Animal Studies Commons^™

Struggle For Survival: The History And Ethics Of Living Collections, Emily Simms

Museum Studies Theses

This thesis explores the ethics involved with institutions caring for living collections worldwide such as zoos, national parks, and aquariums. There are several main concerns that these institutions are currently facing: poaching, keeper negligence, euthanasia within zoos themselves, and public opinion. The moral issues engrained can help guide keepers of these collections to take better care of the animals for which they are responsible. It also explores specific cases in the past in which living collections have managed serious issues and how they resolved these issues.

Proteomic Characterization Of Eggshell Membranes And Their Effect On Poultry Physiology And Immunity, Sarbjeet Kaur Makkar

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of antibiotics in poultry growth and disease control has led to antibiotics resistant problem in human beings, which is a big concern among consumers. With the necessity for judicious use of antibiotics in poultry production, alternative strategies to improve disease resistance in poultry production are necessary. The research is more inclined towards using the natural products available to grow healthier and antibiotic free meat animals. In the context of exploring natural and sustainable resource of alternative to antibiotics, the biochemical milieu of eggshell membranes (ESM) were analyzed by using mass spectrometry techniques including matrix assisted laser desorption ionization …

Evaluation And Selection Of A Bacillus Based Direct-Fed Microbial Candidate For In Situ Enzyme Production To Improve Gut Health Integrity, Bone Quality And Growth Performance In Poultry, Juan David Latorre Cardenas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

During the last decade, the increasing interest in renewable energy sources has been changing the distribution of corn utilization from human and animal consumption to biofuel production, leading to a continuous rise in feed costs of livestock diets. Therefore, alternative feed ingredients such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), as well as cereals like wheat, barley, and sorghum have become part of the feed matrix to maintain or reduce production costs. However, these raw materials often contain a higher concentration of antinutritional factors in comparison to corn, including non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) which increase digesta viscosity and reduce nutrient absorption …

Annotated Bibliography: Interactions With Animals (2014-2015), Erich Yahner

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

No abstract provided.

Why Do Animal Tragedies Go Viral?, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Cecil's death could have a lasting impact on attitudes toward wildlife.

Parental Influences On The Behavior Of A Juvenile Bornean Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus), Raechel Mcumber, Sarah Robarts, Gregory B. Cunningham

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Here we discuss the influence of the mother and father on the behaviors of a juvenile Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). This species is known for being solitary and asocial, in that males and females do not live together, while living in their natural environment. However, adults are usually housed together in zoo settings. We observed a juvenile and both of her parents in their zoo enclosure and recorded the play and parentally influenced behaviors, such as swinging and eating, performed by the juvenile. It was found that the juvenile played and performed parentally influenced behaviors significantly more while in …

Annotated Bibliography: Cruelty To Animals And Violence To Humans (2014-2015), Erich Yahner

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

No abstract provided.

Annotated Bibliography: Attitudes Toward Wildlife And The Environment (2014-2015), Erich Yahner

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

No abstract provided.

Annotated Bibliography: Attitudes Toward Animal Research (2014-2015), Erich Yahner

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

No abstract provided.

Annotated Bibliography: Attitudes Toward Animals (2014-2015), Erich Yahner

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Study Of Biogas Generated Electricity For The Austin E. Knowlton Center For Equine Science At Otterbein University, Jillian Strimbu

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

Manure removal is an important issue for Otterbein University’s Austin E. Knowlton Center for Equine Science. Evaluating alternative methods for manure removal at Otterbein is essential for both economic and green energy initiatives. Two companies who manufacture waste to energy systems, SEaB Energy and Bioferm Energy Systems, were contacted regarding the feasibility for the small-scale anaerobic digesters that they currently market (the Muckbuster and EUCOlino, respectively). Quasar Energy Corporation was also contacted as a possible off-site manure disposal option at their Zanesville large-scale dry digestion facility. Both the Muckbuster and EUCOlino options were determined to be economically infeasible for Otterbein …

An Analysis Of The Characteristics And Practices Of Selected Alabama Small Livestock Producers: A Focus On Production And Processing, Jannette R. Bartlett, Mst Nusrat Jahan, David Nii O. Tackie, Akua Adu-Gyamfi, Francisca A. Quarcoo

