The effects of light and novel enrichment on Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) behavior and physiology

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Applied Animal Behaviour Science Pub Date : 2025-03-18 DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106598

Emily C. Lynch , Elizabeth A. Roznik , Dustin Smith , Alexis Alvey , Francesca Giammona , Janine L. Brown , Nicole Boisseau , Audrey Williams , Melissa Barr , Nick Allen , Katherine Hagen

{"title":"The effects of light and novel enrichment on Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) behavior and physiology","authors":"Emily C. Lynch , Elizabeth A. Roznik , Dustin Smith , Alexis Alvey , Francesca Giammona , Janine L. Brown , Nicole Boisseau , Audrey Williams , Melissa Barr , Nick Allen , Katherine Hagen","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106598","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reptiles play an important role in education and conservation goals within the zoological community, yet evidence-based management protocols tailored to this group remain notably scarce. To redress this, a study was designed to assess behavioral and physiological changes to different light and habitat variants among a clutch of 12 juvenile Eastern indigo snakes (<em>Drymarchon couperi</em>) housed at the North Carolina Zoo. A two-by-two factorial experimental design facilitated the exploration of both the independent and interactive effects of two types of lights (basking vs. fluorescent) and enrichment complexity (weekly rotations of novel enrichment objects vs. no addition of novel enrichment objects). We report that as compared to snakes with basking light, those that received fluorescent light were five times more likely to exhibit active behaviors and spend more time under their light source, as well as trending towards gaining more body mass. We also found that, compared to snakes in standard habitats, those with rotating enrichment items were slower to explore a novel environment and maintained a higher variability of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, which together may indicate higher stress. Our results suggest that the addition of novel enrichment items may not yield welfare advantages while also highlighting the essential role of fluorescent lighting in meeting the physiological requirements of this species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"286 ","pages":"Article 106598"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159125000966","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Reptiles play an important role in education and conservation goals within the zoological community, yet evidence-based management protocols tailored to this group remain notably scarce. To redress this, a study was designed to assess behavioral and physiological changes to different light and habitat variants among a clutch of 12 juvenile Eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) housed at the North Carolina Zoo. A two-by-two factorial experimental design facilitated the exploration of both the independent and interactive effects of two types of lights (basking vs. fluorescent) and enrichment complexity (weekly rotations of novel enrichment objects vs. no addition of novel enrichment objects). We report that as compared to snakes with basking light, those that received fluorescent light were five times more likely to exhibit active behaviors and spend more time under their light source, as well as trending towards gaining more body mass. We also found that, compared to snakes in standard habitats, those with rotating enrichment items were slower to explore a novel environment and maintained a higher variability of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, which together may indicate higher stress. Our results suggest that the addition of novel enrichment items may not yield welfare advantages while also highlighting the essential role of fluorescent lighting in meeting the physiological requirements of this species.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 农林科学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

191

审稿时长

18.1 weeks

期刊介绍： This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals. Topics covered include: -Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare -Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems -Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation -Methodological studies within relevant fields The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects: -Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals -Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display -Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage -Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances -Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements