Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment
Abstract Repetitive ‘stereotyped’ behaviours are often performed by both wild and domestic rodents in small laboratory cages. In this study, a behaviour resembling a backwards somersault or backflip is described and quantified in captive roof rats (ship or black rats, Rattus rattus ). Videotapes of...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2000
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s096272860002248x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S096272860002248X |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s096272860002248x 2024-09-15T18:31:56+00:00 Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment Callard, M D Bursten, S N Price, E O 2000 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s096272860002248x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S096272860002248X en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Animal Welfare volume 9, issue 2, page 139-152 ISSN 0962-7286 2054-1538 journal-article 2000 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s096272860002248x 2024-09-04T04:04:09Z Abstract Repetitive ‘stereotyped’ behaviours are often performed by both wild and domestic rodents in small laboratory cages. In this study, a behaviour resembling a backwards somersault or backflip is described and quantified in captive roof rats (ship or black rats, Rattus rattus ). Videotapes of captive-bred rat pups showed that repetitive backflipping developed rapidly after weaning. In all subjects, the behaviour was highly cyclical, with more than 90 per cent occurring during the dark phase of the light:dark cycle. Individual variability in the performance of backflipping was considerable but performance levels for each individual were consistent from day to day and at 30 and 60 days of age. Highly significant differences were found between litters (families), indicating important maternal and/or genetic effects on performance levels. Cage enrichment in the form of a wooden nest box resulted in dramatically lower rates of performance. Increased cage height resulted in delayed development of backflipping, as well as changes in the form of the behaviour. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that the development and expression of backflipping in young roof rats may be triggered by weaning and maintained by a heightened state of arousal in a relatively impoverished environment with limited opportunities for perceptual and locomotor stimulation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rattus rattus Cambridge University Press Animal Welfare 9 2 139 152 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Repetitive ‘stereotyped’ behaviours are often performed by both wild and domestic rodents in small laboratory cages. In this study, a behaviour resembling a backwards somersault or backflip is described and quantified in captive roof rats (ship or black rats, Rattus rattus ). Videotapes of captive-bred rat pups showed that repetitive backflipping developed rapidly after weaning. In all subjects, the behaviour was highly cyclical, with more than 90 per cent occurring during the dark phase of the light:dark cycle. Individual variability in the performance of backflipping was considerable but performance levels for each individual were consistent from day to day and at 30 and 60 days of age. Highly significant differences were found between litters (families), indicating important maternal and/or genetic effects on performance levels. Cage enrichment in the form of a wooden nest box resulted in dramatically lower rates of performance. Increased cage height resulted in delayed development of backflipping, as well as changes in the form of the behaviour. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that the development and expression of backflipping in young roof rats may be triggered by weaning and maintained by a heightened state of arousal in a relatively impoverished environment with limited opportunities for perceptual and locomotor stimulation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Callard, M D Bursten, S N Price, E O |
spellingShingle |
Callard, M D Bursten, S N Price, E O Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment |
author_facet |
Callard, M D Bursten, S N Price, E O |
author_sort |
Callard, M D |
title |
Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment |
title_short |
Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment |
title_full |
Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment |
title_fullStr |
Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment |
title_full_unstemmed |
Repetitive Backflipping Behaviour in Captive Roof Rats(Rattus Rattus)and the Effects of Cage Enrichment |
title_sort |
repetitive backflipping behaviour in captive roof rats(rattus rattus)and the effects of cage enrichment |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s096272860002248x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S096272860002248X |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
Animal Welfare volume 9, issue 2, page 139-152 ISSN 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s096272860002248x |
container_title |
Animal Welfare |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
139 |
op_container_end_page |
152 |
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1810473678593327104 |