scholarly journals Bottlenose dolphin habitat and management factors related to activity and distance traveled in zoos and aquariums

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0250687
Author(s):  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
K. Alex Shorter ◽  
Ding Zhang ◽  
Joaquin Gabaldon ◽  
Jill D. Mellen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Management Factors

High-resolution non-invasive cetacean tagging systems can be used to investigate the influence of habitat characteristics and management factors on behavior by quantifying activity levels and distance traveled by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops aduncus) in accredited zoos and aquariums. Movement Tags (MTags), a bio-logging device, were used to record a suite of kinematic and environmental information outside of formal training sessions as part of a larger study titled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study). The purpose of the present study was to explore if and how habitat characteristics, environmental enrichment programs, and training programs were related to the distance traveled and energy expenditure of dolphins in accredited zoos and aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins in accredited zoos and aquariums wore MTags one day per week for two five-week data collection periods. Overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), a proxy for energy expenditure, and average distance traveled per hour (ADT) of 60 dolphins in 31 habitats were examined in relation to demographic, habitat, and management factors. Participating facilities were accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and/or Aquariums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Two factors were found to be related to ADT while six factors were associated with ODBA. The results showed that enrichment programs were strongly related to both ODBA and ADT. Scheduling predictable training session times was also positively associated with ADT. The findings suggested that habitat characteristics had a relatively weak association with ODBA and were not related to ADT. In combination, the results suggested that management practices were more strongly related to activity levels than habitat characteristics.

scholarly journals Habitat characteristics and animal management factors associated with habitat use by bottlenose dolphins in zoological environments

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0252010
Author(s):  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
K. Alex Shorter ◽  
Ding Zhang ◽  
Joaquin Gabaldon ◽  
Jill D. Mellen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Diving Behavior ◽  
Weekly Schedule ◽  
Single Group ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Group Welfare

The way an animal uses its habitat can serve as an indicator of habitat appropriateness for the species and individuals. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops aduncus) in accredited zoos and aquariums experience a range of habitat types and management programs that provide opportunities for dolphins to engage in species-appropriate behaviors and potentially influence their individual and group welfare. Data in the present study were collected as part of a larger study titled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study). Non-invasive bio-logging devices (Movement Tags) recorded the diving behavior and vertical habitat movements of 60 bottlenose dolphins at 31 zoos and aquariums that were accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins wore a Movement Tag one day per week for two five-week data collection periods. Demographic variables, environmental enrichment programs, training programs, and habitat characteristics were associated with habitat usage. Longer dive durations and use of the bottom third of the habitat were associated with higher enrichment program index values. Dolphins receiving new enrichment on a monthly/weekly schedule also used the bottom third of the habitat more often than those receiving new enrichment on a yearly/year+ schedule. Dolphins that were managed in a group that was split into smaller subgroups during the day and were reunited into one group at night spent less time in the top third of the habitat than those who remained in a single group with consistent members at all times. Dolphins that were managed as subgroups with rotating members but were never united as one group spent less time in the bottom third of the habitat than those who remained in a single group with consistent members at all times. Taken together, the results suggested that management practices, such as enrichment and training programs, played a greater role in how dolphins interacted with their environment relative to the physical characteristics of the habitat.

scholarly journals Assessment of animal management and habitat characteristics associated with social behavior in bottlenose dolphins across zoological facilities

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0253732
Author(s):  
Lance J. Miller ◽  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
Jill D. Mellen ◽  
Michael T. Walsh ◽  
Douglas A. Granger
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Animal Management ◽  
Social Species ◽  
The Social ◽  
Management Techniques

Bottlenose dolphins are a behaviorally complex, social species that display a variety of social behaviors. Because of this, it is important for zoological facilities to strive to ensure animals display species-appropriate levels of social behavior. The current study is part of the multi-institutional study entitled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” commonly referred to as the Cetacean Welfare Study. All participating facilities were accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Behavioral data were collected on 47 bottlenose dolphins representing two subspecies, Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops aduncus, at 25 facilities. The social behaviors of group related activity (group active) as well as interacting with conspecifics (interact with conspecific) were examined for their relationships to both animal management factors and habitat characteristics. The behavioral state of group active and the rate of interact with conspecific were both positively related to the frequency of receiving new forms of environmental enrichment. Both were inversely related to the random scheduling of environmental enrichment. Additional results suggested interact with conspecific was inversely related with daytime spatial experience and that males displayed group active more than females. Overall, the results suggested that animal management techniques such as the type and timing of enrichment may be more important to enhance social behavior than habitat characteristics or the size of the habitat. Information gained from this study can help facilities with bottlenose dolphins manage their enrichment programs in relation to social behaviors.

