![]() Here, we exposed minnows, Pimephales promelas, to a high-risk environment to induce behavioural responses associated with fear (e.g. However, little work has explored the learning of safety and how such learning outcomes are shaped by the social environment. ![]() Social learning is an important mechanism for acquiring knowledge about environmental risk. In order to assess the framework of ethical demands from different parties, it will be used an analytical tool provided by a revised version of the Ethical Matrix. In particular, possible sources of moral conflicts between five interested parties will be identified and discussed: biodiversity aquariums staff involved with touch pools individual animals used in the touch pools visitors interacting with animals in touch pools. The aim of this paper is to investigate the ethical issues arising from the presence of touch pools in aquariums and facilities alike. ![]() Awareness concerning the different, and sometimes controversial, aspects connected with such interactions has spread. However, although animal interactions are becoming increasingly popular in recent years, the welfare impact on the animals and the educational effectiveness of such interactions is under debate. Touch pools are popular open-topped fish tanks often found in aquariums where visitors may interact with animals, by touching and sometimes even feeding them, for educational and recreational purposes. However, this study highlights the importance of taking action when stereotypic behaviours are noted, provides initial suggestions for possible interventions, and demonstrates the efficacy of utilising individual-specific approaches for addressing animal care and welfare concerns in captive aquatic species. The specific interventions discussed may not be a 'one-size-fits-all' solution for stereotypic behaviours displayed in other captive smooth dogfish. Results indicate that the smooth dogfish not only performed stereotypic behaviours far less frequently following the interventions, but also began performing increased species-specific behaviours (namely resting), and utilised her exhibit space more ubiquitously, suggesting that the interventions had a positive impact. Following initial observations, two individual-specific interventions were implemented: 1) the smooth dogfish was removed from her normal exhibit and relocated into a less dynamic medical pool ('modified social-isolation') and 2) a more individualised feeding and conditioning method was established to reinforce performance of species-specific behaviours ('food-based conditioning'). The behaviour of the smooth dogfish and her location within the exhibit was monitored for approximately 11 months (5 months of baseline, and 6 months following interventions) using focal scan sampling. This study focused on documenting the stereotypic behaviours exhibited by a female smooth dogfish Mustelus canis housed in an aquarium, and the resulting effects of two specific interventions on the performance of those behaviours. This is particularly unfortunate as aquatic species exhibited in aquariums may be just as likely to perform stereotypic behaviours as other taxa. Despite how frequently stereotypic behaviours are discussed in the field of animal behaviour and welfare, research on stereotypies in captive elasmobranchs is far less represented in the literature compared to studies on mammalian species.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |