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Laméris DW, Salas M, Eens M, Gillespie L, Staes N, Torfs JRR, Verspeek J, Vervaecke H, Ward SJ, Stevens JMG. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of bonobo emotional expressivity across observer groups and zoo housing environments. Anim Welf 2024; 33:e28. [PMID: 38828436 PMCID: PMC11140493 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Human evaluation of animal emotional expressivity can inform animal welfare. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) has been applied to domesticated and some non-domesticated animals, but its use in primates is limited despite their emotional expressivity. We aimed to develop and apply a QBA for bonobos (Pan paniscus) through two consecutive studies. We applied Free Choice Profiling (FCP) and the Fixed List methodology, respectively, in Study 1 and 2, and invited students and bonobo experts to rate video clips of zoo-living bonobos of different sexes and age classes, and before and after moving to a new enclosure. In Study 1, students described dimension 1 as ranging from 'quiet/calm' to 'angry/active' and dimension 2 from 'sad/anxious' to 'happy/loving'. Experts described dimension 1 ranging from 'quiet/relaxed' to 'nervous/alert' and dimension 2 from 'nervous/bored' to 'playful/happy'. Using a fixed list of descriptors, informed by findings from Study 1, students in Study 2 described dimension 1 as ranging from 'quiet/calm' to 'agitated/frustrated', and dimension 2 from 'sad/stressed' to 'happy/positively engaged'. Experts described dimension 1 as ranging from 'quiet/calm' to 'active/excited', and dimension 2 from 'sad/bored' to 'happy/positively engaged'. Students scored adults as more 'calm/quiet' and experts scored subadults as more 'happy/positively engaged'. Additionally, experts in Study 2 rated bonobos as more 'active/excited' in their new enclosure. Reliability was moderate to good for the dimensions. Additionally, animal-directed empathy of observers influenced QBA scores. This is the first time, FCP has been successfully used as a method to study primate emotional expressivity. Our findings show the promise of employing QBA in primate studies and in industry, with validation of additional metrics to enable its use for welfare-monitoring purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan W Laméris
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Wilrijk, Belgium
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marina Salas
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Lisa Gillespie
- Twycross Zoo, East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Rd, AtherstoneCV9 3PX, UK
| | - Nicky Staes
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Wilrijk, Belgium
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jonas RR Torfs
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Wilrijk, Belgium
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jonas Verspeek
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Wilrijk, Belgium
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hilde Vervaecke
- Salto Research Group, Agro-and Biotechnology, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Hospitaalstraat 21, 9100Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
| | - Samantha J Ward
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, NG25 0QF, UK
| | - Jeroen MG Stevens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Wilrijk, Belgium
- Salto Research Group, Agro-and Biotechnology, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Hospitaalstraat 21, 9100Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
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Rey A, Padrell M, Llorente M. Impacts of illegal trade on socio-emotional and behavioural skills in macaques. F1000Res 2024; 13:188. [PMID: 39257451 PMCID: PMC11384201 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.144232.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have illuminated the consequences of early adverse rearing experiences in laboratory macaque populations. However, limited knowledge exists about the impact of traumatic episodes in non-laboratory environments. This study delves into the repercussions of illegal trade on socio-emotional and behavioural skills in five macaque species, all victims of poaching. We categorised their past experiences into seven aspects, encompassing maternal care and interactions with conspecifics. We assessed social engagement and cooperation by analysing social behaviours and employing the Social Responsiveness Scale. Emotional resilience was evaluated by measuring anxiety levels and the occurrence of abnormal behaviours, supported by a welfare questionnaire. Additionally, the introduction of Cattell's 16PF questionnaire in macaques for the first time aimed to reveal the influence of traumatic experiences on their personality traits. Our findings emphasise the significance of early social exposure. The lack of juvenile social contact predicts reduced social behaviours and an inclination towards social avoidance in adulthood. Macaques raised by humans tend to exhibit more abnormal behaviours in social contexts, compromising their welfare. Deprivation of social exposure in infancy negatively impacts psychological stimulation and overall welfare. The duration of time spent in illegal trade correlates with heightened anxiety levels. Personality traits such as 'Calmness' and 'Unfriendliness' are influenced by rearing conditions, with macaques deprived of social interaction during their early years showing higher levels of introversion. In conclusion, the absence of social exposure during early life and hand-rearing due to illegal trade significantly shape macaques' personality traits and their social and emotional skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amapola Rey
- Fundació Universitat de Girona Innovació i Formació, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain
| | - Maria Padrell
- Comparative Minds Research Group, Department of Psychology, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17004, Spain
| | - Miquel Llorente
- Fundació Universitat de Girona Innovació i Formació, Girona, Catalonia, 17003, Spain
- Comparative Minds Research Group, Department of Psychology, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia, 17004, Spain
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Kaufmann A. Introducing individual sentience profiles in nonhuman primate neuroscience research. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 5:100104. [PMID: 37576492 PMCID: PMC10415712 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Animal Research Declaration is committed to establishing cohesive and rigorous ethical standards to safeguard the welfare of nonhuman primates (NHPs) engaged in neuroscience research (Petkov et al., 2022 this issue). As part of this mission, there is an expanding dialogue amongst neuroscientists, philosophers, and policymakers, that is centred on diverse aspects of animal welfare and scientific practice. This paper emphasises the necessity of integrating the assessment of animal sentience into the declaration. Animal sentience, in this context, refers to the recognized capacity that animals have for various kinds of subjective experience, with an associated positive or negative valence (Browning and Birch, 2022). Accordingly, NHP neuroscience researchers should work toward instituting a standardised approach for evaluating what can be termed "individual sentience profiles," representing the unique manner in which an individual NHP experiences specific events or environments. The adoption of this novel parameter would serve a triad of indispensable purposes: enhancing NHP welfare throughout research involvement, elevating the quality of life for NHPs in captivity, and refining the calibre of research outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Kaufmann
- Cognition in Action Unit, University of Milan, Italy
- Center for Mind & Cognition, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
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Veasey JS. Differing animal welfare conceptions and what they mean for the future of zoos and aquariums, insights from an animal welfare audit. Zoo Biol 2022; 41:292-307. [PMID: 35255158 PMCID: PMC9543569 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Animal welfare is a growing public concern that has the potential to undermine the social license of zoos and aquariums. The lack of consensus on how animal welfare is defined across such a diverse sector combined with and a widespread belief that commercial priorities such as entertaining visitors conflicts with animal welfare, hinders efforts to effectively address this fundamental issue for the sector. Data derived from an audit of habitats across a major North American wildlife attraction revealed that holistic animal welfare assessments undertaken by animal carers embracing three principal constructs of animal welfare, correlated strongly with visitor perceptions of animal happiness. Visitor assessments of animal happiness also correlated with animal carer assessments of social, behavioural and locomotor opportunities and inversely with the prevalence of stereotypic behaviours, supporting the proposition that folk conceptions of animal welfare are more accurate than may have previously been considered to be the case. However, the holistic animal welfare assessment inversely correlated with assessments of a habitat's capacity to safeguard welfare as determined by the facility's veterinary staff, supporting the proposition that tensions exist between physical and psychological components of captive animal welfare provisioning. This further underlines the importance of clarity on how animal welfare is conceived when developing institutional animal welfare strategies. Finally, the data also showed that both holistic animal welfare assessments and visitor perceptions of animal happiness strongly correlated with the level of enjoyment experienced by visitors, challenging the belief that animal welfare competes with the commercial priorities of zoos and aquariums. The audit supports the case that maintaining high animal welfare is a commercial imperative as well as a moral obligation for zoos and aquariums and underlines the necessity to utilize conceptions of animal welfare that acknowledge the centrality of the affective states of animals in maintaining those standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake S. Veasey
- Care for the Rare c/o, School of AnimalNottingham Trent UniversityNottinghamUK
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Robinson L, Crudge B, Lim T, Roth V, Gartner M, Naden K, Officer K, Descovich K. Limitations and challenges of adapting subjective keeper questionnaires to non-Western sanctuary settings. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Norman M, Rowden LJ, Cowlishaw G. Potential applications of personality assessments to the management of non-human primates: a review of 10 years of study. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12044. [PMID: 34589296 PMCID: PMC8432321 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of primate personality have become increasingly common over the past three decades. Recently, studies have begun to focus on the health, welfare and conservation implications of personality, and the potential applications of incorporating quantitative personality assessments into animal management programmes. However, this literature is dispersed across a multitude of settings and scientific disciplines. We conducted a review of nonhuman primate personality studies relevant to these issues published since 2010, following on from an earlier review. The databases ScienceDirect, PubMed and Web of Science were used to identify relevant articles. After eliminating irrelevant or duplicate papers, 69 studies were selected. Our review reveals that, while primate personality research is carried