scholarly journals Relationships between animal management and habitat characteristics with two potential indicators of welfare for bottlenose dolphins under professional care

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0252861
Author(s):  
Lance J. Miller ◽  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
Jill D. Mellen ◽  
Michael T. Walsh ◽  
Douglas A. Granger
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Stereotypic Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Diversity ◽  
Animal Management ◽  
Professional Care ◽  
Management Factors

Accredited zoos and aquariums continually strive to ensure high levels of animal welfare for the animals under their professional care. Best management practices include conducting research to better understand factors that lead to optimal welfare and then turning findings into practice. The current study is part of the larger Cetacean Welfare Study or more formally, “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums.” Facilities participating in the study were accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Animal management factors and habitat characteristics were examined in relation to two potential indicators of welfare for common (Tursiops truncatus) and Indo-Pacific (Tursiops aduncus) bottlenose dolphins. Specifically, we examined environmental enrichment, animal training, and habitat characteristics that were significantly related to behavioral diversity and route tracing, a form of stereotypic behavior. Behavior was recorded from 47 animals at 25 facilities around the world. Overall, the rate of route tracing behavior observed during the study was very low and few animal management factors or habitat characteristics were found to be related to this behavior. One factor, enrichment diversity, had a significant positive relationship with route tracing and an inverse relationship with behavioral diversity. This finding may be a product of a response mounted by animal care specialists to the behavior as opposed to a cause. Animals that engaged in this behavior were likely provided more diverse enrichment in attempts to ameliorate the stereotypic behavior. However, multiple factors were found to significantly relate to behavioral diversity, a potential positive indicator of welfare for bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins that were trained on a predictable schedule had higher behavioral diversity than those on a semi-predictable schedule. There was a positive significant relationship between behavioral diversity and the number of habitats to which an animal had access, and a significant inverse relationship with the maximum depth of the habitat. Finally, animals that were split into groups and reunited or rotated between subgroups had higher behavioral diversity than animals managed in the same group. Information gained from the current study suggested that animal management techniques may be more important in ensuring good welfare for bottlenose dolphins than focusing on habitat size.

scholarly journals Environmental enrichment, training, and habitat characteristics of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0253688
Author(s):  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
Michael T. Walsh ◽  
Jill D. Mellen ◽  
Douglas A. Granger ◽  
Lance J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
And Training

In recent decades, animal welfare science has evolved to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to assess the welfare of animals in accredited zoos and aquariums. Science-based animal welfare assessments have become an essential component of management programs and widespread application is expected by animal care professionals. Management practices for bottlenose dolphins in accredited facilities incorporate several programs that potentially impact animal welfare including environmental enrichment and animal training. Additionally, habitat characteristics, such as the dimensions of the habitat, have been proposed to affect welfare. While accredited facilities are required to meet high standards of care, habitat characteristics and management practices are not standardized across locations. Knowledge and subsequent application of these practices and habitat characteristics can enhance our understanding of factors associated with positive welfare. As part of a larger study of dolphin welfare titled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study), survey data were collected from 86 bottlenose dolphins in 40 habitats at 38 facilities in seven countries. The major aims of this paper are to provide general descriptive information regarding dolphin management in accredited zoos and aquariums and to provide supplemental context to the other research published from the Cetacean Welfare Study data set. This paper provides a review of current habitat characteristics and management practices at those 38 accredited zoos and aquariums. These data enabled the identification and quantification of how cetacean management practices differed between participating facilities accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Variables were selected based on their potential association with welfare including the physical habitat, environmental enrichment, and training programs. The variables were also used for subsequent research in this collection of related papers to investigate important connections between potential indicators of welfare and habitat characteristics, environmental enrichment, and training programs.

scholarly journals Is Enrichment Always Enriching and How Would You Know? Unintended Consequences and the Importance of Formal Assessment of Enrichment Programs in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Lyn ◽  
Hannah Bahe ◽  
Megan S. Broadway ◽  
Mystera M. Samuelson ◽  
Jamie K. Shelley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Human Care

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are viewed as a highly intelligent species, capable of complex behaviors, requiring marine parks to maintain dynamic environmental enrichment procedures in order to ensure their optimal psychological and physiological well-being in human care. In this study, two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different forms of enrichment on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins. In Experiment 1, the most successful enrichment included highly novel items, which resulted in avoidance, but also what is frequently considered positive behavioral changes including a reduction in circle swimming and an increase in social behavior. In Experiment 2, the use of choice resulted in negative unintended social consequences. These two experiments together demonstrate that the results of deploying enrichment may not be as clear-cut as previously presumed. In order to maintain positive benefits of enrichment, the results of this study suggest that unique forms of enrichment should be implemented on a variable schedule that is offered several times a year and consistently evaluated for effectiveness.

