Texas Biomed Science Report 2011-2012 - Texas Biomedical ...

40
2011–2012 Scientific Report
“The main goal of the Behavioral Services Program is to provide animals an environment that
encourages the expression of species-typical behaviors, such as social interaction, locomotion,
manipulation, and feeding, in a captive setting.”
Corrine Lutz, Ph.D.
Leader, Behavioral Services, SNPRC
The Behavioral Services program uses accumulated knowledge of the natural
history and behavior of each species housed at SNPRC to develop appropriate
behavioral management and enrichment plans and to promote animal welfare.
The program objectives include providing proper socialization and
environmental enrichment, utilizing positive reinforcement training,
monitoring animal behavior and providing interventions when necessary,
educating the staff, and providing research support.
Providing social contact is the best way to encourage natural behaviors of
nonhuman primates. Almost all of the primates at SNPRC are housed in
pairs or social groups, and Behavioral Services staff members work to ensure
compatibility of the group members. A social partner is perhaps the most
important and basic environmental variable because it provides constantly
changing stimuli and challenges the animal’s social and cognitive
functioning.
Environmental enrichment also includes structural, food, sensory, and
manipulable enrichment. All enclosures are equipped with some form of
structural enrichment such as climbing structures, perches, or swings.
Baboons, chimpanzees, and other monkeys are quite agile and like to rest in
areas above the ground. In addition to the standard nutritional diet, the
primates are provided with food enrichment in the form of a variety of fruits
and vegetables. Additional treats may include yogurt, popcorn, or raisins.
Some foods are placed in foraging devices or puzzles to create added
challenges. A sensory enrichment component includes music, nature videos
and children’s programming on television, and mirrors so animals can view
themselves or their neighbors. The animals also receive a wide variety of toys
and other objects to manipulate. Toys are rotated and replaced to keep the
animals’ interest.
In addition to enrichment, the behavioral team provides a range of
services to support both colony management and research. An animal trainer
Publications
• Lutz CK, Davis EB, Ruggiero AM, Suomi SJ (2007) Early predictors of self-biting in
socially-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Am J Primatol 69:1-7.
• Davenport MD, Lutz CK, Tiefenbacher S, Novak MA, Meyer JS (2008) A rhesus monkey
model of self-injury: effects of relocation stress on behavior and neuroendocrine function.
Biol Psychiat 63:990-996.
• Lutz CK, Meyer JS. Self-injurious behavior: Nonhuman primate models for the human
condition. In: Burbacher TM, Sackett GP, Grant KS, editors. Primate models of children’s
health and developmental disabilities. Salt Lake City (UT): Academic Press; 2008, p. 109-40.
• Iredale SK, Nevill CH, Lutz CK (2010) The influence of observer presence on baboon (Papio
spp.) and rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) behavior. Appl An Behav Sci 122:53-77.
• Lutz CK, Coleman K, Maier A, McCowan B (2011) Abnormal behavior in rhesus monkeys: risk
factors within and between animals and facilities. Am J Primatol 73 (Suppl. 1):41.
works with care staff and technicians to train animals for routine
husbandry and clinical procedures such as shifting cages and presenting
body parts for inspection or injection. Training provides positive human
interaction, reduces stress on animals, and makes staff responsibilities
easier. The Behavioral Services staff conducts routine observations on many
of the animals to assess their well-being. In situations in which the animals
may need extra attention, a behavioral intervention plan is instituted.
Interventions may include additional or different enrichment or movement
to a new social group. Assessments and interventions help us to provide
individuals with optimal housing and social settings.
Behavioral Services personnel consult with investigators whose projects
may be affected by the behavioral abilities, needs, and limitations of study
animals. In addition, they often make recommendations regarding which
animals to use for a given project and develop procedures for collecting
behavioral data. To further educate the staff, Behavioral Services teaches
classes that cover the natural history and behavior of nonhuman primates,
animal training, and environmental enrichment.
E For more information, please visit www.txbiomed.org/primate-researchcenter/primate-research-center-staff-bio?u=138
Staff
Left to right: Maribel Vazquez, Kim
Linsenbardt, Blake Harrington, Corrine
Lutz, Heath Nevill, Sabrina Bourgeois