine period, four young animals were born. The wild-born an ...
animal behavior; captive animals; cows; heifers; odors; orange juice; rodents; smell; tap water
Abstract:
... The sense of smell is likely to influence the behaviour of domestic and captive animals in a wide range of management and housing situations. In domestic cattle, there may be unexploited potential for using odours and olfaction in the management; however, published studies on bovine olfactory capacity are scarce. By applying an olfactory Habituation/Dishabituation test developed for rodents, this ...
Isoptera; Tachyglossidae; captive animals; cystitis; diarrhea; diet; digestibility; digestible energy; eggs; energy intake; gastritis; gastrointestinal system; hospitals; insectivores; obesity; pet foods; raw meat; weight control; zoos; Australia
Abstract:
... Short‐beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are myrmecophages, or ant and termite insectivore specialists, and replicating their exact diet in captivity is problematic. Diets for captive animals often incorporate raw meat, eggs and cat food mixed together with water, and vitamin and mineral supplements. These diets have promoted a number of health problems in captive echidnas, such as gastritis ...
Scomber colias; Thunnus thynnus; acoustics; captive animals; physiology; stomach; temperature
Abstract:
... Eight farmed Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus were tagged with temperature and depth transmitters inserted in chub mackerels Scomber colias to characterize their digestive activity, feeding physiology and behaviour in captivity. Results obtained in the experiment can be used to optimize daily T. thynnus feeding strategy in farms, reducing the early regurgitation of food and thus the environme ...
... BACKGROUND: Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne pathogen that is spreading worldwide, and the associated infection (i.e. dirofilariosis) is becoming a threat to animals and humans living in endemic areas. Little is known about the occurrence and risk of infection of D. immitis in pinnipeds. Here we report dirofilariosis by D. immitis in several pinniped species kept in captivity in Portugal. M ...
... Space allowance and resource dispersion is recognised as an important factor affecting the welfare of elephants in captivity. In the present pilot study, we investigated distances kept among individuals in an artificially created semi-captive mixed-sex group of African elephants, when individuals were free to disperse. The study involved a herd of six elephants, three females (aged 11 to 16years), ...
Mesocricetus auratus; captive animals; diurnal activity; hamsters; monitoring; radio frequency identification
Abstract:
... Monitoring daily activity patterns of animals in the field and in captivity often revealed different results. For example, Syrian hamsters Mesocricetus auratus showed diurnal surface activity in the field, but nocturnal patterns in the laboratory. The aim of our study was to monitor the field activity of a close relative of this species, the Ciscaucasian hamster Mesocricetus raddei from Dagestan. ...
... Successful and cost-effective conservation breeding programs rely largely on animals doing what should come naturally: mate & reproduce. Behavioral management, especially that targeting mate compatibility and choice, will be important to achieve breeding goals efficiently. The endangered giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, was once notorious for its poor reproductive performance in captivity. Alt ...
Emma J. Dunston; Jackie Abell; Rebecca E. Doyle; Deanna Duffy; Craig Poynter; Jacqui Kirk; Victoria B. Hilley; Andrew Forsyth; Emma Jenkins; Dominique Mcallister; Rafael Freire
... Maintaining a territory and being able to hunt are imperative for the success of African lion Panthera leo prides. We aimed to determine whether captive‐origin prides display similar territorial and hunting behaviour to wild lions. Behaviours and locations of two captive‐origin prides and one wild pride were collected through direct observation. All prides established territories, and core areas c ...
... In this study, we analyzed gene expression profiles, plasma steroids concentrations, and gonadal morphology throughout the reproductive cycle of female Cichlasoma dimerus (Heckel, 1840), a monogamous cichlid fish exhibiting social hierarchies. Fish were analyzed at six phases encompassing their annual cycle, namely resting (during the nonreproductive period), prespawning, 30 h post spawning, 4 day ...
Simone Pirrello; Andrea Pilastro; Diego Rubolini; Jacopo G. Cecere; Andrea Romano; Alessandro Andreotti; Stefano Volponi; Nicola Saino; Matteo Griggio; Lorenzo Serra
Escherichia coli; Sturnus vulgaris; aviaries; birds; captive animals; color; developmental stages; endotoxins; feathers; females; fledglings; immune system; life history; long term effects; males; molting; nestlings; reproduction; siblings; throat
Abstract:
... In animals, events occurring early in life can have profound effects on subsequent life‐history events. Early developmental stresses often produce negative long‐lasting impacts, although positive effects of mild stressors have also been documented. Most studies of birds have investigated the effects of events occurring at early developmental stages on the timing of migration or reproduction, but l ...
Anaemilia das Neves Diniz; Gerson Tavares Pessoa; Laecio da Silva Moura; André Braga de Sousa; Francisco das Chagas Araújo Sousa; Renan Paraguassu de Sá Rodrigues; Maria Angélica Parente da Silva Barbosa; Hatawa Melo de Almeida; Larisse Danielle Silva Freire; Marina Pinto Sanches; Antônio Augusto Nascimento Machado Júnior; Porfírio Candanedo Guerra; Willams Costa Neves; João Macedo de Sousa; Luiz Bolfer; Robson Fortes Giglio; Flávio Ribeiro Alves
Dasyprocta; blood flow; captive animals; correlation; echocardiography; electrocardiography; heart; normal values; veterinary medicine; wild animals; Brazil
Abstract:
... The black-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha, Wagler 1831) is currently under intense ecologic pressure, which has resulted in its disappearance from some regions of Brazil. Echocardiography is widely used in veterinary medicine but it is not yet part of the clinical routine for wild animals. The objective of the present study was to assess the applicability of the echocardiographic exam in non ...
... Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate group with a third of currently known species endangered with extinction, as a result of climate change, habitat loss, disease-introduced exotic species, and pollution. Because of their vulnerability, they have often been used as environmental quality indicators, as well as laboratory models for toxicological research. Given the sensitivity of amphibia ...
... The aim of this study was to assess the effect of two rearing conditions: outdoor environment with great volume tanks (500 m³) and low stocking density (~0.4 kg m⁻³); and indoor environment with smaller volume tanks (10 m³) and higher stocking density (~5 kg m⁻³), on muscle, liver and ovary lipid composition of Seriola dumerili broodstock born in captivity. The rearing conditions tested seem to af ...
... Captive breeding programmes offer a method for preventing the extinction of threatened species, but often have difficulty establishing self-sustaining populations and generating individuals for release. This difficulty can arise because the behaviour of captive-reared animals differs from wild animals. Whilst the effect of captivity on animal behaviour has been widely reported, few studies have ex ...
... In male European red deer Cervus elaphus, rutting calls that are responsible for male reproductive success are higher in fundamental frequency in captivity than in the wild. This study compares the acoustics of stag rutting calls among wild-living, semi-captive and captive stags within an Asian subspecies of C. elaphus, the Siberian wapiti Cervus elaphus sibiricus. Male Siberian wapiti rutting cal ...
... Visitors to zoological collections can have substantial effects on captive animals that vary according to species, enclosure design, visitor proximity, and husbandry methods. One particularly intense form of visitor interaction occurs in immersive exhibits such as walk‐through enclosures. Such enclosures are increasingly common but effects on animal behavior are currently understudied. Here, the b ...
... Blood flukes of the family Spirorchiidae are significant pathogens of both free-ranging and captive marine turtles. Despite a significant proportion of marine turtle mortality being attributable to spirorchiid infections, details of their life cycles remain almost entirely unknown. Here we report on the molecular elucidation of the complete life cycle of a marine spirorchiid, identified as Amphior ...
... The aim of this study was to describe, for the first time, the embryogenesis and larval growth of the Paraitinga Brycon nattereri Günther, 1864 reared in captivity. After artificial fertilization, eggs were incubated at constant temperature (~19°C) and collected every 15 min during the first 3 h and then every 3 h until hatching. Five larvae were collected daily over 15 days for evaluation of the ...
... Increasing the breeding frequency and reproductive performance of pearlspot, Etroplus suratensis in small tank system by manipulating parental care and salinity is reported. A total of 3 experiments were carried out to evaluate the reproductive performance of pearlspot. In the first experiment on breeding of pearlspot involving parental care (without larval separation), production of a single batc ...