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

The study assessed the characteristics and practices of small livestock producers, emphasizing production and processing. Data were obtained from a convenience sample of 121 small producers from South Central Alabama, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including chi-square tests. The socioeconomic factors showed most were part-time farmers; middle-aged producers; producers with at most a two-year/technical degree or some college education, and producers with $40,000 or less annual household income. A majority practiced rotational grazing, fed a combination of forage (direct from pasture), hay and concentrate, and about half conducted soil tests regularly. Furthermore, many had goats with parasite problems that …

Trends In Popularity Of Some Morphological Traits Of Purebred Dogs In Australia, Kendy Tzu-Yun Teng, Paul Mcgreevy, Jenny-Ann L.M.L. Toribio, Navneet Dhand

Societal Attitudes Toward Animals Collection

Background: The morphology of dogs can provide information about their predisposition to some disorders. For example, larger breeds are predisposed to hip dysplasia and many neoplastic diseases. Therefore, longitudinal trends in popularity of dog morphology can reveal potential disease pervasiveness in the future. There have been reports on the popularity of particular breeds and behavioural traits but trends in the morphological traits of preferred breeds have not been studied. Methods: This study investigated trends in the height, dog size and head shape (cephalic index) of Australian purebred dogs. One hundred eighty-one breeds derived from Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) registration …

Foraging Time And Food Resource Use Of Geoffroy’S Tamarin (Saguinus Geoffroyi) In An Urban Forest Landscape, Parque Natural Metropolitano, Ciudad De Panamá, Panamá, Rachael Pruitt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Saguinus geoffroyi, a small neotropical primate that ranges from the Chocó region of Colombia along the Pacific coast of Panamá to the eastern side of the Azuero peninsula. They are known to be a disturbance tolerant species and are mostly found in secondary growth and forest edges where understory growth is moderately dense. They have 3 main food sources: insects, small fruits and exudates (plant saps), which are located in different layers of the forest, although the composition of these may change depending on the season. This study attempted to determine the common food resources, foraging time and location of …

When The Hunt Is Over: Culture And Conservation In Kazakh Eagle Falconry, Nolan R. Ebner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The last large scale practice of falconry that uses Golden Eagles takes place in Bayan- Ulgii, Mongolia. Recent media exposure allowed for the development of a tourism industry in the region that culminates in two annual festivals celebrating the cultural heritage. Modern eagle falconry practices have been shown to deviate from traditional hunting and training methods. While Golden Eagles are listed with a regional conservation status of Least Concern by the Mongolian Red List, these new practices place the health of Golden Eagle populations in the region at risk, especially as tourism continues to grow. Furthermore, a changing environmental climate …

Mother--Offspring Recognition Via Contact Calls In Cattle, Bos Taurus, Mónica Padilla De La Torre, Elodie F. Briefer, Brad M. Ochocki, Alan G. Mcelligott, Tom Reader

Sentience Collection

Individual recognition in gregarious species is fundamental in order to avoid misdirected parental investment. In ungulates, two very different parental care strategies have been identified: ‘hider’ offspring usually lie concealed in vegetation whereas offspring of ‘follower’ species remain with their mothers while they forage. These two strategies have been suggested to impact on mother--offspring vocal recognition, with unidirectional recognition of the mother by offspring occurring in hiders and bidirectional recognition in followers. In domestic cattle, Bos taurus, a facultative hider species, vocal communication and recognition have not been studied in detail under free-ranging conditions, where cows and calves can graze …

An Analysis Of Diversity In Nonhuman Animal Rights Media, Corey Lee Wrenn

Diversity and Social Movements Collection

Lack of diversity in the ranks as well as a failure to resonate with disadvantaged groups and other anti-oppression movements has been cited as one important barrier to the American Nonhuman Animal rights movement’s success (Kymlicka and Donaldson 2013). It is possible that social movements are actively inhibiting diversity in the ranks and audience by producing literature that reflects a narrow activist identity. This article creates a platform from which these larger issues can be explored by investigating the actual demographic representations present in a small sample of popular media sources produced by the movement for other animals. A content …

Long Live The King? A Gis Analysis Of Climate Change’S Impact On The Future Wintering Range And Economy Of The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) In Mexico, Megan E. Zagorski

Student Publications

The annual migration of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a natural phenomenon widely integrated into the popular and social imagination of North America. However, this migratory population has recently declined. I investigated the threat of climate change on the future distribution of suitable monarch habitat, using ArcGIS to create a model of current and future monarch habitat. I also analyzed municipal data for 5 communities in Mexico State in an examination of the social aspects of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve [MBBR]. According to my model, an estimated 38.6% to 69.8% of current monarch habitat may be lost within …

Differential Involvement Of Hippocampal Angiotensin 1 Receptors In Learning And Memory Processes In Bulbectomized Rats, Roman Tashev, Margarita Ivanova, Stiliana Belcheva, Iren Belcheva

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of AT1 receptor antagonists on learning and memory processes. The effects of angiotensin II and losartan administration into CA1 hippocampal area on the avoidance performance in olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) rats using active avoidance (shuttle box) test and passive avoidance (step through) test were investigated. Rats were microinjected unilaterally through implanted guide cannulas into the CA1 area of the dorsal hippocampus and the drugs were administered separately, 5 minutes before each training session. The microinjections of losartan into the left, but not the right CA1 hippocampal area improved the acquisition and retention of active …

Distribution And Paleobiology Of Hibernation In Fossil Ground-Dwelling Squirrels From The Great Plains, Usa, Randy Sanchez

Honors Theses

Hibernation is a widespread phenomenon present across mammalian taxa, including in many ground-dwelling squirrels (family Sciuridae). Prior work has shown that a hibernation mark can be identified in the ever-growing incisors of these ground squirrels through surface inspection. In this study, we inspected fossil incisors, originating from the Great Plains, from the C.W. Hibbard collection at the University of Michigan for features associated with hibernation marks in modern species. We noted hibernation mark-like features in several fossil ground squirrel incisors from the genera Otospermophilus, “Spermophilus”, and Urocitellus, ranging stratigraphically from the early Pliocene to the late Pleistocene and providing the …

The Ethics Of Animal Research: A Survey Of The Public And Scientists In North America, Ari R. Joffe, Meredith Bara, Natalie Anton, Nathan Nobis

Morality and Ethics of Animal Experimentation Collection

Background: To determine whether the public and scientists consider common arguments (and counterarguments) in support (or not) of animal research (AR) convincing.

Methods: After validation, the survey was sent to samples of public (Sampling Survey International (SSI; Canadian), Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT; US), a Canadian city festival and children’s hospital), medical students (two second-year classes), and scientists (corresponding authors, and academic pediatricians). We presented questions about common arguments (with their counterarguments) to justify the moral permissibility (or not) of AR. Responses were compared using Chi-square with Bonferonni correction.

Results: There were 1220 public [SSI, n = 586; AMT, n = …

An Empirical Perspective On Animal Advocacy, Allison M. Smith, Jacy Reese

Animal Sentience

Ng (2016) lists some modest examples of goals that animal advocates could work towards. We provide examples of more ambitious animal advocacy strategies that are successful now, and strategies that researchers can use to engage productively with animal advocates. We also agree with Ng and some other commentators that animal advocates and researchers should prioritize the interests of individual wild animals over the preservation of nonsentient entities.

Non-Human Primates In Neuroscience Research: The Case Against Its Scientific Necessity, Jarrod Bailey, Katy Taylor

Experimentation Collection

Public opposition to non-human primate (NHP) experiments is significant, yet those who defend them cite minimal harm to NHPs and substantial human benefit. Here we review these claims of benefit, specifically in neuroscience, and show that: a) there is a default assumption of their human relevance and benefit, rather than robust evidence; b) their human relevance and essential contribution and necessity are wholly overstated; c) the contribution and capacity of non-animal investigative methods are greatly understated; and d) confounding issues, such as species differences and the effects of stress and anaesthesia, are usually overlooked. This is the case in NHP …

