Abstract
The authors analyze the effects of enrichment devices on the behavior of common marmoset female pairs, and determine which aspects of these devices are more likely to elicit explorative behaviors, and how their presence affects aggressive and stress-related behaviors. The results support the use of enrichment devices for captive primates and show that in marmosets, their effectiveness strongly depends on location within the enclosure and the presence of hidden food.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Keith Morris, Irene Greig, Kevin Hawes, and Mark Fisken of the MRC Unit for their practical help and kindness throughout the data collection, and Gabriele Schino and Raffaella Ventura for valuable comments on the manuscript. B.M. was funded by a University “La Sapienza” of Rome studentship, and by a grant from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (report number 26-00).
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Majolo, B., Buchanan-Smith, H. & Bell, J. Response to Novel Objects and Foraging Tasks by Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Female Pairs. Lab Anim 32, 32–38 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0303-32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0303-32