Navegando por Autor "Young, Robert John"
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Item Automated observations of dogs’ resting behaviour patterns using artificial intelligence and their similarity to behavioural observations.(2024) Schork, Ivana Gabriela; Zamansky, Anna; Farhat, Nareed; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Young, Robert JohnAlthough direct behavioural observations are widely used, they are time-consuming, prone to error, require knowledge of the observed species, and depend on intra/inter-observer consistency. As a result, they pose challenges to the reliability and repeatability of studies. Automated video analysis is becoming popular for behavioural observations. Sleep is a biological metric that has the potential to become a reliable broad-spectrum metric that can indicate the quality of life and understanding sleep patterns can contribute to identifying and addressing potential welfare concerns, such as stress, discomfort, or health issues, thus promoting the overall welfare of animals; however, due to the laborious process of quantifying sleep patterns, it has been overlooked in animal welfare research. This study presents a system comparing convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with direct behavioural observation methods for the same data to detect and quantify dogs’ sleeping patterns. A total of 13,688 videos were used to develop and train the model to quantify sleep duration and sleep fragmentation in dogs. To evaluate its similarity to the direct behavioural observations made by a single human observer, 6000 previously unseen frames were used. The system successfully classified 5430 frames, scoring a similarity rate of 89% when compared to the manually recorded observations. There was no significant difference in the percentage of time observed between the system and the human observer (p > 0.05). However, a significant difference was found in total sleep time recorded, where the automated system captured more hours than the observer (p < 0.05). This highlights the potential of using a CNN-based system to study animal welfare and behaviour research.Item Behavioral responses of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus, Canidae) to different categories of environmental enrichment stimuli and their implications for successful reintroduction.(2012) Coelho, Carlyle Mendes; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Young, Robert JohnThe maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus, Illiger, 1815, Canidae) is a threatened species that inhabits the cerrados of Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Captive maned wolves could be potentially used in reintroduction programs for species conservation; however, it is necessary that their behavior and cognitive abilities are conserved. Environmental enrichment is a tool used to stimulate captive animals and maintain a natural behavioral repertoire. To compare the variation of captive maned wolves’ behavioral responses to environmental enrichment, we studied three maned wolves held by Belo Horizonte Zoo, Brazil. Foraging, interspecific, and intraspecific stimuli were offered to the animals and their responses were compared with a baseline and postenrichment treatments. The test was used to help in choosing which one of the three individuals would participate in a reintroduction project. The results showed that stimuli type did influence the animal’s responses, and that individually wolves responded differently to foraging, interspecific, and intraspecific enrichment items (Po0.05 for some behaviors in each enrichment category). The individual’s personality seemed to influence their behavioral responses, with animals showing bold and shy responses, and this trait should be considered during decision.Item Captive-born collared peccaries learning about their predators : lessons learnt but not remembered.(2020) Faria, Carlos Magno de; Sá, Fernanda de Souza; Costa, Dhiordan Deon Lovenstain; Silva, Mariane Mendes da; Silva, Beatriz Cristiana da; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deCaptive-born animals frequently lose their anti-predatory abilities due to the absence of encounters with their predators, but these abilities can be regained through specific training. Anti-predator training can, thus, enhance the success of reintroduction programs with predator naïve animals. In addition, a good memory is important to guarantee the effects of the anti-predator training and increase survival rate after release into the wild. In the present study, anti-predator training sessions were applied to 11 captive-born collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), followed by memory tests at 30, 60 and 90 days after the end of the training sessions. The collared peccaries responded appropriately to training against predators, showing alert, escape and predator avoidance behaviors after anti-predator training; however, the animals maintained these acquired behaviors for only 30 days after the end of the anti-predator training. After 60 days, peccaries responded to the predator in a ‘relaxed’ manner, exhibiting no anti-predator behaviors. For the trained collared peccaries to be released into the wild, reinforcement in the anti-predator training would be required at least 30 days prior to release.Item Captive-born collared peccary (Pecari tajacu, Tayassuidae) fails to discriminate between predator and non-predator models.