ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various ... more ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various aspects of their environment has a positive effect on their welfare, despite limited empirical evidence. We gave 12 pairs of common marmosets (Master pairs) control over supplementary light in their cages (additional to the regular room illumination). The light also produced heat. Twelve pairs served as Yoked pairs (i.e. experienced identical illumination changes without being able to control them). A further 12 pairs served as Unaffected pairs. We compared the behaviour of the monkeys in the three study conditions across three study phases: Baseline, Test and Post-test. Our results show that supplementary light and/or heat has positive effects on the marmosets’ welfare, however control over light has a greater impact than supplementary light alone. These positive effects were evidenced by validated behavioural welfare indices, specifically changes in activity patterns (P
ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various ... more ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various aspects of their environment has a positive effect on their welfare, despite limited empirical evidence. We gave 12 pairs of common marmosets (Master pairs) control over supplementary light in their cages (additional to the regular room illumination). The light also produced heat. Twelve pairs served as Yoked pairs (i.e. experienced identical illumination changes without being able to control them). A further 12 pairs served as Unaffected pairs. We compared the behaviour of the monkeys in the three study conditions across three study phases: Baseline, Test and Post-test. Our results show that supplementary light and/or heat has positive effects on the marmosets’ welfare, however control over light has a greater impact than supplementary light alone. These positive effects were evidenced by validated behavioural welfare indices, specifically changes in activity patterns (P
Training using positive reinforcement is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool for the human... more Training using positive reinforcement is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool for the humane and effective management and use of laboratory-housed non-human primates. We utilised a mixed-mode questionnaire to survey use of training and other learning processes (socialisation, habituation and desensitisation) in over half of UK establishments using and breeding primates. The survey demonstrated that there is widespread awareness of training as a refinement technique and appreciation of its diverse benefits, but training is not used as widely or as fully as it might be. This is due to real constraints (principally staff and time and a lack of confidence in ability to train), and perceived constraints (such as a supposed lack of published information on how to train and assessment of the benefits, and an overestimation of the time investment needed). There is also considerable variation between establishments in the purposes of training and techniques used, with a reliance on neg...
Scope The journal/newsletter aims to provide a basis for conservation information relating to the... more Scope The journal/newsletter aims to provide a basis for conservation information relating to the primates of the Neotropics. We welcome texts on any aspect of primate conservation, including articles, thesis abstracts, news items, recent events, recent publications, primatological society information and suchlike. Submissions Please send all English and Spanish contributions to: These manuscripts are usually reviewed only by the editors. A broader range of topics is encouraged, including such as behavioral research, in the interests of informing on general research activities that contribute to our understanding of platyrrhines. We encourage reports on projects and conservation and research programs (who, what, where, when, why, etc.) and most particularly information on geographical distributions, locality records, and protected areas and the primates that occur in them. Text should be typewritten, double-spaced with no less than 12 cpi (preferably Times New Roman) font and 3-cm m...
Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) are seasonal breeders that live in large social groups in whi... more Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) are seasonal breeders that live in large social groups in which females are dominant to males. Females have one infant per year, and the nursing period lasts six to eight months. Preliminary observations in the wild indicated that during the mating period (eight weeks: July and August in our population), the infants show agonism directed at males who approach their mothers. This directed sexual interference by infants has rarely been reported for neotropical primates. Our study reports observations in a natural population of Saimiri collinsi with the aim of describing the social behavior of infants during the breeding season, especially with regard to adult males in the group. Infants of both sexes were observed during three mating periods (2011, 2012, 2013), to test hypotheses about the possible function of infant harassment directed at adult males. The behavior of infants (variables: activity and nearest neighbor) was sampled by the focal animal...
In this study, we quantified seed predation of the Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia) by black ... more In this study, we quantified seed predation of the Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia) by black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus), in order to better understand their impact on forest regeneration. This study was conducted in an Araucaria forest fragment in the state of Paraná, Brazil. We marked 31 female Paraná pines and counted the seed cones, which ranged from 0 to 20 per tree (Mean = 5, SD ± 5.06). We recorded 88 predated cones, with an average of 2.35 ± 3.83 per tree. During the study period the monkeys only ate seeds from immature cones. The reason why the monkeys fed only on immature seeds may have been related to the scarcity of mature seeds and other resources. Comparing the seasons, we found a significant difference in the number of predation events between them. Cone predation on the top of each female Paraná pine was proportional to crop size, and totaled 57% of all cone production, which may have an impact on regeneration of this endangered gymnosperm. Thus, the ecol...
s NC3Rs Primate Welfare Meeting 2007 New housing for cynomolgus monkeys at a contract research or... more s NC3Rs Primate Welfare Meeting 2007 New housing for cynomolgus monkeys at a contract research organisation Dr John Finch Charles River Laboratories, Edinburgh Over the last few years the contract research industry has faced a universally predicted increase in demand for its services across the board, but especially from small companies without in-house resource. Increasingly, these firms have been developing new treatments based on using antibodies targeted against chronic diseases, especially cancer. This trend is likely to lead to an increase in the use of monkeys for safety assessment and also to an increase in the use of mature animals. At the same time, the Council of Europe has been considering its recommendations for housing of monkeys in research laboratories and has come up with a set of proposals that acknowledges the physiological and psychological needs of these intelligent and emotional animals. Laboratories must be as certain as they can be that each and every monkey ...
