Zoo Biology最新文献_第7页

Behavior Change Projects in Zoological Collections: Application of the Behavior Change Wheel. 动物馆藏中的行为改变项目：行为改变轮的应用。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-04 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70049

Isabel Brinkley, Andrew Moss, Bridget Johnson, Gregory Counsell

{"title":"Behavior Change Projects in Zoological Collections: Application of the Behavior Change Wheel.","authors":"Isabel Brinkley, Andrew Moss, Bridget Johnson, Gregory Counsell","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70049","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70049","url":null,"abstract":"Human behavior change is needed to stop the triple planetary crisis. Zoos reach millions of people every year and there is evidence available that people do change their behavior because of zoo led interventions. Designing interventions with behavior change frameworks in mind can increase the efficacy of interventions. The Behavior Change Wheel is a guide for describing, designing and evaluating behavior change strategies, rooted in the COM-B model. It can be used for retrospective assessment of existing interventions. Here we present a content analysis of websites of members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). We classified behavior change projects in relation to categories on the Behavior Change Wheel including Intervention Function and Policy Category. A total of 754 behavior change projects were identified and analyzed, resulting in 1650 Intervention Function and 1154 Policy Category codes. Persuasion (n = 450) and Education (n = 289) were the most frequently identified Intervention Functions. Communication/marketing (n = 515, 68.30%), was the most frequently used Policy Category. Zoos themselves were most often the agents of behavior change and projects most frequently targeted the general public. Most projects used multiple intervention functions in conjunction with each other, with only 12.73% (n = 210) of Intervention Functions occurring on their own. Combining Intervention Functions has positive implications for intervention effectiveness, but barriers to effectiveness such as limited project targets were identified. Developing behavior change projects in zoos with behavior change frameworks in mind would likely further increase the effectiveness of these projects.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"255-265"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146120397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Behavioral Patterns of Zoo-housed Lowland (Tapirus terrestris) and Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus), With a Focus on Sleeping Behavior. 动物园饲养的低地貘（Tapirus terrestris）和马来亚貘（Tapirus indicus）的行为模式，以睡眠行为为重点。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-26 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70059

Melina Kurzawe, Yannis König, Isabel Seyrling, Max Hahn-Klimroth, Gaby Schneider, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes

{"title":"Behavioral Patterns of Zoo-housed Lowland (Tapirus terrestris) and Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus), With a Focus on Sleeping Behavior.","authors":"Melina Kurzawe, Yannis König, Isabel Seyrling, Max Hahn-Klimroth, Gaby Schneider, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70059","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70059","url":null,"abstract":"To ensure and optimize husbandry conditions, zoo management and a high standard of animal welfare, understanding species-specific behavioral patterns is essential. While most research on ungulates focuses on daily activity budget and patterns, nocturnal behavior remains less studied. Therefore, we investigate the nocturnal activity of two endangered tapir species, the Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus). While behavior studies on wild animals face great challenges, zoos offer a unique opportunity to analyze animals' behavior as they provide information on animals' life history, social patterns, husbandry conditions, and management plans. We analyzed 14 individuals over a total of 92 nights across six EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) member zoos with respect to the three main behavior poses \"Standing\", \"Lying - head up\" and \"Lying - head down\". Our results show not only large differences between individuals, but also between nights within individuals. Furthermore, the analysis of lying cycles shows a tendency for Lowland tapirs to have longer lying cycles than Malayan tapirs, while Malayan tapirs enter the REM sleep position earlier than their relatives during a lying phase. However, sex-specific differences were not observed. The present analysis of nocturnal rhythms shows individual variability in both tapir species, although species-specific differences are hardly apparent, but do exist. The analysis of the resting cycles underlines that resting phases are interrupted several times by activity phases during the night. Implications for husbandry conditions and species conservation are discussed.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"356-367"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Impact of Social Grooming on Age-Related Immune Health in Captive Baboons. 社会梳理对圈养狒狒年龄相关免疫健康的影响。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-30 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70048