(2018) Faria, Carlos Magno de; Sá, Fernanda de Souza; Costa, Dhiordan Deon Lovenstain; Silva, Mariane Mendes da; Silva, Beatriz Cristiana da; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deCaptive animals may lose the ability to recognize their natural predators, making conservation programs more susceptible to failure if such animals are released into the wild. Collared peccaries are American tayassuids that are vulnerable to local extinction in certain areas, and conservation programs are being conducted. Captive-born peccaries are intended for release into the wild in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. In this study, we tested the ability of two groups of captive-born collared peccaries to recognize their predators and if they were habituated to humans. Recognition tests were performed using models of predators (canids and felids) and non-predators animals, as well as control objects, such as a plastic chair; a human was also presented to the peccaries, and tested as a separate stimulus. Anti-predator defensive responses such as fleeing and threatening displayswere not observed in response to predator models. Predator detection behaviors both from visual and olfactory cues were displayed, although they were not specifically targeted at predator models. These results indicate that collared peccaries were unable to recognize model predators. Habituation effects, particularly on anti-predator behaviors, were observed both with a 1-h model presentation and across testing days. Behavioral responses to humans did not differ from those to other models. Thus, if these animals were to be released into the wild, they should undergo anti-predator training sessions to enhance their chances of survival.Item Does people’s knowledge about an endangered bird species differ between rural and urban communities? : the case of the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana, Rheidae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil.(2012) Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Rúbio, Karina Taciana Santos; Ferraz, João Bosco; Tinoco, Herlandes Penha; Young, Robert John; Rodrigues, MarcosEmas são aves sul-americanas ameaçadas de extinção; a perda de habitat, a predação e a caça são os principais fatores responsáveis pelo declínio da espécie. Populações dessa espécie estão sendo mantidas em cativeiro para futuros programas conservacionistas. Entretanto, para um programa conservacionista obter sucesso, é necessário que a comunidade humana se envolva. Então, as percepções da comunidade humana precisam seravaliadas e incorporadas aos planos de conservação. Espera-se que as comunidades humanas inseridas no ambiente onde a espécie ameaçada ocorre deem mais importância à sua conservação do que comunidades humanas não inseridas no ambiente de ocorrência da espécie. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se as percepções de comunidades urbanas e rurais sobre as emas diferem devido à proximidade ao problema. O estudo foi conduzido em São José do Buriti (comunidade rural; emas ocorrem no local) e no zoológico de Belo Horizonte (comunidade urbana), ambas localizadas no Estado de Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil. Cento e trinta e cinco questionários foram aplicados nas duas áreas. Pessoas da área rural reconheceram melhor as emas se comparadas às pessoas da área urbana. O conhecimento sobre os riscos de extinção das emas diferiu em alguns aspectos entre as duas comunidades, mas ambas concordaram que a extinção da espécie traria problemas ecológicos. Programas de educação ambiental devem ser implementados em ambas as áreas a fim de maximizar os efeitos das ações conservacionistas.Item Efeitos do uso do detergente doméstico neutro no comportamento e personalidade do guppy Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1859) (Osteichthyes: Poeciliidae).(2017) Lopes, João Victor Saraiva Raimondi; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Oliveira, Reisla Silva de; Fontenelle, Júlio Cesar RodriguesA poluição dos ambientes aquáticos tem sido cada vez mais intensa nos dias atuais, sendo o detergente um dos poluentes mais comuns, e que causa grandes danos aos ecossistemas e à biota. Poluentes podem alterar os comportamentos e a personalidade dos animais, e neste trabalho, verificamos se o detergente doméstico neutro causa alterações comportamentais e na personalidade do guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Foram adicionados 30 μL/L de detergente na água dos aquários, e os resultados mostraram que não houve diferenças nos comportamentos antipredação; porém, ocorreram diferenças na personalidade, com uma diminuição das atividades dos peixes do aquário 1 no ambiente poluído, pois nadaram menos e expressaram menos comportamentos exploratórios e sociais, tornando-se mais tímidos, enquanto os peixes do aquário 2 se inclinaram mais para os comportamentos de coragem, no ambiente poluído com detergente, tornando-se mais exploradores. O detergente modificou o comportamento e a personalidade dos guppies, o que pode causar grandes danos, portanto, técnicas mais eficientes de manejo e descarte dos poluentes devem ser elaboradas a fim de se impedir que estes poluam os ambientes aquáticos.Item Effect of passage through the gut of Greater Rheas on the germination of seeds of plants of cerrado and caatinga grasslands.