Title:
Analysis of a quantitative behavioral assessment program to identify and treat abnormal behaviors in captive primates

dc.contributor.advisor Maple, Terry L.
dc.contributor.author Martin, Allison L.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Bloomsmith, Mollie A.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Marr, Marcus J.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Roberts, James S.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Lutz, Corrine K.
dc.contributor.department Psychology
dc.date.accessioned 2016-05-27T13:22:56Z
dc.date.available 2016-05-27T13:22:56Z
dc.date.created 2016-05
dc.date.issued 2016-03-30
dc.date.submitted May 2016
dc.date.updated 2016-05-27T13:22:56Z
dc.description.abstract Facilities housing non-human primates are required to make provisions for their psychological wellbeing, which may include monitoring animals for signs of decreased wellbeing such as the presence of abnormal behaviors or alopecia. By analyzing archival behavioral data collected by the Behavior Management Unit at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center (YNPRC), I aimed to identify behavioral predictors of self-wounding and alopecia and to evaluate the effectiveness of current treatments in reducing abnormal behavior and alopecia in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). The behaviors of self-biting and hair plucking (conditional logistic regression, p < .05) as well as floating limb and self-oral behaviors (Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests, p < .05) were identified as behavioral predictors of self-wounding. Fear behaviors were associated with an increased risk of developing alopecia (Mantel-Haenszel chi square, p < .05). An inverse relationship was found between alopecia and stereotypic locomotor behaviors such as pacing, with animals who displayed these behaviors being less likely to develop significant hair loss (conditional logistic regression, p < .05). Overall, the type of treatment provided (e.g., additional foraging opportunities, the provision of toys, or the provision of visual barriers) did not predict improvement in levels of abnormal behavior or alopecia (logistic regression, p > .05). The results of these analyses add to the literature on self-wounding and alopecia and will allow refinement of the quantitative behavioral monitoring system at YNPRC such that more at-risk animals can be identified and treated prior to the development of abnormal or harmful behaviors.
dc.description.degree Ph.D.
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/54980
dc.language.iso en_US
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology
dc.subject Abnormal behavior
dc.subject Alopecia
dc.subject Behavioral management
dc.subject Captive primate management
dc.subject Quantitative behavioral assessment
dc.subject Rhesus macaque
dc.subject Self-injury
dc.title Analysis of a quantitative behavioral assessment program to identify and treat abnormal behaviors in captive primates
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.advisor Maple, Terry L.
local.contributor.corporatename College of Sciences
local.contributor.corporatename School of Psychology
relation.isAdvisorOfPublication 9cf60f1d-71c0-44c1-8078-3df22eb3f3ce
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 85042be6-2d68-4e07-b384-e1f908fae48a
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 768a3cd1-8d73-4d47-b418-0fc859ce897d
thesis.degree.level Doctoral
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