Effects of New Seal Introductions on Conspecific and Visitor Activity.

Modern zoos and aquariums are defined by several primary goals, which include improving the welfare of their animals, public education, and inspiring visitors to develop an interest in conservation. Animal-Visitor Interactions (AVIs) (i.e., the impact of captive animals and visitors on each other) are a primary means to study these goals. The introduction of new animals into two seal exhibits-the harbor and northern fur seals-at the Seattle Aquarium presented a valuable opportunity to assess the impacts of introductions on the currently exhibited animals and aquarium visitors. The impacts of animal introductions were measured through direct observations of seal activity (i.e., ethogram behavioral observations) and visitor activity (i.e., crowd size and visitor length of stay) before and after new seal introductions. This study consisted of two experiments: Experiment 1 (Harbor seal exhibit) and Experiment 2 (Northern fur seal exhibit). In Experiment 1, we found that the introduction had few impacts on the existing harbor seals or on visitor activity. In Experiment 2, the introduction of a new fur seal had significant positive impacts on the existing fur seal, as was seen through increased social behaviors and decreased stereotypic behaviors, as well as a significant increase in crowd size post-introduction. Based on these findings, new animal introductions were associated with neutral to positive changes in both seal and visitor activity. Findings from this study suggest that studying new animal introductions can result in better understanding and promoting positive interactions with existing animals (introduction effects) and likewise positive experiences for zoo and aquarium visitors (introduction experiences).

Successive negative contrast effects in a risk-sensitive foraging procedure.

Although a wealth of studies have evidenced successive negative contrast effects in instrumental or operant procedures, relatively few studies have determined if and how a sudden downshift in reward quality alters foraging behaviour. In light of research by ecologists and psychologists in the area of risk-sensitive foraging, this area would serve as an adequate framework to examine the effects of a sudden downshift in reward quality on foraging behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of the current experiment was to explore if and how a sudden downshift in reward quality altered risk-sensitive foraging in rats. Subjects chose between a variable and fixed option that returned the same mean amount of sugar pellets, but one group of subjects (i.e., contrast group) were downshifted from 100% to 20% sugar pellets, whereas an unshifted control group received 20% sugar pellets throughout the study. Consistent with past risk-sensitive foraging research where reward quality was manipulated, subjects in the contrast group displayed significantly more risk-prone choices when reward quality was decreased from 100% to 20% sugar. However, the change in choice was inconsistent with contrast effects observed in prior contrast experiments. In addition to choice behaviour, other behavioural measures (e.g., rejected food, latency to choice) were significantly different between the unshifted control and contrast group and across conditions in the contrast group (e.g., latency to choice and rejected food significantly increased when reward quality changed from 100% to 20% sugar). These findings revealed a contrast effect and were similar to past contrast studies where reward quality was downshifted. Thus, when foragers experience a sudden downshift in reward quality, they may display significant behavioural changes and, in turn, display a bias for patches that yield a greater reward quality despite potentially lower payoffs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Gender Differences in Exercise Habits and Quality of Life Reports: Assessing the Moderating Effects of Reasons for Exercise.

Men and women report different exercise habits and reasons for exercise. Given that quality of life is affected by exercise habits and reasons for exercise, the present study explored gender differences among these variables. Participants reported quality of life, exercise habits, and motives. Results revealed that women (n = 108) reported significantly higher exercise and quality of life levels than men (n = 72). Women reported exercising for weight loss and toning more than men, whereas men reported exercising for enjoyment more than women. Reasons for exercise predicted quality of life for women over exercise. For men, exercise was the best predictor of quality of life. Ultimately, exercise is not beneficial for a woman's quality of life under all conditions.

The effects of reward quality on risk-sensitivity in Rattus norvegicus.

Risk-sensitive foraging theory (RSFT) was developed to explain a choice between a variable (risk-prone) or constant (risk-averse) option. In the RSFT literature, qualitative shifts in risk-sensitivity have been explained by fluctuations in daily caloric energy budget (DEB). The DEB rule describes foragers' choices as being based on fitness and rate of gain. If the DEB rule is correct, rewards that differ in caloric returns should cause differences in foragers' sensitivity to risk. However, few studies have explored the influence of reward quality on risk-sensitivity in mammals. The present study was designed to examine the effects of reward quality on risk-sensitivity when reward magnitude, delay to reward, body mass, and response effort were controlled. Results from the current study demonstrated that subjects rewarded with a high calorie reward (i.e., sugar) made significantly fewer choices for a variable option than subjects rewarded with a lower calorie reward (i.e., grain). These results are consistent with the predictions of the DEB rule, and add to the RSFT literature where reward quality was manipulated by describing difference in risk-sensitivity in mammals. Suggestions for future research include an examination of risk-sensitivity where flavor and caloric return are manipulated.

Self-control in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): controlling for differential stimulus exposure.

Previous research on self-control using macaques (Macaca fascicularis) showed these animals have a strong bias for a delayed, larger reinforcer (Self-control) over an immediate, smaller reinforcer (Impulsive). Typical studies of self-control have used a discrete trials methodology with a secondary discriminative stimulus during the delay periods. This results in a greater exposure to the stimulus representing the self-controlled option and may account for some of the early exclusive preference for self-control observed. The present experiment examined self-control bias in three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) while controlling for differential durations of stimulus exposure. Subjects were presented stimuli via a computer monitor and made choices by touching the stimulus at which point both stimuli were removed for the delay periods. All three subjects displayed a nearly exclusive bias for the delayed, larger reinforcer self-control). These results are consistent with previous studies, despite the variations in methodology and species.

Instrumental conditioning of choice behavior in male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens).

Despite the differences in the response of male Betta splendens toward various stimuli, no research has attempted to determine the preference for a live conspecific versus a mirror presentation. A submerged T-maze was used to present both stimuli to healthy male B. splendens (N=16). The results indicated that subjects' start box and swimway latencies decreased significantly over the 30 trials. Moreover, the analysis of choices demonstrated a modest, but statistically significant, preference for the live conspecific over the mirror presentation. The results are discussed in terms of the stimuli qualities that elicit an aggressive response in B. splendens and the implications for common experimental procedures.