Date of Award
8-1-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Biological Science
First Advisor
Elaine Day
Second Advisor
Elaine Day
Third Advisor
Richard Buchholz
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Identification and reduction of unnecessary stress in lab animals is important for welfare, and for scientific validity. Providing animals with infrastructure and objects that encourage exercise and species-typical manipulative behaviors can help reduce stress by meeting physical and psychological needs. The effects of such “environmental enrichment†(EE) have been heavily studied in both zoo animals—where it has been shown to reduce maladaptive behaviors—and in lab animals such as rodents, where it clearly reduces stress and anxiety, dampens reactions to stressful events, and increases cognition and the volume of related brain regions. While there is some evidence that EE is similarly effective in birds, no rigorous studies have been completed using the zebra finch (ZF) (Taeniopygia guttata), a common avian lab model. Although there are basic EE guidelines established by local IACUCs, it is unclear if the accepted minimal provisions reduce stress-related behaviors or provide a buffer for stressful events, and whether more advanced EE could reduce anxiety and improve cognition as enrichment does in rodents. Thus, I tested whether EE compared to basic housing reduced anxiety and improved cognition in juvenile and adult ZFs of both sexes by measuring baseline plasma levels of corticosterone (CORT), and changes in CORT induced by restraint; monitoring bodyweight; quantifying abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs); and assaying behavior in a Novel Object Test; a Hyponeophagia Test; and a spatial maze. In this research I found that in juveniles, EE prevents the development of ARBs, and in both age groups, EE birds weighed less than non-enriched birds. In adults, EE allows females to reach male levels of spatial cognition, with this difference not appearing in juveniles. In adults, the Novel Object test showed that enrichment was associated with activity or exploration in adults, but both female treatment groups moved sooner. In juveniles, it revealed that females of both treatments moved sooner than males. Hyponeophagia did not differ, baseline CORT levels did not change over time, and there were no differences in reactive CORT across any group. Given these results, I suggest implementation of EE for ZF starting at a young age for the greatest benefit.
Recommended Citation
West, Laura, "The Effects of Interactive Object Provisioning on Corticosterone, Stress-Related Behaviors, and Cognition in Juvenile and Adult Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata)" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2410.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2410