Tursiops truncatus; agonistic behavior; captive animals; dolphins; environmental enrichment; humans; ontogeny; play activities; social behavior
Abstract:
... Social play varies among species and individuals and changes in frequency and duration during ontogeny. This type of play is modulated by environmental changes (e.g., resource availability). In captivity, cetaceans and their environment are managed by humans, and training sessions and/or public presentations punctuate the day as well as other frequent or occasional events. There is a lack of resea ...
... Direct collection of samples from wildlife can be difficult and sometimes impossible. Non‐invasive remote sampling for the purpose of DNA extraction is a potential tool for monitoring the presence of wildlife at the individual level, and for identifying the pathogens shed by wildlife. Equine herpesviruses (EHV) are common pathogens of equids that can be fatal if transmitted to other mammals. Trans ...
... India has a long tradition of practicing Ayurvedic medicine not only for human ailments, but also for the management of livestock in the form of ethno-veterinary practices. Asian elephant is a significant part of Indian culture, and ethno-veterinary practices have extended to manage and cure various ailments of Asian elephant in captivity. Much of this knowledge has been lost in the light of moder ...
... The prioritizing of human demands in human-dominated landscapes shapes human–wildlife conflicts. Damage to crops is the main cause of conflict with herbivores. In Lithuania, according to the Plan for the Protection of the European Bison (Bison bonasus L.), the translocation of animals from a free-ranging herd in central Lithuania is planned and has been widely announced in local media. We aimed to ...
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; Felis silvestris silvestris; captive animals; cats; in situ conservation; sampling; scent marking behavior; social behavior; Europe
Abstract:
... The wildcat (Felis silvestris) is considered a “strictly protected” species, and it is included in CITES Appendix II. Nevertheless, it is classed as threatened in many European countries. Improving our knowledge on the behavior of the European wildcat might be valuable for the conservation of this species in the wild as well as for its husbandry in captive environment. The aim of this study was to ...
... Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has been shown to be a valuable biomarker for early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in canine and feline patients. Recognition of early (subclinical) kidney disease would be of value in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) as prevalence of CKD is relatively high in this species in captivity. Fifty-eight banked serum and plasma samples from seven adult cheetahs th ...
animal welfare; aquariums; captive animals; farmed animal species; farms; interviews; wildlife; zoo animals; zoos; United States
Abstract:
... The welfare of animals under human care has become a major concern in many parts of the world over the last several decades. The public's concern for the welfare of animals in zoos and aquariums has perhaps evolved more recently than its concern for laboratory and farm animals. However, professionals working in zoos and aquariums have been concerned with the welfare of animals for a long time, as ...
... There has been a recent trend towards keeping non-traditional companion animals, also known as exotic pets. These pets include parrots, reptiles, amphibians and rabbits, as well as small species of rodent such as degus and guinea pigs. Many of these exotic pet species are not domesticated, and often have special requirements in captivity, which many owners do not have the facilities or knowledge t ...
... Capture‐based aquaculture (CBA) of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) has become increasingly important in recent years, and increased attention is being paid to animal welfare issues linked to these activities. Earlier studies showed that some cod develop secondary exophthalmia in captivity. This study investigated the development of secondary exophthalmia in two groups of wild‐caught cod, one of which ...
... Laboratory measures of personality traits are often used to answer both evolutionary and ecological questions involving behavioural variations in the wild within and between populations. However, little is known about the actual behavioural mechanisms behind any correlation with behaviours in the wild, and traits often lack validation in a different context. We examined whether the commonly used e ...
Pholidota (mammals); captive animals; carnivores; cats; data collection; diet; dietary recommendations; dogs; energy; feeds; ingredients; insects; models; nutrient content; nutrient intake; nutrient requirements; nutrients; protein energy ratio; trade; wildlife
Abstract:
... Pangolins are ant specialists which are under intense threat from the illegal wildlife trade. Nutrition has notoriously been their downfall in captivity and is still an issue in regards to rescue and rehabilitation. We analyzed the nutrient content of diets used by institutions that are successfully keeping Asian pangolins and to assess the variety of the ingredients and nutrients, compared these ...
Carettochelys insculpta; captive animals; evolution; nesting; social behavior; turtles; vocalization; Australia; New Guinea
Abstract:
... Recent research has demonstrated that some freshwater turtles vocalize underwater, but the taxonomic breadth of this mode of communication in freshwater turtles is unknown, hindering our understanding of its evolution. The Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta), a monotypic genus inhabiting tropical Australia and New Guinea, is a likely candidate for producing underwater sounds because it exhi ...
Artemia; Copepoda; Paracanthurus; Rotifera; breeding stock; captive animals; diet; eggs; instars; juveniles; metamorphosis; mortality; nauplii; pigmentation; starvation; United States
Abstract:
... The Pacific blue tang, Paracanthurus hepatus, is consistently among the top 20 marine ornamental species imported into the USA, with all specimens presently sourced from wild stocks. Captive culture of this species through metamorphosis has not been previously documented and fundamental information regarding reproduction, larval culture, and production techniques is scarce. This study aimed to elu ...
Alynne da Silva Barbosa; Francisco Ponce-Gordo; Laís Verdan Dib; Claudia M. Antunes Uchôa; Otilio Machado Pereira Bastos; Alcides Pissinatti; Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira
... Ciliate protozoa of the genus Balantioides can parasitize a variety of animals. The morphology of the evolutionary forms of the parasite and the host species affected have long been the only characteristics used to taxonomically identify the species of these protozoa, but these variables are not very precise. To confirm species identity, molecular biology tools are currently used. In this context, ...
... The first record of pughead deformity in a Neotropical freshwater fish not raised in captivity is provided, based on an adult male of Cichla kelberi introduced into an estuary of Rio de Janeiro State, south‐eastern Brazil. A general biological characterization of the specimen is provided and aspects of its aberrant anatomy are described. Environmental and biological factors that may cause pughead ...
Anacardium excelsum; Chiroptera; captive animals; cognition; flight; foraging; frogs; insects; islands; mating behavior; models; probability distribution; roosting behavior; seeds; trees
Abstract:
... The Neotropical fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus, is a generalist predator that hunts frogs and insects by homing in on their mating calls. Although research has examined cognition and prey preferences of bats in captivity, little is known of the foraging or roosting behaviour of this species in the wild. We radio tracked six T. cirrhosus individuals on Barro Colorado Island, Panamá. Bat day ...
... Fur ranching has been a prosperous industry for decades. Despite its worldwide distribution, little published information is available regarding the importance of the various causes of death in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). In the period 1999–2013, 698 captive chinchillas from different commercial ranches were presented for necropsy at the Pathology Department (UNLP). Two-hundred and forty-fou ...
Frank Pasmans; Serge Bogaerts; Johan Braeckman; Andrew A Cunningham; Tom Hellebuyck; Richard A Griffiths; Max Sparreboom; Benedikt R Schmidt; An Martel
amphibians; animal welfare; biodiversity conservation; captive animals; environmental sustainability; human health; public health; reptiles; veterinary medicine; wildlife management
Abstract:
... The keeping of exotic pets is currently under debate and governments of several countries are increasingly exploring the regulation, or even the banning, of exotic pet keeping. Major concerns are issues of public health and safety, animal welfare and biodiversity conservation. The keeping of reptiles and amphibians in captivity encompasses all the potential issues identified with keeping exotic pe ...
... In captivity, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) frequently suffer from several unusual chronic diseases that rarely occur in their free-ranging counterparts. In order to develop a better understanding of their metabolism and health we documented the urine organic acids of 41 apparently healthy captive cheetahs, in an untargeted metabolomic study, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A total of 33 ...
... The obligatory air-breathing catfish Clarias magur is a prime candidate for aquaculture owing to its unique taste, high growth rate, and hardy nature. However, recently the IUCN has listed the species under the endangered category because the population has critically declined in the wild. The sexually mature C. magur brooders are often collected from their natural habitats for seed production in ...
... The Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is the largest terrestrial mammal dwelling in the neotropics and the only native representative of the order Perissodactyla. This species is under a great threat due to the impacts of hunting and habitat loss. Therefore, implementation of conservation strategies, in situ and ex situ, is urgent. However, to improve effectiveness of these strategies knowledge of t ...
