Rearing condition may alter neonatal development of captive Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis).
Dev Psychobiol
; 62(7): 909-919, 2020 11.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32072635
ABSTRACT
Nursery rearing has well-known consequences for primate species. Relative to some other primate species, research has indicated a reduced impact of nursery rearing on squirrel monkeys, particularly in terms of rates, severity, and persistence of abnormal behavior. We administered the Primate Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment to 29 dam-reared and 13 nursery-reared squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis) at 2 and 6 weeks of age. Mixed-model ANOVAs comparing composite scores and individual assessment items across age, rearing status, and sex revealed a number of developmental differences. Dam-reared infants scored higher on all four composite measures compared to nursery-reared infants (p < .05) indicating that nursery-reared animals had slower motor development, were less active and attentive, and were more passive than their dam-reared counterparts. Consistent with infant rhesus macaques, nursery-reared squirrel monkeys showed an increased sensitivity to tactile stimulation (p < .05). Altogether, these results suggest a disruption of species-typical development when squirrel monkey infants are reared in a nursery setting, with activity, orientation, and state control areas most affected, though experimental research is needed to determine if this is a causal relationship. Contrary to previous behavioral research, there are likely developmental differences between dam-reared infant squirrel monkeys and those reared in a nursery setting.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Saimiri
/
Social Environment
/
Animals, Newborn
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Bolivia
Language:
En
Journal:
Dev Psychobiol
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States