out on a range of species, there is strong taxonomic bias. While 28 species appeared within the reviewed literature, 52% of studies were carried out on just five species. Further, the most common research focus (43%) was validating new assessment methods or describing personality in different species, rather than exploring the links between personality and animal welfare using existing validated methods. However, among the remaining studies that did explore the role of animal personality in husbandry, health, and welfare, we identified progression towards integrating personality data into various aspects of animal management. Evidence suggests the assessment of personality may benefit social group management, enrichment practices, training protocols, health and welfare monitoring, and conservation planning for endangered species. We argue that further research which develops our understanding of primate personality and its influence in these areas will provide a valuable tool to inform animal management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Norman
- Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Guy Cowlishaw
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
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From human wellbeing to animal welfare. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:941-952. [PMID: 34509514 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
What does it mean to be "well" and how might such a state be cultivated? When we speak of wellbeing, it is of ourselves and fellow humans. When it comes to nonhuman animals, consideration turns to welfare. My aim herein is to suggest that theoretical approaches to human wellbeing might be beneficially applied to consideration of animal welfare, and in so doing, introduce new lines of inquiry and practice. I will review current approaches to human wellbeing, adopting a triarchic structure that delineates hedonic wellbeing, eudaimonic wellbeing, and social wellbeing. For each, I present a conceptual definition and a review of how researchers have endeavored to measure the construct. Drawing these three domains of research together, I highlight how these traditionally anthropocentric lines of inquiry might be extended to the question of animal welfare - namely by considering hedonic welfare, eudaimonic welfare, and social welfare as potentially distinguishable and complementary components of the broader construct of animal welfare.
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Pomerantz O, Capitanio JP. Temperament Predicts the Quality of Social Interactions in Captive Female Rhesus Macaques ( Macaca mulatta). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2452. [PMID: 34438912 PMCID: PMC8388696 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports suggest that female macaques with greater similarity in emotionality and nervous temperament, as evaluated in a well-established BioBehavioral Assessment (BBA) at the California National Primate Research Center, were more likely to form successful pairs. We tested whether the same measures can also predict the quality of social interactions among 20 female rhesus macaque pairs. We correlated the pairs' emotionality and nervous temperament scores obtained in infancy and the levels of behaviors recorded systematically during the pairing process years later. Supporting previous findings, partners with similar emotionality scores were more affiliative, and pairs with similar nervous temperament expressed less dominance/submissive behavior. Exploratorily, we found that pairs that were better at processing social information (part of BBA) were also more anxious. Such animals should be prioritized to be introduced in rooms that house calmer, less aggressive animals and provide opportunities for hiding to alleviate their anxiety. Indeed, positive social experiences not only promote animal welfare, but also reduce stress related confounds and unexplained data variability. Therefore, by incorporating the animals' temperament into the pair configuration process we increase the likelihood of forming high-quality pairs, both in terms of welfare and the research of which they are a part.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ori Pomerantz
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - John P. Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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9
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Weiss A, Yokoyama C, Hayashi T, Inoue-Murayama M. Personality, subjective well-being, and the serotonin 1a receptor gene in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0238663. [PMID: 34370743 PMCID: PMC8351977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of personality traits in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) indicate that there are five or six constructs-Sociability, Dominance, Neuroticism, Openness, and two related to Conscientiousness. The present study attempted to determine whether our earlier study of laboratory-housed individuals only yielded three-Dominance, Sociability, and Neuroticism-because of a low amount of between-subjects variance. To do so, we increased our sample size from 77 to 128. In addition, we ascertained the reliability and validity of ratings and whether polymorphisms related to the serotonin 1a receptor were associated with personality. We found Sociability, Dominance, and Negative Affect factors that resembled three domains found in previous studies, including ours. We also found an Openness and Impulsiveness factor, the latter of which bore some resemblance to Conscientiousness, and two higher-order factors, Pro-sociality and Boldness. In further analyses, we could not exclude the possibility that Pro-sociality and Boldness represented a higher-level of personality organization. Correlations between personality factors and well-being were consistent with the definitions of the factors. There were no significant associations between personality and genotype. These results suggest that common marmoset personality structure varies as a function of rearing or housing variables that have not yet been investigated systematically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Weiss
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Chihiro Yokoyama
- Laboratory for Brain Connectomics Imaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takuya Hayashi
- Laboratory for Brain Connectomics Imaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
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Personality of killer whales (Orcinus orca) is related to welfare and subjective well-being. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Esattore B, Šlipogor V, Saggiomo L, Seltmann MW. "How not to judge a deer by its cover": A personality assessment study on captive adult red deer males (Cervus elaphus). Behav Processes 2021; 186:104361. [PMID: 33639253 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Personality is not a uniquely human characteristic and it has been documented in a wide range of organisms, from mammals to birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. However, personality is still poorly understood in Cervids. Therefore, our study aimed to fill this gap by i) investigating personality and ii) exploring its links to dominance hierarchy, assessed by behavioral observations in 11 captive and tame male red deer (Cervus elaphus). Using questionnaires to assess personality, three trained volunteers rated these animals in 15 behaviorally composed adjectives with detailed descriptions, based on their overall impression at the end of the observation period. Behavioral data from animals were collected across three different situations, namely "feeding" (i.e., high competition for a scarce resource), "normal" (i.e., no external stimuli) in a group setting, and "handling" (i.e., stressful situation due to human manipulation) in an individual setting. We estimated dominance hierarchies between the individuals based on situations of average and high competition (i.e., "normal" and "feeding") via the Clutton-Brock Index (CBI). Using Fleiss' Kappa for inter-rater reliability, only five of our 15 behavioral adjectives showed acceptable reliability. Using principal component analysis, four of these adjectives formed one personality component labelled "Confidence/Aggressiveness". We found that although "Confidence/Aggressiveness" did not correlate with CBI, ratings of two adjectives loading onto this component, namely "Confident" and "Submissive", significantly correlated with the CBI, indicating that the questionnaire ratings reflect real behavioral variation in red deer males. Our study provides the first assessment of personality in male red deer and adds to the growing literature on Cervid personality, offering the basis for future personality research in ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Esattore
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, 104 00, Praha 10-Uhříněves, Czech Republic; Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
| | - Vedrana Šlipogor
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, UZA I, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, Budweiss, Czech Republic
| | - Laura Saggiomo
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Praha 6 - Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
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Šlipogor V, Massen JJM, Schiel N, Souto A, Bugnyar T. Temporal consistency and ecological validity of personality structure in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): A unifying field and laboratory approach. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23229. [PMID: 33464603 PMCID: PMC7900989 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Personality in animals has been extensively researched in recent decades. Temporal consistency of behaviors is almost always part of the personality definition and is usually explored in several different testing sessions or observation periods. However, it is still unclear whether the obtained personality constructs are stable across several years, which might be especially important for long-living animals, such as primates. Further, little is known on whether the personality structures obtained in the laboratory reflect the structures obtained under ecologically relevant conditions in the wild. Therefore, we conducted a battery of personality tests on common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) (N = 27), compared it with a test battery conducted 4 years beforehand on a subset of animals in captivity (N = 13) and ran an adapted version under field conditions at Baracuhy Biological Field Station, Brazil (N = 18). Under captive conditions, we found a remarkably similar personality structure across 4 testing years. Further, we found high long-term temporal consistency in the first two personality components, Boldness and Exploration; however, monkeys that changed their social (i.e., breeding) status between the two testing periods showed a significant increase in Boldness scores. Under field conditions, we found a somewhat similar personality structure as compared to the laboratory, which to some extent corroborates ecological validity of our personality test design. Nevertheless, whether the structure in the wild is suppressed or expanded in comparison to captivity, and in which way the social setting influences personality structure, should be further explored. Taken together, our results contribute to the discussion about the reliability and ecological validity of personality structures in nonhuman primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedrana Šlipogor
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of BiologyFederal Rural University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
- Department of ZoologyFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
| | - Jorg J. M. Massen
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Animal Ecology Group, Institute of Environmental Biology, Department of BiologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Nicola Schiel
- Department of BiologyFederal Rural University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
| | - Antonio Souto
- Department of ZoologyFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
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Rault JL, Hintze S, Camerlink I, Yee JR. Positive Welfare and the Like: Distinct Views and a Proposed Framework. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:370. [PMID: 32714949 PMCID: PMC7343720 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive welfare and related terms such as good welfare, happiness, and a good life are increasingly used in the animal welfare science literature. Overall, they highlight the welfare benefits of providing animals opportunities for positive experiences, beyond the alleviation of suffering. However, the various terms remain loosely defined and are sometimes used interchangeably, resulting in discrepancy. In this perspective article, we lay out the terms and concepts used in the literature. We identify two distinct views: "hedonic positive welfare," arising from likes and wants and their positive outcomes on welfare; and "positive welfare balance," as an overall positive welfare state based on positive experiences outweighing negative ones. Eudaimonia, satisfaction with one's life, may emerge as a third view. We propose a framework that is applicable across the different views. The "Vienna Framework" outlines different facets: frequency, duration, arousal, context, previous experience, individual differences, sense of agency, and long-term benefit. The framework aims to encourage researchers to consider the relevance of these facets for their own research, to indicate how the facets are affected by different interventions (e.g., greater sense of agency in enriched compared to non-enriched animals), or to compare different topics with respect to the different facets (e.g., high arousal of play behavior and low arousal of social affiliation). We encourage researchers to carefully consider and clearly state how their work falls along these views and facets, conceptually, and operationally. This should prevent dilution of the meaning of positive welfare and thereby preserve its potential to improve the welfare of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Loup Rault
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sara Hintze
- Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Camerlink
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jason Richard Yee
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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Simpson EA, Robinson LM, Paukner A. Infant rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) personality and subjective well-being. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226747. [PMID: 31856210 PMCID: PMC6922351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Infant temperament is theorized to lay the foundation for adult personality; however, many questions remain regarding personality in infancy, including the number of dimensions, extent to which they are adult-like, and their relation to other outcomes, such as mental and physical health. Here we tested whether adult-like personality dimensions are already present in infancy in a nonhuman primate species. We measured personality and subjective well-being in 7-month-old rhesus macaques (N = 55) using the Hominoid Personality Questionnaire and Subjective Well-Being Questionnaire, both of which were developed for adult primates based on human measures. Multiple human raters, who provided infants with daily care since birth, independently rated each infant. We found high interrater reliability. Results from a parallel analysis and scree plot indicated a five component structure, which, using principal components analysis, we found to be comprised of dimensions relating to Openness (e.g., curiosity, inquisitive, playfulness), Assertiveness (e.g., dominance, bullying, aggressive), Anxiety (e.g., vigilance, fearful), Friendliness (e.g., sociable, affectionate, sympathetic), and Intellect (e.g., organized, not erratic). These components are largely analogous to those in adult macaques, suggesting remarkably stable structural personality components across the lifespan. Infant macaques' subjective well-being positively correlates with Openness and Assertiveness and negatively correlated with Anxiety, similar to findings in adult macaques and other primates. Together, these findings suggest that, in macaques, infant personality dimensions may be conceptually related to adult personality and challenge the view that infant temperament may be disorganized and not as meaningful as adult personality. Further research is necessary to explore the antecedents, predictive validity, and stability of these personality components across situations and with development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Simpson
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
| | - Lauren M. Robinson
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Annika Paukner
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England, United Kingdom
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16
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Webb LE, Veenhoven R, Harfeld JL, Jensen MB. What is animal happiness? Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1438:62-76. [PMID: 30345570 PMCID: PMC7379717 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Today, we see a growing concern for the quality of life of nonhuman animals and an accompanying call for viable means of assessing how well animals thrive. Past research focused on minimizing negatives such as stress, while more recent endeavors strive to promote positives such as happiness. But what is animal happiness? Although often mentioned, the term lacks a clear definition. With recent advances in the study of animal emotion, current interest into positive rather than negative experiences, and the call for captive and domesticated animals to have good lives, the time is ripe to examine the concept of animal happiness. We draw from the human and animal literature to delineate a concept of animal happiness and propose how to assess it. We argue that animal happiness depends on how an individual feels generally-that is, a typical level of affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Webb
- Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal ScienceWageningen University & ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Ruut Veenhoven
- Erasmus University RotterdamErasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization (EHERO)Rotterdamthe Netherlands
- Optentia Research ProgramNorth‐West UniversityVanderbijlparkSouth Africa
| | - Jes Lynning Harfeld
- Department of Learning and Philosophy, Centre for Applied PhilosophyAalborg UniversityAalborgDenmark
| | - Margit Bak Jensen
- Department of Animal Science – Behaviour and Stress Biology GroupAarhus UniversityTjeleDenmark
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17
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Khadpekar Y, Whiteman JP, Durrant BS, Owen MA, Prakash S. Approaches to studying behavior in captive sloth bears through animal keeper feedback. Zoo Biol 2018; 37:408-415. [PMID: 30465725 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Animal keepers at zoos and wildlife rescue centers often possess in-depth knowledge of the health and behavior of the individuals under their care. While it is often not feasible for keepers to regularly collect behavior data through formal scientific methods, efforts should be made to find alternative means to capture this knowledge. We investigated the use of keeper feedback to study the behavior of sloth bears at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF; Agra, India). We prepared a survey with 5 questions focused on behaviors indicative of playfulness, boldness, aggressiveness, and the tendency to express self-directed behaviors (SDB). We asked keepers to rate bears on a Likert scale from 1 (least likely to exhibit a behavior) to 5 (most likely) for 44 adult female bears (5-21 years of age). We validated this method by comparing keeper ratings of SDB with formal behavior observations, finding that time of day had an influence on the accuracy of keeper assessments. We found a significant negative correlation between housing bears in larger groups (>15) and SDB. In addition, we correlated ratings given by keepers for all study behaviors. Social play had significant negative correlation with aggression toward people. There was no correlation between social play and aggression toward other bears, possibly due to the existence of cohesive social groups in group housing or high dimensionality of the data. We found that keeper feedback is an efficient tool to gather behavior data on captive sloth bears and recommend its use in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaduraj Khadpekar
- Department of Zoology, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Wildlife SOS, New Delhi, India
| | - John P Whiteman
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California
| | - Barbara S Durrant
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California
| | - Megan A Owen
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California
| | - Sant Prakash
- Department of Zoology, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
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18
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Howell CP, Cheyne SM. Complexities of Using Wild versus Captive Activity Budget Comparisons for Assessing Captive Primate Welfare. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2018; 22:78-96. [PMID: 30058408 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2018.1500286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Activity budget comparisons between groups or individuals in the wild and those in captivity are commonly used to determine the range of wild-type behaviors that nonhuman animals in captivity perform. These comparisons are conducted with the view that individuals displaying a greater range of wild-type behaviors have enhanced welfare. Such comparisons have a greater appeal when it comes to primates because increased levels of anthropomorphism toward primates lead to welfare concerns. However, the validity of such comparisons has not been assessed. From the reviewed literature, some of the main complexities identified when defining "good welfare" using activity budgets were the ideas of behavioral motivation and adaptation, obstacles when using the wild as a benchmark for good welfare, study methods causing possible variances in behavior, and social and environmental factors. It is proposed that such influencing factors would be controlled for adequately in future studies with the use of multiple indices to measure welfare and methods that infer positive emotional states. It is hoped we can then build evidence of an animal's emotional state and allow welfare to be inferred to a higher degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian P Howell
- a Department of Social Sciences , Oxford Brookes University , Oxford , United Kingdom.,b Research Department , Blackpool Zoo , Blackpool , United Kingdom
| | - Susan M Cheyne
- a Department of Social Sciences , Oxford Brookes University , Oxford , United Kingdom.,c Borneo Nature Foundation , Palangka Raya , Kalimantan Tengah , Indonesia
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19
