Effects of environmental enrichment on reproduction

Abstract

Although there have been few demonstrations of a direct empirical relationship between environmental enrichment and reproductive success in captive animals, indirect and anecdotal evidence indicates the importance of physical and temporal complexity for reproduction. We discuss three major mechanisms through which environmental enrichment that specifically increases the complexity of an animal's surroundings may influence reproductive physiology and behavior: developmental processes, modulation of stress and arousal, and modification of social interactions. In complex environments developing animals learn that performing active behavior produces appropriate functional outcomes. Learning to control their environment influences their ability to adapt to novel situations, which may profoundly influence their reproductive behavior as adults in breeding situations. Chronic stress may compromise reproductive physiology and behavior; enrichment reduces stress by providing increased opportunity for behavioral coping responses. However, some degree of acute stress may be beneficial for reproduction by maintaining an animal's level of responsiveness to socio‐sexual stimuli necessary for sexual arousal and reproductive activation. Finally, environmental enrichment may influence reproductive success by stabilizing social groups, reducing aggression and increasing affiliative and play behaviors. It is concluded that multi‐variate multi‐institutional behavioral research in zoos will play an increasingly important role in the successful captive propagation of many species by closely examining relationships between environmental variables and reproductive potential of individual animals. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Behavioral and physiologic responses to environmental enrichment in the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

“…Exploratory rates seemed to be the better indicator of enrichment method effectiveness in this species. It has been shown in other species that increased exploratory behavior is a response of animals to environmental enrichment [Shepherdson et al, 1993;Carlstead and Shepherdson, 1994;Mench, 1998]. Many researchers consider an increased activity level as desirable for captive animals.…”

Why and how should we use environmental enrichment to tackle stereotypic behaviour?

“…Second, C.N.S. pathology would help explain some odd traits observed in stereotypic captive wild animals: self-damage, as in the self-biting of clouded leopards (Wielebnowski et al, 2002) and zoo primates (Bollen et al, submitted, cited by Novak and Bollen, in press) or the pacing that sometimes persists despite causing abrasions or sores (Morris, 1964;Meyer-Holzapfel, 1968;reviewed Mason, 1991a); stereotypic behaviours that appear resistant to environmental enrichment (reviewed Mason and Latham, 2004); and finally, the way some ARBs seem to interfere with normal social or parental interactions (Carlstead and Shepherdson, 1994): e.g. males pacing or pirouetting rather than courting receptive females (Freeman, 1983;Swaisgood, personal communication), and females pacing instead of caring for their infants (Widholzer and Voss, 1978;Swaisgood, personal communication;Mason, personal observation).…”

Monitoring stress in captive and free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites

“…), GC concentrations were higher in captive than in free-ranging individuals (Fanson et al, 2011;Marra et al, 1995;Rangel-Negrin et al, 2009;Terio et al, 2004). If the level of stress is indeed higher in captive animals than in free-ranging animals, then it might help explain poor reproductive success in captivity in some species (Carlstead and Shepherdson, 1994).…”