Sara J Cotton, Frances J White

{"title":"Impact of Social Grooming on Age-Related Immune Health in Captive Baboons.","authors":"Sara J Cotton, Frances J White","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70048","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70048","url":null,"abstract":"Primate social behaviors are known to mitigate a number of negative psychological and physiological problems. Social connectedness in wild baboons can predict longevity and health, but the relationship between social grooming and physical health in captive baboons is less known. We studied rates of social grooming in captive olive and olive/yellow hybrid baboons (Papio anubis; P. anubis/cynocephalus), the factors that influence social connectedness, and its potential impacts on health as measured with neutrophil and lymphocyte levels. These white blood cell measures are available through routine bloodwork and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is known to be predictive of health outcomes. Subjects were 162 adult baboons housed in groups consisting of 1 male, 3 to 12 females, and associated offspring. Four 30-min all-occurrence observations per group were used to collect behavioral data. Blood data was collected opportunistically during veterinary check-ups for 45 of the females. Despite group compositions differing significantly from those in the wild, the captive baboons exhibited some similar patterns of social grooming and social connectedness to those of wild baboons. NLR was not significantly associated with any measure of social connectedness initially assessed, but a relationship between social network size and lymphocyte levels emerged. Baboons with few social grooming partners exhibited an expected decline in lymphocyte levels with age, but baboons with many social grooming partners did not show this expected trend. It appears, therefore, that older female baboons with many social partners may be buffered against age related immune health declines and that social connectedness is potentially acting to mediate some of the detrimental effects of aging.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"247-254"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146087368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland's Russ Horses. 哥特兰马的心率作为应激指标。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-20 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70052

Isidora Dundjerovic, Lynne U Sneddon

{"title":"Heart Rate as an Indicator of Stress in Gotland's Russ Horses.","authors":"Isidora Dundjerovic, Lynne U Sneddon","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70052","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70052","url":null,"abstract":"Animal welfare concerns both the physical and mental wellbeing of animals so the assessment of animals kept in captivity, for example zoos, is important and necessary both legally and ethically. Good welfare is especially vital when breeding endangered species as stress impairs reproductive investment. As zoos often have high numbers of visitors, it is important to know if humans and the associated noise might influence the animals' welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of visitors and activities offered to the visitors caused a stress response in horses housed in a city park, Slottsskogen, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Heart rate, an indicator of stress, was measured in eight Gotland Russ horses with Polar belts during three different treatments; resting, exercise, and during a playground event, where horses are in close contact with humans. The results showed that horses were neither stressed by humans and other animals in the park, nor by vehicles. The average heart rate was significantly different amongst all treatments. At rest, the average heart rate (± SD) was 42.5 ± 3.2 bpm, 85 ± 10.4 bpm during exercise, and 51 ± 7.2 bpm at the playground. Therefore, the playground event was not stressful for these horses. This knowledge is valuable for this park as many human activities occur there throughout the year and gaining a better understanding of how the animals are affected by such events is essential for informing good animal welfare.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"293-299"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146259358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Short-Term Cold Storage of Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) Sperm. 灰色鼠蛇（Pantherophis spiloides）精子的短期冷藏。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-14 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70058

Ginger C Elliott, Drew Sauve, Hana C Thompson, Jeff Hathaway, Kelsey Moxley, Jenny Pearce, Sarah Jane Stanger Guy, Cheryl Sheridan, Amy A Chabot

{"title":"Short-Term Cold Storage of Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) Sperm.","authors":"Ginger C Elliott, Drew Sauve, Hana C Thompson, Jeff Hathaway, Kelsey Moxley, Jenny Pearce, Sarah Jane Stanger Guy, Cheryl Sheridan, Amy A Chabot","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70058","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70058","url":null,"abstract":"The management of species in human care, hereafter ex situ management, has been identified as a key tool in the effort to restore global biodiversity. However, sustaining reproduction and genetic diversity in an ex situ environment can be challenging. Assisted reproductive technologies (assisted reproduction) can help. In this study, we begin development of an assisted reproduction program for an ex situ population of gray ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides), a federally 'threatened' species in Canada. Assisted reproduction application in squamates has had limited attention, despite the disproportionate representation of the taxa among threatened and endangered species worldwide. Hence, we hoped to provide a model for the development of assisted reproduction in squamates in Canada more broadly. As such, we focused on the essential first steps of gamete collection and short-term cold preservation. We collected sperm samples monthly from 17 individuals in the ex situ population from May to October. We assessed concentration, motility, rapid progressive motility, and membrane integrity (viability). We used generalized linear models to assess the impact of four common sperm extenders on refrigerated sperm quality over a period of 5 days. We found that TL HEPES with 10% fetal bovine sera maintained the highest quality sperm. Further, we discovered previously unknown seasonality in sperm viability, where the highest percentage of viable sperm was collected in October, rather than May-June, at the height of the species breeding season. Our work highlights that the timing of sperm collection and the type of sperm extender used both influence the preservation of sperm ex vivo.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"316-325"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Connection to Nature in Zoos: A Systematic Review of Empirical Research. 动物园与自然的联系：实证研究的系统回顾。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-05-14 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70079

Matthias Winfried Kleespies, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes

{"title":"Connection to Nature in Zoos: A Systematic Review of Empirical Research.","authors":"Matthias Winfried Kleespies, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70079","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70079","url":null,"abstract":"Zoos play a crucial role in environmental education, yet research on their impact on visitors' connection to nature remains limited. This systematic review examines empirical research on connection to nature in zoological institutions and compares its development to the broader field of connection to nature research. We conducted a systematic search in Web of Science, ProQuest, PubMed, and ERIC in January 2025, following PRISMA 2020 standards. Inclusion criteria comprised peer-reviewed empirical studies assessing connection to nature in zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, or similar institutions. Of 82 identified articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review. Most studies employed quantitative approaches: four studies used the Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale, one used the Nature Relatedness Scale, and one used the Nature Connection Index, while the remaining studies relied on brief ad-hoc items, open-ended questions, or qualitative approaches. Sample sizes varied widely, and most studies were conducted in Western countries, particularly the United States (n = 5), Germany (n = 2), and the United Kingdom (n = 2). One study came from China, and one multi-country study came from South America. Findings were mixed: while most studies reported an increase in visitors' connection to nature following zoo visits or educational interventions, some studies found no significant effects. However, research in non-Western countries, the use of validated measurement tools, and mixed-methods approaches are still lacking. We conclude that zoos offer substantial but insufficiently used potential for fostering visitors' connection to nature. Future work should prioritize collaborations between zoos and academic institutions to enable rigorous evaluations and adopt standardized, validated measures. Expanding research into non-Western contexts is also essential to capture cultural variation in human-nature relationships and strengthen the global relevance of zoo-based conservation education.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"234-246"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147943162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Fish Space Use and Behavior in an Aquarium: The Use of Microhabitats as Enrichment. 水族箱中鱼类的空间利用和行为：利用微生境作为富集。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-23 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70061

Avery Millard, Ben Stenger, Zach Anderson, Justin Ballew, Hannah Fallon, Olivia Lowman, Elizabeth McAllister, Jessica Morales Valenzuela, Andrew Stuckey, Zainab Tanveer, Quinn Towery, Sally Tyrell, Andy Wall, Anna George, Hope Klug

{"title":"Fish Space Use and Behavior in an Aquarium: The Use of Microhabitats as Enrichment.","authors":"Avery Millard, Ben Stenger, Zach Anderson, Justin Ballew, Hannah Fallon, Olivia Lowman, Elizabeth McAllister, Jessica Morales Valenzuela, Andrew Stuckey, Zainab Tanveer, Quinn Towery, Sally Tyrell, Andy Wall, Anna George, Hope Klug","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70061","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70061","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental enrichment is an important tool to maintain the health and well-being of animals in human care, but studies of environmental enrichment for fish in human care have lagged behind those of land animals. To broaden our understanding of environmental enrichment in fish, we conducted a study at the Ridges to Rivers Exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium in which we assessed whether the inclusion of three microhabitats-a Plunge Pool, a Riffle, and a Run-within the exhibit could function as a form of environmental enrichment. We quantified (1) microhabitat space use of tangerine darters (Percina aurantiaca), (2) microhabitat space use of all fish species, and (3) tangerine darter behavior in each microhabitat. If microhabitats function as a form of environmental enrichment, we expected tangerine darters and all fish to utilize the microhabitats in a nonrandom manner and for tangerine darter behavior to vary in relation to microhabitat. As expected, fish used microhabitats nonrandomly. Tangerine darters were more likely to utilize the Riffle and Run microhabitats, which is primarily where tangerine darters are located in the wild, whereas all fish were on average more likely to utilize the Plunge Pool and Run. Tangerine darters most frequently engaged in stationary and swimming behaviors, particularly in the Riffle microhabitat, which is characteristic of tangerine darters in the wild. These results suggest that the inclusion of microhabitats within a tank influences behavior in a manner that is consistent with natural conditions. As such, the inclusion of microhabitats in aquaria likely functions as environmental enrichment by providing habitat choice. Such habitat choice could improve the welfare of stream fish in human care and elicit behaviors that occur in the wild.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"345-355"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147499987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Catalase Effect on Sperm Storage and Fertilization Capacity of Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). 过氧化氢酶对毛茛精子储存和受精能力的影响。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-14 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70056

Emma O'Brien, Alexia Siegmund Sabater, Adolfo Toledano-Díaz, Cristina Castaño, Ramón Balsera, Daniel Fernández, Gabriel de Pedro Aguilar, David Cubero, Ewa Łukaszewicz, Julián Santiago-Moreno

