The ways in which challenging environments during development shape the brain and behaviour are increasingly being addressed. To date, studies typically consider only single variables, but real world is more complex. Many factors simultaneously affect behaviour, whether these work independently or interact remains untested. address this, zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) were reared a two-by-two design housing that varied structural complexity and/or exposure to stressor. Fish experiencing both...

To test whether swimming skills can be improved by exposure to structurally complex environments, juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were reared in either physically enriched or plain tanks for 2 months and then screened their ability swim along a channel while avoiding obstructions. The results show that even relatively short period enrichment improves O. agility.

Living in challenging environments can influence the behavior of animals a number ways. For instance, populations prey fish that experience frequent, nonlethal interactions with predators have high proportion individuals express greater reaction to risk and increased activity exploration-collectively known as temperament traits. Temperament traits are often correlated, such risk-prone also tend be active explore more. Spatial learning, which requires integration many sensory cues, has been...

In non-human mammals, exercise has been shown to decrease anxiety-like behavior. Conversely, a number of studies have reported no effect or even an increase in behavior after exercise, however, inconsistent training regimes and behavioral paradigms across may be confounding the results. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are well-established animal model neurobehavioral research, potential shed new insight into effects on where previous research limited, due ability precisely control intensity duration...

Environmental enrichment is used to increase social and physical stimulation for animals in captivity which can lead enhanced cognition. Fundamental the positive effect has on brain that it provides opportunities captive recognize discriminate between different stimuli environment. In wild, being able novel or familiar implications survival, example finding food, hiding from predators, even choosing a mate. The object recognition (NOR) test cognitive task extensively rodent literature assess...

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely accepted as a multidisciplinary vertebrate model for neurobehavioral and clinical studies, more recently have become established exercise physiology behavior. Individual differences in activity level (e.g., exploration) been characterized zebrafish, however, how different levels of exploration correspond to motivation engage swimming behavior has not yet explored. We screened individual zebrafish two tests exploration: the open field novel tank diving...

Animal welfare assessment techniques try to take into consideration the specific needs and wants of animal in question. Providing enrichment (the addition physical objects or conspecifics housing environment) is often a way give captive animals opportunity choose who what they interact with how spend their time. A fundamental component aquatic environment that overlooked captivity, however, ability for engage exercise. For many animals, including fish, exercise an important aspect life...

Animal welfare assessment techniques try to take into consideration the specific needs and wants of animal in question. Providing enrichment (the addition physical objects or conspecifics housing environment) is often a way give captive animals opportunity choose who what they interact with how spend their time. A fundamental component aquatic environment that overlooked captivity, however, ability for engage exercise. For many animals, including fish, exercise an important aspect life...

Abstract Urbanization is a selective force that known to drive changes in the population dynamics of wildlife. How animals adapt changing environmental conditions crucial their survival these environments. Relative brain size, or cranial capacity, proxy behavioral flexibility, and can be used assess how well species has adapted particular environment. We examined capacity time series small mammal skulls collected from urban rural populations southwestern Pennsylvania. Skulls were Allegheny...

For any animal, learning to distinguish between very similar spatial cues in the environment is a fundamental skill acquire, because it can ultimately lead live or die situation. However, cognitively demanding learn discriminate environments (as opposed distinct ones). Spatial pattern separation cognitive process that keeps similar, overlapping memories distinct, and thought underlie many tasks used behavioral studies. In captivity, has been shown environmental enrichment enhanced fish,...

Living in captivity can provide easy access to food and protection from predation. However, it also remove an animal’s capacity for autonomy. One method increase autonomy is predictability captive animals, such as consistent cues routine husbandry tasks. We investigated whether zebrafish could learn associate specific human technicians with distinct roles based on facial recognition alone. It has only been previously found that species of fish (archerfish) pictures faces events, not beings...