ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The behavior of animals is modified by captivity. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a program designed to enhance the welfare of confined animals by providing them with a more stimulating background. This is carried out by the implementation of a series of activities that encourages them to present behaviors typical of their species, as well as keeps them active. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the influence of the EE in the behavioral variables in a colony of 24 stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides). Our hypothesis is that the application of this program will reduce aggression, stereotypes and coprophilia behaviors and, at the same time, will increase exploration and solitary play. METHODS: The behavioral frequency previous to EE was compared with that during EE implementation. RESULTS: Our results showed that aggression, coprophilia stereotypic behaviors and social play were significantly reduced during EE, whereas exploration was significantly enhanced. The response of the individuals according to gender was similar for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental enrichment programs are indispensable for captive animals' wellbeing as they reduce aggression and stress while providing animals both physical and cognitive entertainment.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal/physiology , Environment , Macaca/psychology , Animals , Exploratory Behavior , Feeding Behavior , Female , Macaca/physiology , Male , Play and Playthings , Social BehaviorABSTRACT
When speaking about primates we must distinguish between non-human primates and human primates, as the latter are part of the primate order. Due to their phylogenetic closeness to humans, non-human primates have been of special interest for such disciplines as neurophysiology, biology, genetics and behavior. Research has included a wide range of species and themes, from socioecology to neuroethology, cognition and phenomena such as empathy and theory of mind. In this article, we aim to demonstrate the occurrence of psychopathology, mental disorders and psychopathy in non-human primates and to propose the alternative use of the concept of condition, which refers to how the individual interacts and adapts to the environment. We discuss the fact that human behavioral disorders can also be found in non-human primates. From the perspective of evolutionary psychiatry and developmental psychology, behavior, psychopathology and psychopathy in general are conditions derived from the interaction of biological, psychological and sociological variables, and that reflect strategies with which individuals and groups of individuals contend with the environmental demands in order to survive.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Primates , Animals , Mental Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
Cuando hablamos de primates debemos hacer la distinción entre primates humanos y primates no-humanos, ya que los seres humanos pertenecemos al orden primate. Por su cercanía filogenética con el humano los primates, han sido de especial interés en el estudio de la neurofisiología, la biología, la genética y la conducta. Las investigaciones se han extendido a diversas especies y abarcan temas desde la socioecología hasta la neuroetología, pasando por la cognición y los fenómenos de la empatía y la teoría de la mente. En este artículo pretendemos demostrar en primates no-humanos, el trastorno mental, la psicopatología y psicopatía y proponer el concepto alterno de condición, que se refiere a cómo el individuo interactúa y se adapta con el mundo circundante. Discutimos el artículo en términos de que los trastornos en la conducta en primates no-humanos encuentran sus correlatos en primates humanos. Desde la perspectiva de la psiquiatría evolutiva y la psicología del desarrollo, la conducta, la psicopatología y la psicopatía en general, son condiciones que derivan de la interacción de variables de orden biológico, psicológico y social, y que reflejan estrategias con las cuales los individuos y los grupos de individuos contienden con las demandas del medio para sobrevivir (AU)
When speaking about primates we must distinguish between non-human primates and human primates, as the latter are part of the primate order. Due to their phylogenetic closeness to humans, non-human primates have been of special interest for such disciplines as neurophysiology, biology, genetics and behavior. Research has included a wide range of species and themes, from socioecology to neuroethology, cognition and phenomena such as empathy and theory of mind. In this article, we aim to demonstrate the occurrence of psychopathology, mental disorders and psychopathy in non-human primates and to propose the alternative use of the concept of condition, which refers to how the individual interacts and adapts to the environment. We discuss the fact that human behavioral disorders can also be found in non-human primates. From the perspective of evolutionary psychiatry and developmental psychology, behavior, psychopathology and psychopathy in general are conditions derived from the interaction of biological, psychological and sociological variables, and that reflect strategies with which individuals and groups of individuals contend with the environmental demands in order to survive(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Primates/psychology , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Primate Diseases/epidemiology , Mental Processes , Environmental Imbalance/adverse effects , Empathy , PsychophysiologyABSTRACT
Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during both human and adult primates' sleep has been proven to be similar and consequently, it could be assessed under similar parameters. However, there is no information regarding this EEG activity in the early stages of development in non-human primates. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe EEG sleep patterns in a 1-month-old Macaca arctoides with a non-invasive and free-movement method. Sleep stages were initially scored using the criteria of quiet sleep and active sleep. This procedure allowed us to observe graphoelements to distinguish sleep phases as described in adult macaques. Afterwards, the final score was recorded following the Slow Wave Sleep and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep criteria. The present results suggest that sleep features of this monkey are similar to those of a 2-month-old human neonate.
Subject(s)
Polysomnography , Sleep, REM , Animals , Circadian Rhythm , Electroencephalography , Female , Macaca , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
In almost all non-human primate species kinship, sex and rank bias the patterning of interactions among subjects, seemingly in a way that favours the individual's fitness. A number of studies have been done in order to study separately the effects of these variables, concluding that an adequate model of interactions cannot be developed assuming preponderance of a single variable. The 'willingness' of one animal to interact with another can be explained as the result of assessing the possible outcomes (proximate and/or ultimate) of the interaction. The interrelationship of variables such as kinship, sex and rank, among others, provides the actors with a basis for deciding their rates of social interactions. The following study was done to assess whether kinship, rank and sex exerted independent, additive effects in the within-group distributions of eight social behaviour categories of captive groups of stump-tailed macaques. We found that the three variables synergistically affected the patterning of all behavioural categories. This suggests that the pay-offs of social interactions do not vary linearly, being intrinsically correlated with the actors' attributes so that uncertainty in the choice of a potential partner is minimized.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal , Macaca/psychology , Social Behavior , Aggression , Animals , Dominance-Subordination , Female , Linear Models , Male , Sex Factors , Sexual Behavior, AnimalABSTRACT
The relation between individual self and social-grooming scores, asaessingthe effects of having or lacking relatives within the group, was studied in a colony of stump-tailed macaques (Macacaarctoides). As it has been shown by other authors, kinship favoured grooming interactions, so animals lacking relatives wen seldom mom as groomees. Conversely, these subjects accounted for the major mounts of self-grooming, as if they were surmounting the social grooming deficit. This negative relationship between self and social grooming suggests a common functional relationship between both forms of behavior, most likely as a reducing tension activity.
