Animal Science Exam 3

Natural History

History that focuses on the species level history

Individual History

History of a specific animal

Why is animal welfare difficult to define

Difficult to define because it is based in values and ethical concerts. Animals also cannot communicate verbally, so there has to be other ways to evaluate the welfare.

AZA definition of animal welfare

An animal's collective physical, mental, and emotional states over time, which is measure of its overall wellbeing.

Explain the difference between rights and welfare

rights=give the animal human attributes

welfare=based on animals interactions with its environment - objective and measurable

Why do we not want to see al natural behaviors in captivity?

Not all natural behaviors are desirable. For example aggression, eating young, etc.

5 Freedoms

1. freedom from pain, injury, and disease

2. freedom from hunger and thirst

3. freedom from discomfort

4. freedom for normal behavior

5. freedom from fear

5 Opportunities

1. appropriate feeding

2. optimal health

3. species appropriate environment

4. express species appropriate behavior

5. choice and control chose positive emotional states, avoid negative emotional states

5 freedoms vs 5 opportunities

5 freedoms-prevent negative experiences and meeting basic needs

5 opportunities-overall quality of life

5 domains model and how it is used

1. Nutrition 2. Physical environment 3. Health 4. Behavioral Interactions 5. Mental state. It is used to systematically evaluate how the first four domains influence an animal's mental state, which ultimately represents the overall welfare of the animal. Consider all pieces when considering animal welfare

Why is the status of animal welfare evaluated on a continuum.

There is a middle and it is a spectrum, Not good or bad, there is a scale. Always trying to improve. We provide tools for animals to cope with challenges in their environment. More knowledge gained overtime and helps us improve.

Explain whether the way we measure/view welfare is the same at all life stages

No welfare is assessed differently throughout life to maintain/adjust appropriately specific welfare needs during particular instances in the lifecycle.

AZA Animal Welfare Accreditation standard

Institution must have a process for assessing animal welfare and wellness. Should be both proactive and reactive, transparent to stakeholders, and include staff/consultant knowledgable in assessing the quality of life to animals.

Welfare inputs

Welfare inputs are the resources and conditions provided that are expected to influence welfare. Examples include housing, food, and vet care that

Welfare outputs

Outputs are the results of these inputs, directly measured from the animal's response. Examples include behavior, physical health, and physiology.

Explain the value of choice and control

Animals who have the feeling of choice and control are generally in a more positive state

Enrichment

enhancing animals environment with context of animals behavioral biology and natural history. Animals require mental stimulation.

Cognitive enrichment

focuses on mental stimulation Things that make them think and solve problems.

Know outputs that can be measured as a sign of good welfare and explain limitations

No single indication of good or poor welfare, must use multiple measurements. Physical condition of animal, stress hormones, animal behavior, stereotypies. For example, you cannot only take stress hormones and then say they have bad care. Some for sterotypies, could mean care was compromised at one time but not now.

Describe how knowledge of natural behavior of a species is imperative to evaluating animal welfare

It provides the essential context for interpreting whether an animal's actions and environment are appropriate for its well-being

Physiological stress signs

Assessing behaviors, hormones, physical state. Is the animal not eating/losing weight, changes in stress hormones, not active, is there a disease that is present.

Physiological well-being

Relates to the physical and chemical processes f the body. Physical well being, what you can see. Some animals like tigets are good at hiding injuries.

Psychological well-being

involves mental and emotional states, mental well being. Could be free of disease and in good health, but stressed or performing sterotypies

Preference test

Gives animals choices and seeing in different situations what they would choose. Choice is not always what is best for welfare (oreo or carrot). Find what is the best reward (jackpot reward) that the animal cannot say no to, then if in emergancy situation it is a reliable cue that they are very likely to response to.

Cognitive Bias

Train animal to perform task and give reward. Start taking reward away so reward becomes unreliable. If animal continues to perfrom behavior then they are optimistic and if they do not do behavior they are pessimistic which could indicate a possible negative state.

Coping

The ability to maintain control of mental and bodily stability in the face of physical or pyschological challenges.

Deprivation

preventing natural behaviors

Stereotypy

Repetitive behaviors like pacing, rocking, swaying, etc. Can occur in environment that appersa nuetral or beneficial, can persist after being removed from negative environment.

Acute stress

short term stress. can be beneficial and is part of a natural survival mechanism

Chronic stress

long term stress is harmful to your physical and mental health

Goals of the multi-facility rhino project

Optimal welfare, education, support conversation, show guest committed to best welfare.

Importance of good welfare to all aspects of the AZA mission

to advance animal well being, conservation, education, and public engagement. If animal is not in good welfare we cannot get good research or not educate properly.

why are AZA standards are performance standards

It means they focus on measuring out omes and defining acceptable levels of achievement, rather than mandating a single, specific method for reaching those goals.

Behavioral husbandry

Daily animal care that focuses on how animals interact with their physical and social environment.

How are both natural and individual histories used in aniaml management?

Knowing the overall behaviors of an animal species (natural history) can help the keepers provide good care, This could help an individual for the most part bu also knowing the individual history of a particular animal also helps in providing for that individual.

Behavioral differences in captive vs wild

1. animals won't spend 100% of their time hunting for food

2. will have smaller herds/groups in captivity than in the wild

3. limited mates in captivity

4. closer relationships to humans in captivity

what is the space like, might not want to promote certain behaviors in captivity

What do animals spend most of there time doing in the wild

Finding food. In captive provide a natural challenge in order to get food.

Why is it important to know the function of a behavior?

If you don't understand the function of behavior, it is hard to change the behavior effectively. We also don't know if its something we want to promote or see the animals expressing. We can't understand how to best provide enrichment that would promote that behavior.

Topography

what the behavior looks like

SPIDER

S-setting goals

P-planning

I-implementing

D-documenting

E-evaluating

R-readjusting

How is SPIDER used

Used in a step by step process in order to change a behavior or encourage one

Describe the process Disney's Animal Kingdom uses as they make decisions regarding management of animal behavior.

Watching videos and understanding natural behaviors, what is the topography, function, is it a behavior we want to promote, how do we promote these behaviors. Use SPIDER process.

If the goal is to improve enrichment, why is giving a list of novel items not the best answer

Does not consider the individual needs and preferences of the animals. Tailoring enrichment to each animal is more effective. Always start with behavior, not item.

Training and why we do it

Teaching

Advantages are that it encourages animals to display natural behaviors, ease of handling during procedures, and keeps overall health up.

Operant conditioning

Learned based on consequences, acts on environment.

Shaping

Tiny little steps that lead to the ultimate behavior you want expressed

Cue

request for an animal to do a behavior

Bridge

when they do the behavior you want them to do. Click when a dog sits.

Important components of a training plan

safety-always be considering something from a safety perspective

continuity of approximations-do they flow easily

are the approximations and techniques suggested appropriate for this animal

is there equipment or props needed to achieve this goal

does the goal of the behavior match the final approximation-most plans don't have this

Positive Reinforcement

Gaining a reward for doing food behavior

Negative Reinforcement

Something bad being removed when doing good behavior

Positive Punishment

adding a consequence when bad behavior is exhbitied

Negative Punishment

Removing something when bad behavior is exhibited

List principles of training

Prepare, success at each step, train one thing at a time, relax when something changes, door closes-find another, continuous training, go back to kindergarden, keep attention, ahead of learner, quit while ahead.

Importance of communication in training

Animal will have a primary trainer, but not always the same trainer, If not communicating between trainers, then training can be compromised, Very detailed process so there is nothing different and not giving animal mixed message.

Wildlife rehabilitation steps and goals

goal is to rescue, treat/care, then release animals. Preserve natural ecosystem, provide proper care to animals in need, keep wild animals wild. education

Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits

Very state to state, state agencies. usually written test, recommendations/sponsor, facility inspection, permit application. Special cases for bird, animals are state owned, so cannot charge for service.