Cyprinodon macularius; United States Environmental Protection Agency; aquatic organisms; arsenic; bioaccumulation; captive animals; detritus; erythrocytes; evaporation; fish consumption; liver; mercury; muscles; mutagens; ponds; selenium
Abstract:
... The frequency of micro nucleated erythrocytes in peripheral blood of the desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) from a geothermal effluent pond is determined and compared to organisms kept in an aquarium. The frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes found in pupfish from the geothermal pond is 2.75 (±2.09) and only 0.44 (±0.52) in captivity organisms. Dissolved As in the ponds doubles the 340 µg L ...
... Characterizing the baseline and stress-induced hormonal, metabolite, and immune profiles of wild animals is important to assess the impacts of variable environments, including human-induced landscape changes, on organismal health. Additionally, the extent to which these profiles are coordinated across physiological systems within individuals remains an important question in understanding how stres ...
... Phenotypic plasticity contributes to intraspecific variation in traits of many animal species. Venom is an integral trait to the success and survival of many snake species, and potential plasticity in venom composition is important to account for in the context of basic research as well as in human medicine for treating the various symptoms of snakebite and producing effective anti-venoms. Researc ...
... Although the free-ranging cheetah is generally socially solitary, as many as 60% of males live in same-sex (usually sibling) coalitions. Under ex situ conditions, the cheetah experiences low reproductive success with only ~18% of males having ever produced young. Most male cheetahs (85%) are managed in captivity in coalitions, but with no data on the influence of social grouping on reproductive pa ...
José Espinosa; Jorge R. López-Olvera; Francisco J. Cano-Manuel; Paulino Fandos; Jesús M. Pérez; Clara López-Graells; Arián Ráez-Bravo; Gregorio Mentaberre; Diego Romero; Ramón C. Soriguer; José E. Granados
... Overexploitation, pollution, habitat loss or emerging diseases have led to a large number of species to extinction. This has made zoos and wildlife enclosures expand their goals beyond entertainment and fun; their participation in conservation and research programs is important for the recovery of multiple species. To ensure success, staff need to know the specific requirements of each species. In ...
... Animals maintain complex associations with a diverse microbiota living in their guts. Our understanding of the ecology of these associations is extremely limited in reptiles. Here, we report an in‐depth study into the microbial ecology of gut communities in three syntopic and viviparous lizard species (two omnivores: Liolaemus parvus and Liolaemus ruibali and an herbivore: Phymaturus williamsi). U ...
... For over a decade, our research group has studied the biology of the native bumblebee, Bombus atratus, to investigate the feasibility of using it to pollinate crops such as tomato, strawberry, blackberry and peppers. Traditionally, captive breeding has depended on the use of captured wild queens to initiate the colonies. The goal of the current work is to investigate conditions required to produce ...
... The alligator pipefish, Syngnathoides biaculeatus , is a cryptic species commonly found in seagrass meadows. The fish is shy and slow, and it is unknown how the predaceous fish hunts its mobile prey. This study determined its feeding behaviour in an artificial setting of open and vegetated area in an aquarium. Fish behaviour was observed and studied during the early feeding and post-feeding event. ...
Luscinia; Protozoa; birds; blood; body condition; captive animals; case studies; hosts; microscopy; parasites; polymerase chain reaction; risk behavior; Bulgaria
Abstract:
... Haemosporidians (protozoan blood parasites) are known to modify avian hosts’ behaviour in the acute phase but not much is known about the chronic phase. We identified blood parasites by microscopy and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method in a sample of 22 wild-caught nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) in northeast Bulgaria. We compared non-infected and infected birds in single behaviou ...
... Breeding wild animals for restocking imply their ability to respond to wild conditions and to overcome the stress of transport and cage rearing. Cortisol was used in animals to measure stress levels. Aims of the study were to ascertain if a difference in hair cortisol concentration (HCC) existed between hares raised according to different breeding technologies (familiar, semi-industrial, industria ...
