Biology subjects

Pierre, P. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Pierre, P. J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

A Comparison of Macaque Hair Hormone Concentration Following Enhanced Cognitive Experiences or Standard Nonhuman Primate Environmental Enrichment

Experience with enriched environments positively impacts the health and wellbeing of nonhuman animals ranging from rodents to primates. Little is known, however, about the specific effects of enhanced cognitive enrichment (ECE) on nonhuman primates. The study reported here used archival samples to provide preliminary analysis of ECE on hormones associated with stress and wellbeing, as well as evaluation of persistent effects of infant social rearing. Hair samples from 24 adult male rhesus macaques were analyzed via LC-MS/MS technique for the main stress response hormones: cortisol, cortisone, and dehydroepiandrosterone. The ECE and care-as-usual (CAU) groups did not significantly differ in any of the mean analyte values. Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone were strongly and positively correlated in the ECE group. By contrast, for the CAU group the two analytes were weakly correlated. Within the ECE group, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone were significantly and positively correlated in the mother-reared group, but not in the nursery-reared group. Overall, these results provide preliminary evidence that experience with ECE could help to maintain a balanced cortisol:dehydroepiandrosterone ratio, possibly indicative of a healthy stress response. Further examination of this ratio in hair is needed to support this hypothesis. These observations may also suggest that nursery rearing could have persistent effects, including dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, apparent in the unbalanced cortisol:dehydroepiandrosterone ratio. Together these findings are consistent with the growing literature that supports the use of ECE to promote nonhuman primate wellbeing and healthy development.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2020

Calories delivered by nonhuman primate foraging enrichment: Data and methods to inform decisions concerning the dietary consequences of enrichment

Foraging opportunities are a key component of enrichment in captive nonhuman primates providing manipulative opportunities in which animals can engage in species-typical behaviors. Recent studies suggest captive NHP populations have increased body weight over time leading to negative health outcomes. Increasing food foraging opportunities provides added calories that can be estimated but often are not directly measured. We assessed 10 commonly used foraging puzzles for the amount of foraging material they held; evaluated the range of caloric content delivered; and determine the labor and usage cost of each. Five preparation areas were sampled. The amount of foraging material contained in each prepared puzzle was calculated by subtracting the average empty puzzle weight from the loaded puzzle weight. A detailed description of food content was used to illustrate caloric content. Larger prepared puzzles held more food (M=104.9 g) as compared to small volumes puzzles (M=59.8 g). Analysis of the weight of food applied and caloric content suggest larger puzzles do have the potential to provide increased caloric load; however, the added food from large foraging puzzles constitutes only 5%-10% of the daily k/cal dietary requirement. The study illustrates the importance of considering puzzle characteristics when selecting foraging toys and discusses the considerations of cost of puzzle deployment, maintenance and interactive benefit. The broad significance of our assessment suggests that calories from foraging opportunities are not excessive and can be managed by adopting standard serving sizes and scheduling intermitted presentation of non-nutritive enrichment options.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2018

A Model Quantitative Assessment Tool for Nonhuman Primate Environmental Enrichment Plans

The housing and care of captive nonhuman primates (NHP) typically meets federal regulations and standards as well as guidelines by private accreditation organizations. There is, however, a gap between such policy, common practices, and the findings of a large empirical research literature on the effects of environmental enrichment (EE), particularly with respect to the degree to which different enrichment strategies lead to a demonstrable improvement of the animals psychological wellbeing. Assessment tools to guide decisions about selection and refinement of EE practices are largely missing and our companion paper offers a theoretically grounded qualitative approach to the categorization and assessment of sensory, motor, and cognitive (SMC) EE strategies. Here, we propose and illustrate a model for quantitative assessment of enrichment practices using a sample of research facility, zoo, and sanctuary NHP environmental enrichment plans (EEP). Our scoring technique provides a means for comparing the efficacy of different strategies across facilities and allows for the selection of priority areas for improvement. Overall, our assessment tool provides a framework that has several advantages. It is inherently flexible. It can be tailored to fit a range of species. It can readily be adapted to accommodate new evidence about a specific EE strategy, or new EE strategies, or both. Because a scientifically valid evidence-based framework drives priority, our method is readily adaptable to different types of facilities and is more likely to lead to longer-term benefits, both in terms of the enhancement of psychological wellbeing of captive NHP, and with respect to the judicious use of limited resources.\n\nAcronyms

animal behavior and cognition↗