JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
  • About K
  • Academics
  • Admission
  • Alumni Relations
  • Giving to K
  • News & Events
  • Student Life
  • HORNET HIVE
  • ATHLETICS
  • SITEMAP
  • WEBMAIL
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   CACHE Homepage
    • Academic Departments, Programs, and SIPs
    • Biology
    • Biology Senior Individualized Projects
    • View Item
    •   CACHE Homepage
    • Academic Departments, Programs, and SIPs
    • Biology
    • Biology Senior Individualized Projects
    • View Item

    The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Ability of Octopus rubescens to Learn Novel Behavior

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Searchable PDF / Kalamazoo College Only (2.624Mb)
    Date
    2005
    Author
    Johnson, Graham D.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Environmental enrichment provides captive animals complex inanimate and social stimuli in order to promote the animals' welfare and natural behavior. The application of enrichment has become commonplace for many animals but has only recently been applied to in vertebrates. This may be due to a lack of empirical evidence demonstrating the benefits of enrichment. The effect of environmental enrichment on the ability of Octopus rubescens to learn novel behavior was examined by presenting four octopuses a vial containing a food reward and recording their ability to open it before and after a 30-day period in one of two environmental treatments. Two octopuses were put into an impoverished treatment, which consisted of a bare tank with a black veil preventing external visual stimulation and a diet of frozen fish. Two octopuses were placed into an enriched treatment, which provided a semi-natural environment and the opportunity to perform natural behavior such as hunting live food. The ability of 0. rubescens to learn novel behavior was not aided by enrichment; nor did impoverishment outright impair the learning of a novel behavior. Though exposure to different environments may affect learning, our limited sample size and the variable behavior of the subjects prevented any firm conclusions. However we maintain that enrichment should be included in Octopus animal husbandry until empirical testing quantitatively demonstrates that it is not beneficial. Further studies would benefit from larger sample sizes and examining other ways of gauging enrichment that do not rely solely on food puzzles.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10920/23512
    Collections
    • Biology Senior Individualized Projects [1550]

    Browse

    All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2021  DuraSpace
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV
    Logo

    Kalamazoo College
    1200 Academy Street
    Kalamazoo Michigan 49006-3295
    USA
    Info 269-337-7000
    Admission 1-800-253-3602

    About K
    Academics
    Admission
    Alumni Relations
    Giving to K
    News & Events
    Student Life
    Sitemap
    Map & Directions
    Contacts
    Directories
    Nondiscrimination Policy
    Consumer Information
    Official disclaimer
    Search this site


    Academic Calendars
    Apply
    Bookstore
    Crisis Response
    Employment
    Library
    Registrar
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV