Primates: behavioral and hormonal response of common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, to two environmental conditions

Captive animals of several species change their behavioral pattern and hormonal profile in response to physical (for example, cage size and temperature) and social (for example, group size and social isolation) modification of their environment. To evaluate the effect of environmental change in capt...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Barbosa, Maricele Nascimento, Mota, Maria Teresa da Silva
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2009
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UFRN
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ufrn.br:123456789/26055
Acceso en línea:https://repositorio.ufrn.br/jspui/handle/123456789/26055
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Callithrix jacchus
Common marmoset
Captivity
Management routine
Descripción
Sumario:Captive animals of several species change their behavioral pattern and hormonal profile in response to physical (for example, cage size and temperature) and social (for example, group size and social isolation) modification of their environment. To evaluate the effect of environmental change in captivity, the affiliative (contact/proximity and allogrooming) and individual (approach, leaving, scent mark, locomotion, and autogrooming) behavior of five family groups of common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, were recorded on weekdays (non-quiet) and at the weekend (quiet) for two months. In addition, fecal samples were collected for four of these groups to measure their cortisol levels under both conditions. The behavioral pattern and hormonal profile of breeding pairs and their offspring were modified by different management routines used in the experimental conditions. We found that the animals spent more time in affiliative interactions at the weekend, whereas on weekdays, they showed more individual behaviors. Moreover, cortisol levels of breeding pairs and their offspring were higher on weekdays, suggesting that common marmosets living in captivity react to environmental modification by changing their behavioral and hormonal pattern.