How are sanctuaries different from wildlife rehabilitation

Animal sanctuaries rescue and treat animals, but do not release them

Red flags of sanctuaries

Trade of wildlife, breeding, and contact between public and wildlife

Nutrition

The science of how living organisms obtain and use food for substance and growth.

Diet

the total sum of all foods an animal consumes

Water

Most important.

Source: water, fruits, vegtables

Function: Hydrate the body, transport nutrients, regulate body temp, dissolve and carry waste products

Carbohydrates

Source: grains, fruits, vegetables, sugars.

Function: provide immediate energy for the brain and body; aid in digestion; support mood and muscle building

Proteins

Source: Meat, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts

Functions: build and repair tissues; create hormones and enzymes; provide energy

Fats

Source: animal-based foods, dairy products, nuts, seeds, oils

Function: store energy; form cell membranes; protect organs; provide insulation and regulate temp; aid in brain and verve function

Vitamins

Source: fruits, vegetables

Function: regulate body processes; support normal body system functions; play a role in chemical reactions

Minerals

Source: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, diary, and meat

Function: regulate body processes; build strong bones and teeth; carry oxygen' boost immune system

Essential Nutrient

Need in diet. Body cannot make

Non-essential nutrient

Body can make on own

Simple carbs

Sugar and starches that are broken down easily

Complex Carbs

Fiber, cannot be digested so they must be fermented by bacteria

Complex GI Tract

Can digest more fiber

Carnivore Gut

Shorter and more simple

Herbivore gut

Longer and much more complex

Foregut fermentation

occurs in the rumen and feeds the microbe first (cow)

Hindgut fermentation

occurs in the cecum and colon and after gastric digestion (horse)

Are hindgut or foregut fermenters more efficient?

Foregut fermenters are more efficient because they can absorb more nutrients from the microbial fermentation process in the foregut. However, hindgut fermenters can compensate for lower efficiency by eating larger qualities of fiber more frequently, allowing them to survive on lower-quality food sources in environments where foregut fermenters might not get enough nutrition.

Fermentation process

Microbal digestion of carb/fiber. Eat plants, go into rumen, bacteria eat and produce volate fatty acid/short chain, used for energy. Bacteria to small intestine to make protein.

Why should diets for animals that rely on fermentation be transition slowly?

To allow the gastrointestinal microbiome time to adapt to the new nutrient composition. Avoid disrupting balance of microbial population and gut environment.

Marco Minerals

Needed in larger amounts

Micro minerals

needed in very small amounts

Calcium and phosphorus

can be combated with gut loading

Ash

Everything that is inorganic and will not burn

Nutrition in captivity vs wild

food acquisition, diet, nutrient content, particular foods

Most to least energy dense

Fats (9) then proteins (4) and carbs (4)

Fat soluble

Store in the liver or fatty tissue; don't need everyday and can become toxic if you have to much. A, D, E, K

Water soluble

Not stored in the body; must take more often since it's not stored. C, B

Human food vs animal

Human food is high in fat and carbs and does not always meet animal needs

Vitamin E

antioxidant

Thiamin

Essential for energy metabolism

Herbivore

eats plants

Omnivore

eats both plants animals

Carnivore

eats only animals

Insectivore

eats insects

Piscivre

eats fish

Folivore

eats leaves

Frugivore

eats fruit

Why are domestic animal models important for nutrition?

So there is a starting point to base nutrition off of

Challenges with zoo nutrtion

Meeting the specific dietary needs of various species and ensuring sustainability of feed items. Some feed items may be overharvested or have negative environmental impacts

Nutrition lenses

Some Days Feel More Nice Up Ahead 1. Species-what do they eat

2. Digestive-anatomy and tract

3. Feeding strategies-what do they eat in the wild and are they getting food from different areas

4. Model Species-is there a related species that we can compare

5. Nutrients in Wild Foods-nutrients in wild diets are different from human cultivated foods

6. Unique Considerations-health issues and certain ways to eat stuff

7. Available Feedstuff