We have an ethical responsibility to provide captive animals with environments that allow them to... more We have an ethical responsibility to provide captive animals with environments that allow them to experience good welfare. Husbandry activities are often scheduled for the convenience of care staff working within the constraints of the facility, rather than considering the biological and psychological requirements of the animals themselves. The animal welfare 24/7 across the lifespan concept provides a holistic framework to map features of the animal's life cycle, taking into account their natural history, in relation to variations in the captive environment, across day and night, weekdays, weekends, and seasons. In order for animals to have the opportunity to thrive, we argue the need to consider their lifetime experience, integrated into the environments we provide, and with their perspective in mind. Here, we propose a welfare assessment tool based upon 14 criteria, to allow care staff to determine if their animals' welfare needs are met. We conclude that animal habitat m...
Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1997 Vigilance in Single-and Mixed-... more Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1997 Vigilance in Single-and Mixed-Species Groups of Tamarins (Saguinus labiatus and Saguinus fuscicollis) Scott M. Hardie1,2 and Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith1 ...
Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 24, No. 2, April 2003 ( C 2003) Physical Envir... more Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 24, No. 2, April 2003 ( C 2003) Physical Environmental Effects on Infant Care and Development in Captive Callithrix jacchus Raffaella Ventura1,2,3 and Hannah M. Buchanan ...
Orientation discrimination thresholds for medium contrast sinewave grating stimuli were estimated... more Orientation discrimination thresholds for medium contrast sinewave grating stimuli were estimated by a forced-choice procedure for the two principal, and the two main oblique axes. The results obtained for simultaneous presentation with a centre/surround stimulus arrangement are compared with the threshold estimates obtained when the two stimuli to be discriminated do not overlap in time. We find that orientation acuity depends on the temporal relationship of the discriminanda. Estimates of orientation threshold with simultaneous presentation are lower on all axes tested than those obtained with successive presentation; the greatest difference in orientation acuity was found at obliques. The data support the hypothesis that the meridional anisotropy in orientation discrimination that is found with conventional, two-interval forced-choice methods is not entirely attributable to anatomical and physiological changes at the level of the striate cortex.
ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various ... more ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various aspects of their environment has a positive effect on their welfare, despite limited empirical evidence. We gave 12 pairs of common marmosets (Master pairs) control over supplementary light in their cages (additional to the regular room illumination). The light also produced heat. Twelve pairs served as Yoked pairs (i.e. experienced identical illumination changes without being able to control them). A further 12 pairs served as Unaffected pairs. We compared the behaviour of the monkeys in the three study conditions across three study phases: Baseline, Test and Post-test. Our results show that supplementary light and/or heat has positive effects on the marmosets’ welfare, however control over light has a greater impact than supplementary light alone. These positive effects were evidenced by validated behavioural welfare indices, specifically changes in activity patterns (P
ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various ... more ABSTRACT It is often argued that increasing the amount of control that animals have over various aspects of their environment has a positive effect on their welfare, despite limited empirical evidence. We gave 12 pairs of common marmosets (Master pairs) control over supplementary light in their cages (additional to the regular room illumination). The light also produced heat. Twelve pairs served as Yoked pairs (i.e. experienced identical illumination changes without being able to control them). A further 12 pairs served as Unaffected pairs. We compared the behaviour of the monkeys in the three study conditions across three study phases: Baseline, Test and Post-test. Our results show that supplementary light and/or heat has positive effects on the marmosets’ welfare, however control over light has a greater impact than supplementary light alone. These positive effects were evidenced by validated behavioural welfare indices, specifically changes in activity patterns (P
Training using positive reinforcement is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool for the human... more Training using positive reinforcement is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool for the humane and effective management and use of laboratory-housed non-human primates. We utilised a mixed-mode questionnaire to survey use of training and other learning processes (socialisation, habituation and desensitisation) in over half of UK establishments using and breeding primates. The survey demonstrated that there is widespread awareness of training as a refinement technique and appreciation of its diverse benefits, but training is not used as widely or as fully as it might be. This is due to real constraints (principally staff and time and a lack of confidence in ability to train), and perceived constraints (such as a supposed lack of published information on how to train and assessment of the benefits, and an overestimation of the time investment needed). There is also considerable variation between establishments in the purposes of training and techniques used, with a reliance on neg...
Scope The journal/newsletter aims to provide a basis for conservation information relating to the... more Scope The journal/newsletter aims to provide a basis for conservation information relating to the primates of the Neotropics. We welcome texts on any aspect of primate conservation, including articles, thesis abstracts, news items, recent events, recent publications, primatological society information and suchlike. Submissions Please send all English and Spanish contributions to: These manuscripts are usually reviewed only by the editors. A broader range of topics is encouraged, including such as behavioral research, in the interests of informing on general research activities that contribute to our understanding of platyrrhines. We encourage reports on projects and conservation and research programs (who, what, where, when, why, etc.) and most particularly information on geographical distributions, locality records, and protected areas and the primates that occur in them. Text should be typewritten, double-spaced with no less than 12 cpi (preferably Times New Roman) font and 3-cm m...
Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) are seasonal breeders that live in large social groups in whi... more Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) are seasonal breeders that live in large social groups in which females are dominant to males. Females have one infant per year, and the nursing period lasts six to eight months. Preliminary observations in the wild indicated that during the mating period (eight weeks: July and August in our population), the infants show agonism directed at males who approach their mothers. This directed sexual interference by infants has rarely been reported for neotropical primates. Our study reports observations in a natural population of Saimiri collinsi with the aim of describing the social behavior of infants during the breeding season, especially with regard to adult males in the group. Infants of both sexes were observed during three mating periods (2011, 2012, 2013), to test hypotheses about the possible function of infant harassment directed at adult males. The behavior of infants (variables: activity and nearest neighbor) was sampled by the focal animal...
In this study, we quantified seed predation of the Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia) by black ... more In this study, we quantified seed predation of the Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia) by black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus), in order to better understand their impact on forest regeneration. This study was conducted in an Araucaria forest fragment in the state of Paraná, Brazil. We marked 31 female Paraná pines and counted the seed cones, which ranged from 0 to 20 per tree (Mean = 5, SD ± 5.06). We recorded 88 predated cones, with an average of 2.35 ± 3.83 per tree. During the study period the monkeys only ate seeds from immature cones. The reason why the monkeys fed only on immature seeds may have been related to the scarcity of mature seeds and other resources. Comparing the seasons, we found a significant difference in the number of predation events between them. Cone predation on the top of each female Paraná pine was proportional to crop size, and totaled 57% of all cone production, which may have an impact on regeneration of this endangered gymnosperm. Thus, the ecol...
s NC3Rs Primate Welfare Meeting 2007 New housing for cynomolgus monkeys at a contract research or... more s NC3Rs Primate Welfare Meeting 2007 New housing for cynomolgus monkeys at a contract research organisation Dr John Finch Charles River Laboratories, Edinburgh Over the last few years the contract research industry has faced a universally predicted increase in demand for its services across the board, but especially from small companies without in-house resource. Increasingly, these firms have been developing new treatments based on using antibodies targeted against chronic diseases, especially cancer. This trend is likely to lead to an increase in the use of monkeys for safety assessment and also to an increase in the use of mature animals. At the same time, the Council of Europe has been considering its recommendations for housing of monkeys in research laboratories and has come up with a set of proposals that acknowledges the physiological and psychological needs of these intelligent and emotional animals. Laboratories must be as certain as they can be that each and every monkey ...
We have an ethical responsibility to provide captive animals with environments that allow them to... more We have an ethical responsibility to provide captive animals with environments that allow them to experience good welfare. Husbandry activities are often scheduled for the convenience of care staff working within the constraints of the facility, rather than considering the biological and psychological requirements of the animals themselves. The animal welfare 24/7 across the lifespan concept provides a holistic framework to map features of the animal's life cycle, taking into account their natural history, in relation to variations in the captive environment, across day and night, weekdays, weekends, and seasons. In order for animals to have the opportunity to thrive, we argue the need to consider their lifetime experience, integrated into the environments we provide, and with their perspective in mind. Here, we propose a welfare assessment tool based upon 14 criteria, to allow care staff to determine if their animals' welfare needs are met. We conclude that animal habitat m...
Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1997 Vigilance in Single-and Mixed-... more Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1997 Vigilance in Single-and Mixed-Species Groups of Tamarins (Saguinus labiatus and Saguinus fuscicollis) Scott M. Hardie1,2 and Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith1 ...
Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 24, No. 2, April 2003 ( C 2003) Physical Envir... more Page 1. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 24, No. 2, April 2003 ( C 2003) Physical Environmental Effects on Infant Care and Development in Captive Callithrix jacchus Raffaella Ventura1,2,3 and Hannah M. Buchanan ...
Orientation discrimination thresholds for medium contrast sinewave grating stimuli were estimated... more Orientation discrimination thresholds for medium contrast sinewave grating stimuli were estimated by a forced-choice procedure for the two principal, and the two main oblique axes. The results obtained for simultaneous presentation with a centre/surround stimulus arrangement are compared with the threshold estimates obtained when the two stimuli to be discriminated do not overlap in time. We find that orientation acuity depends on the temporal relationship of the discriminanda. Estimates of orientation threshold with simultaneous presentation are lower on all axes tested than those obtained with successive presentation; the greatest difference in orientation acuity was found at obliques. The data support the hypothesis that the meridional anisotropy in orientation discrimination that is found with conventional, two-interval forced-choice methods is not entirely attributable to anatomical and physiological changes at the level of the striate cortex.
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