(2013) Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Silva, Mayara Correa da; Teixeira, Tatiane Pinho; Young, Robert John; Garcia, Queila de Souza; Rodrigues, MarcosFrugivorous seed-dispersers play an important role in the maintenance or regeneration of plant populations and communities. Greater Rheas are potentially one of the most import dispersers of seeds in South American grassland biomes owing to their capacity to swallow large seeds and their habitat of walking long distances each day. We studied the potential role of Greater Rheas in the dispersion of seeds of plants of the cerrado and caatinga grassland biomes through germination experiments. We evaluated the rate of seed germination and the mean time of germination of passage through the gut (seeds that passed through the digestive system of Rheas) compared with a control (seeds extracted directly from fruits). Nine species of plant from cerrado grasslands and three plant species from caatinga grasslands were tested. All three caatinga plant species germinated at a lower rate and took longer to germinate after passage through the gut, whereas two of nine cerrado plant species germinated at a higher rate and in less time after passage through the gut. Greater Rheas are probably good dispersers of some of the plant species we examined and may therefore be important in maintenance and regeneration of habitat. Future experiments will investigate the factors causing the variation in germination of seeds seen in this experiment.Item Effects of the neutral household detergent on the behaviour and personality of guppy Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1859) (Osteichthyes: Poeciliidae).(2019) Lopes, João Victor Saraiva Raimondi; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deChemical pollution of aquatic environments has been increasing in recent times, causing great damage to the ecosystems and to the fishery sector. Pollutants can negatively alter an animals’ life, and in this investigation, we verify if a neutral household detergent, one of the most common aquatic pollutants, causes changes in the behaviour and personality of guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Thirty milligrams per litre of detergent was added to the water of two aquariums and the behaviour of eight adult guppies were recorded using focal method with instantaneous recording of behaviours every 15 s, for 30 min daily. Results showed that the detergent modified the behaviour and the personality of guppies, making them shier and more inactive. Thus, more efficient disposal techniques should be applied or developed to avoid the pollution of aquatic environments.Item Ethogram and time-activity budget of the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu, Tayassuidae) : implications for husbandry and welfare.(2020) Silva, Mariane Mendes da; Faria, Carlos Magno de; Sá, Fernanda de Souza; Costa, Dhiordan Deon Lovenstain; Silva, Beatriz Cristiana da; Deus, Gabriela Luiza de; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deThe collared peccary, Pecari tajacu, is a mammal in the family Tayassuidae from the Americas that occurs from the United States to north Argentina and throughout Brazil. They are very sociable animals, living in groups of six to nine individuals. In their natural habitat, they present diurnal habits, but in captivity, this behaviour may change due to management conditions. Despite being bred in captivity for both commercial and conservation purposes, little is known about their behavioural patterns. The aim of this study was to construct an ethogram and produce a time-activity budget for captive collared peccaries in order to suggest better practices for husbandry and welfare. Thirtynine captive-born peccaries were studied. The ethogram and timeactivity budget of the individuals were constructed using the ad libitum method, with data collection at different times between 08:00 and 12:00 and between 13:00 and 17:00. One hundred and seventy-nine hours of data were collected for each period (8:00–9:00; 9:00–10:00; 10:00–11:00, etc.). We identified 87 behaviours exhibited by the collared peccaries, most of them recorded in the afternoon, between 14:00 h and 15:00 h. Most of the time, the peccaries remained inactive. Three behaviours were recorded for the first time (playing in mud, weak biting and tasting). Inactivity of the collared peccaries increased with increasing temperature (rs = 0.261, p < 0.001), whereas active behavioural categories decreased with increasing temperature (rs = −0.179, p = 0.003). The high rate of inactivity may have been due to the influence of temperature, as on warmer days they remained more inactive than on colder days. No signs of low welfare were found based on the ethogram (no abnormal behaviours were observed). The ethogram and the time-activity budget created allow for more targeted husbandry procedures, such as actions that increase the activity of animals.Item Failure of captive-born greater rheas (Rhea americana, Rheidae, Aves) to discriminate between predator and nonpredator models.