Aegypius monachus; blood; blood sampling; captive animals; monitoring; vultures; wildlife; South Korea
Abstract:
... The aim of this study was to establish hematologic and plasma biochemical reference intervals for clinically healthy cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in a rehabilitation setting before release. Animals used in this study were cinereous vultures hospitalized in a wildlife center located in the province of Gyeongsangnam-do, the Republic of Korea. Blood samples were collected from 31 cinereous ...
... Blood samples from 172 captive and 40 wild, healthy, juvenile and adult, ploughshare tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora) were analyzed to determine hematological and biochemical reference intervals. Hematological analytes included packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC), and WBC differential estimates. Biochemical analysis included total protein measured by photometry (TP) and by refra ...
Ailuropoda melanoleuca; adults; animal husbandry; blood; blood chemistry; blood sampling; captive animals; information systems; specific gravity; threatened species; urinalysis; urine; veterinary medicine; China
Abstract:
... The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a high-profile threatened species with individuals in captivity worldwide. As a result of advances in captive animal management and veterinary medicine, the ex situ giant panda population is aging, and improved understanding of age-related changes is necessary. Urine and blood samples were collected in April and July 2015 and analyzed for complete blood ...
... Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance. Very little information is available on Leptospira infection in nonhuman primates. We report herein a high seroprevalence (49.4%; 95% confidence interval: 41.6–57.2%) to Leptospira serovars in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabeus) on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts. Monkeys bred in captivity (n = 81) had a significantly higher seroprevale ...
... When animals are reared for conservational releases it is paramount to avoid reducing genetic and phenotypic variation over time. This requires an understanding of how diverging behavioural and physiological traits affect performance both in captivity and after release. In Atlantic salmon, emergence time from the spawning gravel has been linked to certain behavioural and physiological characterist ...
... We evaluated bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) ewes and their lambs in captivity to examine the sources and roles of respiratory pathogens causing lamb mortality in a poorly performing herd. After seven consecutive years of observed December recruitments of <10%, 13 adult female bighorn sheep from the remnant Gribbles Park herd in Colorado, US were captured and transported to the Thorne-Williams Wil ...
... The domestication process is accompanied by adaptation of the animals to captive conditions. It induces changes at different levels thereby affecting a variety of biological functions. While there is abundant literature on the domestication effects on growth and stress response in teleosts, the effects on reproduction have received limited attention. In this work, we investigated the domestication ...
... Human activity can dramatically affect personality traits in birds and small mammals. However, we know very little about how anthropogenic disturbance shapes personality in mammalian carnivores, and whether the personality traits that may be affected have fitness consequences in human-dominated landscapes. We adapted standard experiments commonly used to assess personality in captive animals to co ...
... Theraphosid spider venoms are extremely complex mixtures, composed mainly by low molecular compounds, peptides, and enzymes. The large size of these spiders and their ability to breed in captivity permits access to rather large amounts of venom and an easier venom extraction. In the present study, we conducted a comparative investigation about the content of hyaluronidase-like enzymes in the venom ...
Platalea leucorodia; Platalea minor; body size; breeding season; captive animals; eggs; eyes; females; fledglings; hybridization; hybrids; legs; males; progeny; throat; South Korea
Abstract:
... Hybridization within the genus Platalea has only been reported in captivity. A case of natural hybridization between two female Black-faced Spoonbills (Platalea minor) and a male Eurasian Spoonbill (P. leucorodia) was studied on a small breeding islet in Incheon, South Korea. The male Eurasian Spoonbill formed a pair with each Black-faced Spoonbill female during the 2012–2013 and 2014–2015 breedin ...
Mariana C. O. Silva; Fernanda F. L. Attademo; Augusto C. B. Freire; Glaucia P. Sousa; Fábia O. Luna; Débora C. V. Lima; Rinaldo A. Mota; Emiko S. Mendes; Jean C. R. Silva
... Between September 2001 and March 2013, 62 bacterial cultures (37 aerobic and 25 anaerobic) were performed on 37 blood samples from 23 Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) that were kept in captivity at the Brazilian National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals (CMA) in Pernambuco (CMA-PE) and Alagoas (CMA-AL), Brazil. All of the animals sampled exhibited clinical sig ...