Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening
Although reptiles are commonly housed in zoos and aquariums, their welfare is understudied for the diversity of species housed and the taxon’s current captive population size. The sensory abilities of reptiles have adapted to the varied ecological niches they inhabit, and these evolutionary adaptati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/8/1034 |
| _version_ | 1797437165774307328 |
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| author | Jennifer Hamilton Kylen N. Gartland Megan Jones Grace Fuller |
| author_facet | Jennifer Hamilton Kylen N. Gartland Megan Jones Grace Fuller |
| author_sort | Jennifer Hamilton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although reptiles are commonly housed in zoos and aquariums, their welfare is understudied for the diversity of species housed and the taxon’s current captive population size. The sensory abilities of reptiles have adapted to the varied ecological niches they inhabit, and these evolutionary adaptations impact how reptiles perceive the stimuli around them—including zoo visitors. This study aimed to assess visitor effects on small groups of six reptile species during a temporary zoo closure due to COVID-19 by measuring behavioral diversity, use of space (measured by a spread of participation index), and select behaviors. The species assessed showed diverse responses. The Catalina Island rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus catalinensis</i>) demonstrated increased investigation and behavioral diversity after the zoo reopened compared to when the zoo was closed, but the European glass lizards (<i>Pseudopus apodus</i>) showed decreases in the amount of time spent exposed to the observers’ view and in their evenness of space use after the zoo was reopened to visitors. The other species, including beaded lizards (<i>Heloderma horridum</i>), Sonoran spiny-tailed iguana (<i>Ctenosaura macrolopha</i>), Arrau turtles (<i>Podocnemis expansa</i>), and dwarf caimans (<i>Paleosuchus palpebrosus</i>), had intermediate changes in their responses to visitor presence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:15:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60474c08c306413186dd5065f2cfc46b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:15:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-60474c08c306413186dd5065f2cfc46b2023-12-01T00:31:15ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-04-01128103410.3390/ani12081034Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and ReopeningJennifer Hamilton0Kylen N. Gartland1Megan Jones2Grace Fuller3Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USACenter for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USACenter for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USACenter for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USAAlthough reptiles are commonly housed in zoos and aquariums, their welfare is understudied for the diversity of species housed and the taxon’s current captive population size. The sensory abilities of reptiles have adapted to the varied ecological niches they inhabit, and these evolutionary adaptations impact how reptiles perceive the stimuli around them—including zoo visitors. This study aimed to assess visitor effects on small groups of six reptile species during a temporary zoo closure due to COVID-19 by measuring behavioral diversity, use of space (measured by a spread of participation index), and select behaviors. The species assessed showed diverse responses. The Catalina Island rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus catalinensis</i>) demonstrated increased investigation and behavioral diversity after the zoo reopened compared to when the zoo was closed, but the European glass lizards (<i>Pseudopus apodus</i>) showed decreases in the amount of time spent exposed to the observers’ view and in their evenness of space use after the zoo was reopened to visitors. The other species, including beaded lizards (<i>Heloderma horridum</i>), Sonoran spiny-tailed iguana (<i>Ctenosaura macrolopha</i>), Arrau turtles (<i>Podocnemis expansa</i>), and dwarf caimans (<i>Paleosuchus palpebrosus</i>), had intermediate changes in their responses to visitor presence.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/8/1034reptile welfarevisitor effectsCOVID-19zoo animal behavior |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Hamilton Kylen N. Gartland Megan Jones Grace Fuller Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening Animals reptile welfare visitor effects COVID-19 zoo animal behavior |
| title | Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening |
| title_full | Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening |
| title_fullStr | Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening |
| title_short | Behavioral Assessment of Six Reptile Species during a Temporary Zoo Closure and Reopening |
| title_sort | behavioral assessment of six reptile species during a temporary zoo closure and reopening |
| topic | reptile welfare visitor effects COVID-19 zoo animal behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/8/1034 |
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