{"title":"Catalase Effect on Sperm Storage and Fertilization Capacity of Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus).","authors":"Emma O'Brien, Alexia Siegmund Sabater, Adolfo Toledano-Díaz, Cristina Castaño, Ramón Balsera, Daniel Fernández, Gabriel de Pedro Aguilar, David Cubero, Ewa Łukaszewicz, Julián Santiago-Moreno","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70056","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70056","url":null,"abstract":"The capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), a critically endangered species, faces significant challenges due to habitat loss and population decline. Assisted reproductive technologies, including semen preservation and artificial insemination (AI), are vital for conservation efforts. Although the results are controversial, it has been reported that antioxidants, such as catalase, play an important role in protecting against oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species during short- and long-term sperm storage. This study evaluated the protective effects of catalase (200 IU/mL) on stored/frozen-thawed capercaillie sperm. The possible protective or harmful effect of catalase on fertilizing ability was assessed after AI with fresh and stored semen. Results indicated that catalase had no significant effect on sperm motility, viability, or DNA integrity after liquid storage or freezing/thawing. Fertility rates decreased sharply after semen storage for 6 h at 5°C even in the presence of catalase. Catalase-treated samples maintained similar fertility rates to controls. The study also provided the first evidence of sperm storage duration within female capercaillies, which lasted up to 21 days. These findings underscore the challenges of semen preservation in wild species and highlight the need for further exploration of alternative antioxidants to optimize storage media.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"307-315"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Identifying Causes of Reproductive Failure in Zoo-Housed Bush Dogs (Speothos venaticus) to Improve Ex Situ Management. 确定动物园饲养的灌木犬（Speothos venaticus）繁殖失败的原因以改善迁地管理。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-07 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70047

Alice S Clark, Veronica B Cowl, Jane L Hurst, Lisa Holmes, Paula Stockley

{"title":"Identifying Causes of Reproductive Failure in Zoo-Housed Bush Dogs (Speothos venaticus) to Improve Ex Situ Management.","authors":"Alice S Clark, Veronica B Cowl, Jane L Hurst, Lisa Holmes, Paula Stockley","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70047","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70047","url":null,"abstract":"To manage ex situ breeding populations effectively, it is important to understand the factors that may lead to reproductive failure. In this study, we aim to understand factors associated with reproductive success in zoo-housed bush dogs (Speothos venaticus), and form evidence-based recommendations for their breeding management. We distributed a survey to global institutions housing bush dogs to collect data on factors which may affect litter survival. Responses were obtained from 30 zoos across 13 countries, providing data on 125 litter births between 2012 and 2022. Information from the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) and studbook records supplemented this dataset. We found that within northern temperate regions, the number of pups reared to the age of 1 month in bush dog litters (n = 112 litters) is linked to the ages of breeding individuals, prior breeding experience of females and birth season. The number of pups reared per litter declines with advancing maternal age, but this decline can be reduced by pairing with an older male; experienced females rear more pups per litter than inexperienced females, and litters born in the summer have better survival outcomes than other seasons. Sharing data between zoos provides greater statistical power to identify challenges associated with breeding lesser-researched species, allowing zoos to overcome these challenges through evidence-based management changes.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"266-279"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146133228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Enhancing Behavioral Diversity and Activity Budgets in Zoo-Housed African Lions (Panthera leo leo) Through a Modified Feeding Method. 改进饲养方法提高动物园非洲狮的行为多样性和活动预算。

IF 1.4 4区生物学

Zoo Biology Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.70039

Judith Jonkers, Marlies Elderman, Marina Salas

{"title":"Enhancing Behavioral Diversity and Activity Budgets in Zoo-Housed African Lions (Panthera leo leo) Through a Modified Feeding Method.","authors":"Judith Jonkers, Marlies Elderman, Marina Salas","doi":"10.1002/zoo.70039","DOIUrl":"10.1002/zoo.70039","url":null,"abstract":"Research on positive animal welfare has prompted exploration and implementation of methods to stimulate the behavioral repertoires of zoo-housed species. We investigated the impact of a modified feeding method on the behavioral diversity, activity budgets, and social relations of five African lions at Zoo Antwerpen. The original method involved daily individual feedings indoors while the modified method provided group feedings three times a week outdoors. Observations spanned 6 weeks (3 weeks per method and a 1-week habituation period in between), yielding 150 h of behavioral data using continuous focal sampling. Results indicated a significant increase in behavioral diversity with the modified method across all observed time (p < 0.001). This was accompanied by an increase in active (for females, p < 0.001) and exploratory behaviors (p < 0.001). Time spent feeding did not change significantly. Inactivity levels shifted (p < 0.001), aligning more closely with natural wild lion behavior patterns. In the modified method, lions spent more time feeding and exploring on feeding days compared to fasting days (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009). Inactivity was lower on feeding days (p = 0.001), while overall activity levels did not change significantly. Social network analyses showed no significant changes in agonistic or affiliative behaviors, indicating the feeding method change had limited effects on social relations. In conclusion, our study underscores the importance of feeding methods in promoting natural behaviors and enhancing welfare outcomes for zoo-housed African lions, emphasizing the need for tailored management strategies to support natural behaviors and welfare.","PeriodicalId":24035,"journal":{"name":"Zoo Biology","volume":" ","pages":"138-153"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145422966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0