(2012) Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Young, Robert John; Rodrigues, MarcosThe capacity to recognize and respond to predators can be lost by captive animals. Habituation to humans caused by the captive environment can be transferred to other stimuli, such as predators, a situation that conservation biologists wish to avoid. Greater rheas are threatened South American birds, for which there are plans for reintroduction programs in Brazil. The goal of this study was to evaluate the behavioral responses of captive-born greater rheas to different models of predators and nonpredators. Seventeen captive-born greater rheas, divided into four groups, from the Belo Horizonte Zoo, Brazil were studied. Three predator and three nonpredator models were presented to the birds and their behavioral responses recorded. Predators versus nonpredator models and the behavior of rheas in three experimental phases (baseline, models, and postmodels) were analyzed. Captive-born greater rheas modified their behaviors in the presence of both predator/nonpredator models, increasing alert and wary behaviors (alert, observing, and pacing behaviors: P<0.01), showing some degree of antipredator behavior persistence, but they were unable to discriminate between predator and nonpredator models (all behaviors: P>0.05). In conclusion, antipredator training should be implemented to develop the expression of this behavior before reintroductions are attempted.Item Forrageio social em catetos : táticas, dominância, habilidade competitiva e sucesso.(2017) Sá, Fernanda de Souza; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Guedes, Danusa; Rodrigues, Flávio Henrique Guimarães; Oliveira, Reisla Silva de; Azevedo, Alessandro Schetini deO Modelo Produtor-Usurpador (PS) é uma importante ferramenta para avaliar as estratégias de forrageio utilizadas por membros de grupos sociais, podendo existir diferenças individuais nas escolhas e investimento na procura do alimento. Essas escolhas se relacionam à capacidade dos indivíduos em associar informações ecológicas e sociais, sendo possivelmente alteradas em respostas a condições ambientais extremas e a fatores intrínsecos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar as táticas de forrageio social de catetos cativos (produzir e usurpar), identificando se características ambientais (imprevisibilidade alimentar) e individuais (dominância, hierarquia e centralidade) influenciam nas decisões tomadas. Para isso, dois grupos de catetos, com 10 indivíduos cada, foram submetidos a uma situação de imprevisibilidade alimentar que consistia na diminuição do número de manchas alimentares acessíveis aos animais dentro do recinto (6 bacias dispostas dentro do recinto, somente duas com alimentos acessíveis) e na alteração diária dos locais das bacias com alimentos acessíveis. Os resultados encontrados mostraram que a maioria dos catetos não alterou a tática de forrageio quando submetidos a essa situação. O sucesso do forrageio dos produtores foi maior do que o dos usurpadores (no experimento controle do grupo 1). Não foi observada relação entre a dominância e a tática de produzir com a habilidade competitiva, e nem com o sucesso de forrageio, entretanto, houve relação entre o sucesso de forrageio individual e a habilidade competitiva, onde os mais hábeis forragearam mais. Finalmente, as taxas de interações agonísticas não aumentaram com a redução do recurso alimentar, exceto durante o forrageio social, onde os conflitos aumentaram com a diminuição da oferta alimentar. Concluímos que catetos utilizam o modelo produtor-usurpador, ainda que a escolha das táticas de forrageio e o sucesso de forrageio não sejam influenciados pelas condições ambientais, mas sim pela personalidade dos catetos. As táticas de forrageio escolhidas pelos catetos podem ter relação com a centralidade dos indivíduos e o fator determinante para garantir o sucesso de forrageio dos indivíduos foi a habilidade competitiva no momento do forrageio social. Nossos resultados destacam a importância de incluir a variação comportamental individual nos modelos de jogos de produtor usurpador.Item Global overview of environmental enrichment studies : what has been done and future directions.(2024) Bachetti, Érica da Silva; Viol, Layane Yamile; Viana Junior, Arleu Barbosa; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deBackground: Environmental enrichment (EE) is a management principle aimed at meeting the needs of animals under human care by identifying and providing essential environmental stimuli to contribute to the integrity of their psychological and physiological well-being. Studies on EE have been carried out worldwide, but consolidated information on how it has been used, who it has been used for, how it has been evaluated, and what gaps still exist in the subject is scarce in the scientific literature. This study assessed, employing a systematic review, the global scenario of research into EE in animals kept under human care over the last 17 years, answering the above-mentioned questions. (2) Methods: A search for EE papers was carried out in the Web of Science and Scopus databases from January 2005 to December 2021, resulting in 2002 articles from which information was extracted. (3) Results: Results showed an increase in the number of articles published on EE, especially in farms, but studies in laboratory environments continue to be more frequent. Mammals and birds are the most studied animal groups. Cognitive enrichment is the least utilised by researchers. The number of publications by researchers from countries in the southern hemisphere is low. (4) Conclusions: Although the technique of EE is being widely used, it is still focused on certain groups of animals in certain captive environments and carried out mainly in the northern hemisphere of the planet. Therefore, the gaps pointed out here need to be filled by future studies.Item A global review of animal translocation programs.(2020) Resende, Paloma Silva; Viana Junior, Arleu Barbosa; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deA global review of animal translocation programs. We performed a bibliometric analysis to investigate the efficiency of release techniques (soft and hard–release), to analyse the characteristics and outcomes of the translocation programs, to identify knowledge gaps, and to provide recommendations. Animal conservation studies involving animal release to the wild increased significantly over the 31 years studied and were more frequently performed with terrestrial mammals than with other taxonomic groups. Most of the studies were performed by researchers from developed countries. Translocations occurred mostly in temperate regions, with almost no translocations occurring in the tropics. Almost 60% of the studies did not provide information regarding the success or failure of the translocation programs. The most commonly used technique was hard release. Wild–caught specimens were preferred for translocations. Translocation programs were less common for groups like amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates. If criteria for suitable translocation are met, this management tool should also be conducted for tropical threatened species, led by native researchers. Furthermore, criteria for successful translocation should be clearly identified in order to improve future conservation actions.Item O Impacto do enriquecimento ambiental no comportamento e fisiologia de emas (Rhea americana, Rheidae, Aves).(2015) Lima, Márcia Fontes Figueiredo; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Furtado, Priscila ViauA ema, Rhea americana, pertence à ordem Rheiformes e é considerada a maior ave da América do Sul e figura na categoria quase ameaçada globalmente. O ambiente cativo é um fator limitante, levando os animais a exibirem um comportamento diferente, dado que o local onde permanecem não apresenta as mesmas condições que o habitat natural. O estresse pode ser definido como uma resposta biológica do indivíduo ao perceber ameaças à sua homeostase; quando essa resposta traz ameaças ao bem-estar do animal, pode-se dizer que este animal está sofrendo. Aliar medidas comportamentais e hormonais não-invasivas é uma maneira de se elucidar a correlação entre estes dois parâmetros na avaliação do bem-estar animal. O enriquecimento ambiental reduz o estresse e minimiza o número de exibição dos comportamentos estereotipados nos animais em cativeiro. Nos trabalhos de enriquecimento, as coletas de dados normalmente ocorrem somente na hora em que o item de enriquecimento é ofertado, podendo acarretar em vícios nas análises, tendenciando os resultados. O objetivo do estudo foi comparar o repertório comportamental com os níveis fecais de hormônios de estresse de espécimes de emas mantidos em cativeiro e avaliar a influência do horário de coleta na exibição dos comportamentos das emas. Foram estudadas nove emas da Fundação Zoo-Botânica de Belo Horizonte, alojadas em três recintos (4, 2 e 3 indivíduos em cada recinto). O estudo foi dividido em três fases (antes, durante e depois do enriquecimento) usando frutas espalhadas pelo recinto como enriquecimento. As coletas comportamentais foram realizadas das 8:00h as 17:00h com horários alternados entre os recintos. A coleta das fezes ocorreu em todas as fases do estudo, uma vez por dia. Os comportamentos anormais e os níveis de metabolitos de glicocorticoides (GCM) fecais tiveram redução significativa no estudo, observando uma correlação positiva entre a produção de GCM e a exibição dos comportamentos anormais. Não houve influência do horário da coleta nos comportamentos anormais. Com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que o uso de enriquecimento ambiental do tipo alimentar deve ser estimulado em Instituições mantenedoras desses animais em cativeiro, pois seus efeitos benéficos auxiliam a manutenção de um alto bem-estar, facilitando o manejo e auxiliando na conservação da espécie.Item Impacts of food-based enrichment on behaviour and physiology of male greater rheas (Rhea Americana, Rheidae, Aves).(2019) Lima, Márcia Fontes Figueiredo; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Young, Robert John; Furtado, Priscila ViauDistress can be defined as a biological response of an individual to long-term threats to its homeostasis and it should be avoided from an animal welfare perspective. High levels of stress hormones and the expression of abnormal behaviours are responses normally observed in distressed animals. Captive environments can provoke distress, especially when inappropriate stimuli are provided to the animals. The concomitant use of behavioural and non-invasive hormonal measures is a means to evaluate captive animal welfare. Environmental enrichment is a tool that can reduce distress and minimize the expression of abnormal behaviour in captive animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate greater rheas’ responses (behavioral and hormonal) to food-based enrichment. Three birds from the Belo Horizonte Zoo, Brazil were studied. The study was divided into three phases (baseline, enrichment and post-enrichment): fruits scattered around the birds’ enclosure were used as enrichment. Behaviour and faecal sampling were undertaken in all phases of the study. Abnormal behaviours and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) levels showed significant reduction during the environmental enrichment phase, and a significative positive correlation between GCM production and abnormal pacing was observed. From the results of this study, we conclude that the use of food as environmental enrichment should be encouraged because of its positive effects on animal welfare. Besides, studies with larger groups of greater rheas, with individuals of both sexes, should also be encouraged to evaluate if the results found in this pilot study are consistent and can be generalized to the species.Item Impacts of noise pollution on the agonistic interactions of the saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola Linnaeus, 1766).(2020) Passos, Marcela Fortes de Oliveira; Beirão, Marina do Vale; Midamegbe, Afiwa; Duarte, Renan Henriques Lage; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deImpacts of noise pollution are recognized as a source of stress for animals and as a form of environmental degradation. Behavioural changes associated with noise, such as reduction of reproductive success, reduction in feeding behaviour, increase in vigilance behaviours and inability to detect environment acoustic signals, are observed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how noise influences aggressive behaviour of the saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola). We conducted tests of territoriality-aggressiveness against conspecifics. Seven individuals were tested, with six tests per individual being conducted in two treatments (traffic pollution and ambient noise), totalling 84 tests. The noise treatment significantly altered the agonistic interactions of the saffron finches, with territorial males exhibiting less aggressive behaviours towards intruders.Item Noise interfere on feeding behaviour but not on food preference of saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola).(2023) Duarte, Renan Henriques Lage; Passos, Marcela Fortes de Oliveira; Beirão, Marina do Vale; Midamegbe, Afiwa; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deNoise pollution exerts negative well-being effects on animals, especially for captive individuals. A decrease in feeding, reproduction, attention, and an increase in stress are examples of negative effects of noise pollution on animals. Noise pollution can also negatively impact animals’ lives by decreasing the efficiency of food choice: attention decrease can cause animals choose the least profitable food, which can affect their fitness. The aims of this study were to analyse the effects of noise on feeding behaviour and food preference of saffron finches. Foraging tests were performed under background sound pressure levels and under a noisy condition. The behaviours exhibited by the birds during the tests were recorded using focal sampling with instantaneous recording of behaviour every 10 s. Results showed that finches consumed more the higher energetic food, and that noise pollution did not impact food consumption by the birds. Noise changed the number of visits on the feeders, and increased the expression of the ‘lower the head’ and vigilance behaviours during feeding. These findings could be important for wild and captive animals because an increase in vigilance and in changes in foraging behaviour could ultimately impact their fitness. Thus, mitigation measures should be taken in relation to noise impact on wildlife, this is especially the case for captive animals, which have no chance to avoid noisy environments.Item Personality, abnormal behaviour, and health : an evaluation of the welfare of police horses.(2018) Schork, Ivana Gabriela; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Young, Robert JohnAn animal's welfare depends on an individual's capacity to adapt to the environment in which it lives. This adaptation is directly associated with the quality of the environment and to the possibility of expressing natural behaviours. Horses kept in stables often display a range of abnormal behaviours related to lack of control over their environment, which can lead to behavioural and health problems. An individual's personality also plays an important role in its susceptibility and resilience to the development of diseases and abnormal behaviour; thus, an evaluation of horses' personalities could be crucial to selecting individuals best able to cope with different work activities. This study aimed to assess the well-being of police horses maintained in a semi-confinement regime in Brazil by associating their personalities to the occurrence of abnormal behaviours and disease. Using a non-invasive approach, different tests were performed to investigate the horses' behaviour, personality and welfare. A frustration test and a novel object test were conducted with 46 horses and the individuals' personalities were assessed using questionnaires and behaviour tests. In addition, we evaluated their physical health through a survey of their veterinary records. The data for horses were evaluated individually. The results demonstrated the occurrence of multiple abnormal behaviours motivated by factors such as diet and lack of social contact. Moreover, the personality tests indicated this is an important component when evaluating welfare, since correlations were found between personality traits and abnormal behaviour expression, and between personality traits and health problems. According to our results, passive, stubborn, and confident horses are better suited to be selected as police horses. The ability to classify horses according to their personalities could help in selecting horses most suitable for patrolling, thereby helping to reduce behavioural problems and increasing animal wellbeing.Item The cyclic interaction between daytime behavior and the sleep behavior of laboratory dogs.(2022) Schork, Ivana Gabriela; Manzo, Isabele Aparecida; Oliveira, Marcos Roberto Beiral de; Costa, Fernanda Vieira da; Young, Robert John; Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini deSleep deprivation has been found to negatively afect an individual ́s physical and psychological health. Sleep loss afects activity patterns, increases anxiety-like behaviors, decreases cognitive performance and is associated with depressive states. The activity/rest cycle of dogs has been investigated before, but little is known about the efects of sleep loss on the behavior of the species. Dogs are polyphasic sleepers, meaning the behavior is most observed at night, but bouts are also present during the day. However, sleep can vary with ecological and biological factors, such as age, sex, ftness, and even human presence. In this study, kennelled laboratory adult dogs’ sleep and diurnal behavior were recorded during 24-h, fve-day assessment periods to investigate sleep quality and its efect on daily behavior. In total, 1560 h of data were analyzed, and sleep metrics and diurnal behavior were quantifed. The relationship between sleeping patterns and behavior and the efect of age and sex were evaluated using non-parametric statistical tests and GLMM modelling. Dogs in our study slept substantially less than previously reported and presented a modifed sleep architecture with fewer awakenings during the night and almost no sleep during the day. Sleep loss increased inactivity, decreased play and alert behaviors, while increased time spent eating during the day. Males appeared to be more afected by sleep fragmentation than females. Diferent age groups also experienced diferent efects of sleep loss. Overall, dogs appear to compensate for the lack of sleep during the night by remaining inactive during the day. With further investigations, the relationship between sleep loss and behavior has the potential to be used as a measure of animal welfare.Item Using environmental enrichment to reduce the expression of abnormal behaviours in Greater rhea Rhea americana at Belo Horizonte Zoo.(2012) Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini de; Lima, Márcia Fontes Figueiredo; Cipreste, Cynthia Fernandes; Young, Robert John; Rodrigues, MarcosAnimals kept by zoos may express abnormal behaviours that are indicators of poor welfare. Environmental enrichment is a technique of providing items to animals that stimulate the expression of normal behaviours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of providing simple environmental enrichment in the reduction of the expression of abnormal behaviour in captive-born Greater rhea Rhea americana at Belo Horizonte Zoo, south-eastern Brazil. As enrichment, fruit and vegetables were scatter fed to a group of seven birds from April to September 2009, and the behaviour of the birds was recorded using scan sampling with instantaneous recording of behaviour every 1 minute for 1 hour daily (90 hours of observation). The study was divided into three phases: baseline, enrichment and post-enrichment. The abnormal behaviours ‘pacing’, ‘eating faeces’ and ‘escaping behaviour’ reduced during the enrichment phase, but only the first two behaviours differed significantly between the phases; ‘walking’ and ‘foraging’, both positive behaviours, increased during the enrichment phase. These results showed that the implementation of simple environmental enrichment can stimulate the Greater rhea to exhibit more natural behaviours and improve their welfare.