Does Environmental Enrichment Promote Recovery From Stress In Rainbow Trout?, Kieran C. Pounder, Jennifer L. Mitchell, Jack S. Thomson, Tom G. Pottinger, Jonathan Buckley, Lynne U. Sneddon

Experimental Research and Animal Welfare Collection

The EU Directive on animal experimentation suggests that all protected animals should have enrichment to improve welfare yet relatively little research has been conducted on the impact of enrichment in fish. Studies employing enrichment in zebrafish have been contradictory and all fish species should be provided with species-specific enrichments relevant to their ecology. Salmonids are important experimental models in studies within aquaculture, toxicology and natural ecosystems. This study therefore sought to establish whether an enriched environment in an experimental aquarium may promote improved welfare in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by enhancing their recovery from invasive procedures. Trout were …

Circulating Amino Acids In Blood Plasma During The Peripartal Period In Dairy Cows With Different Liver Functionality Index, Z. Zhou, J. J. Loor, F. Piccioli-Cappelli, F. Librandi, G. E. Lobley, E. Trevisi

Physiology Collection

The liver functionality index (LFI) measures the changes of albumin, cholesterol, and bilirubin concentrations between 3 and 28 d postpartum. This composite index, based on variables with direct relevance to liver-specific plasma protein synthesis (albumin), hepatic/intestinal lipoprotein synthesis (cholesterol), and clearance of breakdown products of heme catabolism (bilirubin), provides a tool for evaluating manifestations of hepatic disease. Both energy and protein metabolism are likely to be affected by various physiological challenges in this period but have not been tested systematically. The present study was conducted to profile AA in cows with high or low LFI during the peripartal period …

What Does The Child Protection Movement Teach Us About The Role Of The Mandated Reporter Of Abuse?, Bill C. Henry

Animal Sentience

Requiring veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse faces many of the same issues, concerns and hurdles once faced by the child protection movement. The history of child protection may hence provide a strategic model for progress in animal protection. Being able to anticipate the hurdles will help prepare us to overcome them.

Associations Between Domestic-Dog Morphology And Behaviour Scores In The Dog Mentality Assessment, Holly R. Stone, Paul D. Mcgreevy, Melissa J. Starling, Bjorn Forkman

Morphology Collection

The domestic dog shows a wide range of morphologies, that humans have selected for in the process of creating unique breeds. Recent studies have revealed correlations between changes in morphology and behaviour as reported by owners. For example, as height and weight decrease, many undesirable behaviours (non-social fear, hyperactivity and attention seeking) become more apparent. The current study aimed to explore more of these correlations, but this time used reports from trained observers. Phenotypic measurements were recorded from a range of common dog breeds (n = 45) and included cephalic index (CI: the ratio of skull width to skull length), …

Reconciling Horse Welfare, Worker Safety, And Public Expectations: Horse Event Incident Management Systems In Australia, Julie Fiedler, Paul D. Mcgreevy

Sport and Working Animal Welfare Collection

Human-horse interactions have a rich tradition and can be highly rewarding, particularly within sport and recreation pursuits, but they can also be dangerous or even life-threatening. In parallel, sport and recreation pursuits involving animals, including horses, are facing an increased level of public scrutiny in relation to the use of animals for these purposes. However, the challenge lies with event organisers to reconcile the expectations of the public, the need to meet legal requirements to reduce or eliminate risks to paid and volunteer workers, and address horse welfare. In this article we explore incident management at horse events as an …

The Contribution Of Equitation Science To Minimising Horse-Related Risks To Humans, Melissa Starling, Andrew Mclean, Paul Mcgreevy

Animal Training and Obedience Collection

Equitation science is an evidence-based approach to horse training and riding that focuses on a thorough understanding of both equine ethology and learning theory. This combination leads to more effective horse training, but also plays a role in keeping horse riders and trainers safe around horses. Equitation science underpins ethical equitation, and recognises the limits of the horse’s cognitive and physical abilities. Equitation is an ancient practice that has benefited from a rich tradition that sees it flourishing in contemporary sporting pursuits. Despite its history, horse-riding is an activity for which neither horses nor humans evolved, and it brings with …

Does Breed Popularity Go Up After A Dog Wins At Westminster?, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

How we tested the "Westminster surge hypothesis"