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Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) personality, subjective well-being, hair cortisol level and AVPR1a, OPRM1, and DAT genotypes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10255. [PMID: 29980755 PMCID: PMC6035208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28112-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied personality, subjective well-being, and hair cortisol level, in common marmosets Callithrix jacchus, a small, cooperatively breeding New World monkey, by examining their associations with one another and genotypes. Subjects were 68 males and 9 females that lived in the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies. Personality and subjective well-being were assessed by keeper ratings on two questionnaires, hair samples were obtained to assay cortisol level and buccal swabs were used to assess AVPR1a, OPRM1 and DAT genotypes. Three personality domains-Dominance, Sociability, and Neuroticism-were identified. Consistent with findings in other species, Sociability and Neuroticism were related to higher and lower subjective well-being, respectively. Sociability was also associated with higher hair cortisol levels. The personality domains and hair cortisol levels were heritable and associated with genotypes: the short form of AVPR1a was associated with lower Neuroticism and the AA genotype of the A111T SNP of OPRM1 was related to lower Dominance, lower Neuroticism, and higher hair cortisol level. Some genetic associations were not in directions that one would expect given findings in other species. These findings provide insights into the proximate and ultimate bases of personality in common marmosets, other primates and humans.
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Gartner MC, Weiss A. Studying primate personality in zoos: implications for the management, welfare and conservation of great apes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/izy.12187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. C. Gartner
- Philadelphia Zoo; 3400 West Girard Avenue Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - A. Weiss
- Department of Psychology; School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences; The University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh EH8 9JZ United Kingdom
- Scottish Primate Research Group; United Kingdom
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21
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Robinson LM, Coleman K, Capitanio JP, Gottlieb DH, Handel IG, Adams MJ, Leach MC, Waran NK, Weiss A. Rhesus macaque personality, dominance, behavior, and health. Am J Primatol 2018; 80. [PMID: 29457637 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies of nonhuman primates have found relationships between health and individual differences in personality, behavior, and social status. However, despite knowing these factors are intercorrelated, many studies focus only on a single measure, for example, rank. Consequently, it is difficult to determine the degree to which these individual differences are independently associated with health. The present study sought to untangle the associations between health and these individual differences in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We studied 85 socially housed macaques at the Oregon and California National Primate Research Centers, and used veterinary records to determine the number of injuries and illnesses for each macaque. We measured personality using 12 items from a well-established primate personality questionnaire, performed focal observations of behaviors, and calculated dominance status from directional supplant data. All twelve personality questionnaire items were reliable and were used to represent five of the six personality dimensions identified in rhesus macaques-Dominance, Confidence, Openness, Anxiety, and Friendliness (also known as Sociability). Following this, we fit generalized linear mixed effects models to understand how these factors were associated with an animal's history of injury and history of illness. In the models, age was an offset, facility was a random effect, and the five personality dimensions, behavior, sex, and dominance status were fixed effects. Number of injuries and illnesses were each best represented by a negative binomial distribution. For the injury models, including the effects did improve model fit. This model revealed that more confident and more anxious macaques experienced fewer injuries. For the illness models, including the fixed effects did not significantly improve model fit over a model without the fixed effects. Future studies may seek to assess mechanisms underlying these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Robinson
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Department of Psychology, Edinburgh, UK.,Scottish Primate Research Group, Edinburgh, UK.,Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, UK
| | | | - John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, Department of Psychology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, California
| | | | - Ian G Handel
- The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK
| | - Mark J Adams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matthew C Leach
- School of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, Agriculture Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Natalie K Waran
- Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, UK.,The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.,Faculty of Education, Humanities and Health Science, Eastern Institute of Technology, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
| | - Alexander Weiss
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Department of Psychology, Edinburgh, UK.,Scottish Primate Research Group, Edinburgh, UK
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22
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Robinson LM, Altschul DM, Wallace EK, Úbeda Y, Llorente M, Machanda Z, Slocombe KE, Leach MC, Waran NK, Weiss A. Chimpanzees with positive welfare are happier, extraverted, and emotionally stable. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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