Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1967. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Title from title page of PDF (University of Missouri--St. Louis, viewed February 15, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-125).

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Psychology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-35).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-54).

Thesis (M.S.) in Wildlife Ecology--University of Maine, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-64).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1961. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1972. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography.

This thesis aims to address some of the deficiencies that exist in this discipline, in order to widen the applicability of biotelemetry methods and ultimately provide new data which will improve our understanding of animal movement strategies.

In 1998, 30 juvenile elephants were captured in Botswana and transported to a holding facility in South Africa to be trained and sold to zoos and safari parks. The welfare of the 'Tuli Elephants' as they became known, became the source of acrimonious dispute between a number of conservation and animal groups. The case highlighted concerns over the welfare of elephants during capture, transport and confinement. Questions asked were: can an objective assessment of the effect on juvenile elephants on the removal from matriarchal group be made. This study was aimed to take an objective approach to assessing the welfare of captive juvenile elephants using behavioural and physiological methods of investigation. A behavioural study to identify indicators of stress was conducted in five groups of elephants subject to various husbandry systems. Thirteen behavioural indicators of stress were identified. A group of two elephants held in an enclosure 70 m2 that was devoid of mud and sand baths showed the highest number of behavioural indicators of stress. Elephants in larger enclosures with mud and sand baths showed fewer indicators of stress. The group able to range freely during the day showed the least number of stress¬related indicators. Conventionally the physiological assessment of adrenal responses to stress relies upon blood sample collection and the measurement of glucocorticoids but this is impossible without immobilisation or restraint that influences results. This study validated a recently established enzyme immunoassay (EtA) measuring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in elephants. A preliminary investigation into the biological relevance of this non-invasive method was made for use in assessing welfare in elephants. Four juvenile elephants were injected i.m. with synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) (Synacthen, Novartis; 2.15 mg). Blood and faecal samples were collected over 4 hand 7 days respectively. Concentrations of serum cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites were determined using immunoassay. Variability of basal and peak values in blood and faeces were observed among the elephants. After ACTH injection, serum cortisol concentrations increased by 400-700%. When compared to cortisol and corticosterone EIAs, 11-oxoaetiocholanolone EIA proved best suited to measure cortisol metabolites. Concentrations of faecal 11,17¬dioxoandrostanes increased by 570-1070% reaching peak levels after 20-25.5h. Samples left outside could be collected up to 8hrs after defecation without a significant effect on metabolite concentrations. A correlation between enclosure size, presence of stress-related behaviour and faecal 11,17 -DOAs was observed. Elephants kept in small enclosures exhibited more stress-related behaviour and had higher levels of glucocorticoid metabolites than those ranging in a larger area. The results of the study suggest that non-invasive faecal monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites is useful in investigating adrenal activity in African elephants. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / MSc / Unrestricted

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, October 2015. / Animals in captivity are often raised in suboptimal environments, which lead to abnormal behaviours, such as stereotypic behaviour. Environmental enrichment can reduce or eliminate these behaviours to some extent. However, enrichments are not always successful in their intended purpose, which may be attributed to differences among individuals (i.e. personality). The overarching aim of my study was to investigate how environmental enrichment affected the expression of stereotypic behaviour in my study model, the African striped mouse, Rhabdomys dilectus, and to ascertain whether personality modulated the responses to enrichment. I conducted four experiments to test these aims. Firstly, I tested whether personality was associated with the development and expression of stereotypic behaviours. Results indicated that stereotypic striped mice were bold and showed a proactive coping style, while non-stereotypic striped mice were less bold and showed a reactive coping style. Furthermore, having a proactive coping style did not predict the onset of stereotypic behaviours. Nevertheless, individual differences in personality were observed even within stereotypic and non-stereotypic striped mice so that each group was not homogeneous for personality. Secondly, I tested whether personality was associated with the responses of stereotypic striped mice to enrichment. While stereotypic behaviours were reduced in enriched cages, individuals were not consistent in their behaviour, indicating flexible behavioural responses to the different cage complexities. Interestingly, these responses occurred irrespective of personality differences. There were no treatment-related differences in the behavioural responses of non-stereotypic striped mice. Thirdly, I examined whether the age at which striped mice were introduced to the environmental enrichment influenced their behavioural responses. Age did not affect the behavioural responses of stereotypic or non-stereotypic mice to the cages of different complexity. Surprisingly, while stereotypic behaviours were reduced in the enriched treatments, not all stereotypic mice responded to enrichment in the same manner, implying flexible behavioural responses. Moreover, these behavioural responses also occurred regardless of the individual’s personality type. There were no age-related differences in the behavioural responses of non-stereotypic striped mice. Finally, I investigated the purpose of wheel running, either as an enrichment or as a re-directed stereotypic behaviour, in stereotypic striped mice, because there is much debate about its use as an enrichment. Due to individual differences in responses to the running wheel, wheel running appeared to be both an enrichment and a re-directed behaviour. In conclusion, my study provides the first empirical data for the theory that stereotypic animals have different personalities to non-stereotypic animals. Nonetheless, this dichotomy between stereotypic and non-stereotypic striped mice at the group level masked individual responses within groups, with individuals flexibly altering their behaviour, depending on the environment to which they were exposed, which in turn affected the efficacy of environmental enrichment. My study suggests that the welfare and well-being of animals requires an assessment of individual trajectories in the development of stereotypic behaviours.