scholarly journals Dynamic body acceleration as a proxy to predict the cost of locomotion in bottlenose dolphins

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin S. Allen ◽  
Andrew J. Read ◽  
K. Alex Shorter ◽  
Joaquin Gabaldon ◽  
Ashley M. Blawas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Energy Budgets ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Energetic Costs ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Cost Of Transport ◽  
Body Acceleration

Estimates of the energetic costs of locomotion (COL) at different activity levels are necessary to answer fundamental eco-physiological questions and to understand the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance to marine mammals. We combined estimates of energetic costs derived from breath-by-breath respirometry with measurements of overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) from biologging tags to validate ODBA as a proxy for COL in trained common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We measured resting metabolic rate (RMR); mean individual RMR was 0.71-1.42 times that of a similarly sized terrestrial mammal and agreed with past measurements which used breath-by-breath and flow-through respirometry. We also measured energy expenditure during submerged swim trials, at primarily moderate exercise levels. We subtracted RMR to obtain COL, and normalized COL by body size to incorporate individual swimming efficiencies. We found both mass-specific energy expenditure and mass-specific COL were linearly related with ODBA. Measurements of activity level and cost of transport (the energy required to move a given distance) improve understanding of the costs of locomotion in marine mammals. The strength of the correlation between ODBA and COL varied among individuals, but the overall relationship can be used at a broad scale to estimate the energetic costs of disturbance, daily locomotion costs to build energy budgets, and investigate the costs of diving in free-ranging animals where bio-logging data are available. We propose that a similar approach could be applied to other cetacean species.

scholarly journals Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in accredited zoos and aquariums

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255506
Author(s):  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
Jill D. Mellen ◽  
Michael T. Walsh ◽  
Douglas A. Granger ◽  
Lance J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Reference Intervals ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Beluga Whales

Cetaceans are long-lived, social species that are valued as ambassadors inspiring the public to engage in conservation action. Under professional care, they are critical partners with the scientific community to understanding the biology, behavior, physiology, health, and welfare requirements of this taxonomic group. The Cetacean Welfare Study was a highly collaborative research effort among zoos and aquariums accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos & Aquariums that provided important empirical and comparative information on the care and management of cetaceans. The goal was to identify factors that were related to the welfare of bottlenose dolphins and to develop reference intervals and values for common and novel indicators of health and welfare for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), and Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Data were collected from cetaceans at 43 accredited zoos and aquariums in seven countries in 2018 and 2019. This overview presents a summary of findings from the initial research articles that resulted from the study titled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums.” With multiple related objectives, animal-based metrics were used to advance frameworks of clinical care and target key conditions that were associated with good welfare of cetaceans in zoo and aquarium environments. As a result of this collaboration, species-specific reference intervals and values for blood variables and fecal hormone metabolites were developed and are freely available in an iOS application called ZooPhysioTrak. The results suggested that environmental enrichment programs and social management factors were more strongly related to behaviors likely indicative of positive welfare than habitat characteristics for common and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. These findings can be widely applied to optimize care and future science-based welfare practice.

scholarly journals Simplicity or complexity? Important aspects of high nature value grassland management in nature conservation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Róbert Kun ◽  
Dániel Babai ◽  
András István Csathó ◽  
Csaba Vadász ◽  
Nikoletta Kálmán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Plant Functional Types ◽  
Higher Plant ◽  
Temporal Complexity ◽  
Functional Types ◽  
Management Factors ◽  
Spatio Temporal

AbstractLocal, adaptive traditional grassland management systems have played a fundamental role in the creation, maintenance and conservation of high nature value (HNV) grasslands. The state of diverse HNV grasslands has deteriorated across Europe in conjunction with changes in various management factors, such as management type and management intensity. To conserve the species-rich vegetation of HNV grasslands and to avoid undesirable shifts in plant functional type dominance, it is important to explore the effects of management factors crucial for nature conservation and to adapt them to local circumstances. In our study, we focus on three of the main factors in the management of valuable meadow steppes in the Great Hungarian Plain region (Central Hungary). We studied management types (mowing, grazing and combined), different levels of herbage removal intensity (low, medium, high) and spatio-temporal complexity (low, medium and high) of grassland management. Altogether 172 plots (1 m × 1 m) were designated in 17 sites. Plant diversity indexes and plant functional types were calculated according to the presence and percentage cover of plant species in the plots. Regarding plant diversity and the dominance of plant functional types, herbage removal intensity and spatio-temporal complexity of management had, for the most part, stronger effects than the type of management. Higher spatio-temporal complexity of management resulted in higher plant diversity, while higher intensity of management led to significantly lower diversity. Proper application of type, intensity and spatio-temporal complexity of management practices (separately and in combination) proved to be determining factors in the long-term maintenance and conservation of diversity and species composition of HNV grasslands.

172 Scenario-based Training Is an Effective Tactic for Teaching Applied Livestock Management Practices to Extension Personnel

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 92-92
Author(s):  
Jennie L Ivey ◽  
Lew G Strickland ◽  
Justin D Rhinehart
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Teaching Effectiveness ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Adult Educator ◽  
Topic Area ◽  
Virtual Training ◽  
Training Tool ◽  
Instructor Effectiveness

Abstract Developing livestock and equine trainings to empower county Extension agents is challenging, especially when spanning in-person and online delivery modules. Real life application of training concepts is difficult, particularly when participants have varied backgrounds and experience. Thus, we assessed if scenario-based training modules were an effective training method across in-person and virtual formats. The same scenario-based training was delivered at three, regional in-person trainings (n = 42), and one virtual training (n = 32). Training format consisted of four, species-specific lectures addressing various production topics. Small groups then developed recommendations for a specific scenario, followed by a debriefing session consisting of group reactions and specialist recommendations. Topic-area application to county programs, instructor effectiveness, and overall benefit of the training session were evaluated (Qualtrics, in-person n = 26, 62% completion; virtual n = 17, 53% completion). Data were assessed using analysis of variance and mean comparisons (α=0.05), with Tukey’s pairwise post hoc analysis where appropriate (STATA 16). Across all sessions, likert scale responses (1=poor and 5=excellent, n = 43) indicated lecture sessions were applicable to county areas of need across material content (mean±SD, cattle=4.71±0.57, equine=4.64±0.50), teaching effectiveness (cattle=4.77±0.42, equine=4.75±0.43), and overall quality (cattle=4.68±0.57, equine=4.67±0.51), respectively. Scenario-based training benefit was not influenced by the number of times an agent had attended in-service training on livestock species, agent appointment (youth vs. adult educator), or training location (p >0.05). Attendance at previous in-service trainings (cattle P = 0.005; equine P = 0.013) and agent appointment (cattle P = 0.0006; equine P = 0.05) had a significant impact on the number of questions agents reported to have received on scenario topics in the last 12 months. More topic area questions were reported by agents with adult education responsibilities and previous training attendance. Based upon these results, scenario-based training is an effective in-person and virtual training tool for 4-H and adult Extension agents of varying experience.

scholarly journals Nandrolone increases angiotensin-I converting enzyme activity in rats tendons

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita de Cassia Marqueti ◽  
Nara Yumi Hashimoto ◽  
João Luiz Quaglioti Durigan ◽  
Lívia Larissa Batista e Silva ◽  
Jeeser Alves de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Session ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Converting Enzyme ◽  
Angiotensin I ◽  
Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme ◽  
Tendon Adaptation ◽  
Ace Activity

INTRODUCTION: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been associated with several biological processes of the human body, regulating, among others blood pressure and water and electrolytes balance. Moreover, RAS also regulates connective tissue growth. Recently, studies have shown that the use of nandrolone modifies the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) activity and increases collagen deposition in the heart. OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to evaluate the Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) activity in the superficial flexor tendon (SFT) and in serum after load exercise in combination with anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) administration after training session and six weeks of detraining. METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar rats were used into two groups (G1 and G2) subdivided into four subgroups: Sedentary (S); trained (T); AAS-treated (Deca-Durabolin(r), 5mg/kg, twice a week) sedentary rats (AAS) and AAS-treated and trained animals (AAST). Trained groups performed jumps in water: four series of 10 jumps each, followed by a 30 sec interval between the series, for seven weeks. RESULTS: Training increased ACE activity in the SFT compared to the control group (p <0.05). Both AAS and AAST groups presented higher ACE activity levels (p < 0.05). The AAST increased the ACE activity only compared to the trained animals. Only the AAST group presented significant higher levels of ACE in the serum. In the G2 group, all experimental groups presented decreased ACE activity in the serum and in the tendon, as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that AAS administration and its combination with exercise increased ACE activity of tendons. AAS abuse could compromise tendon adaptation causing maladaptive remodeling.

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