
Angelica Da Silva VasconcellosPontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais | PUC-Minas · Programme of Post-graduation in Vertebrate Biology
Angelica Da Silva Vasconcellos
PhD
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38
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Introduction
Publications
Publications (38)
The presence of visitors in zoos is commonly associated with higher noise levels, which have been correlated with increases in animals ’ aggressive and stereotyped behaviours. We tested the effect of noise on the behaviour of six crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) - nocturnal canids - housed in four zoos in the São Paulo State countryside in Brazi...
This study evaluated the potential of using dogs' apparent age, judged from photographs, as a non-invasive tool for assessing their welfare. Traditional welfare assessment methods often rely on behavioral and physiological indicators, which can be resource-intensive and invasive. This research explored whether apparent age, a measure used in humans...
Canine fear of fireworks is a common problem worldwide, with serious implications for the welfare of both dogs and their owners. Therapies for the problem are available, and herbal and nutraceutical agents are increasingly suggested by professionals; nonetheless, studies on their real efficacy in reducing firework fear are lacking. In a randomised,...
Anthropogenic noise has been related to stress in captive animals; despite this there have been few studies on animal welfare assessment in walk-through zoo enclosures. We aimed to investigate the behavioural effects of noise on a male-female pair of two-toed sloths ( Choloepus didactylus ), housed in a walk-through enclosure in a zoo in the UK. Th...
In a previous study, we found that Positive Reinforcement Training reduced cortisol of wolves and dogs; however, this effect varied across trainer–animal dyads. Here we investigate whether and how the trainers’ use of speech may contribute to this effect. Dogs’ great interest in high-pitched, intense speech (also known as Dog Directed Speech) has a...
All habitats have noise, but anthropogenic sounds often differ from natural sounds in terms of frequency, duration and intensity, and therefore may disrupt animal vocal communication. This study aimed to investigate whether vocalizations emitted by black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) were affected by the noise produced by mining activit...
This study aimed at evaluating the effects of unpredictability on behavioral and clinical aspects of Geoffroy's woolly monkey (Lagothrix cana cana) - a frugivorous Amazonian primate species - under human care. We studied seven individuals subjected to five conditions: two control conditions (PRE and POST; 10 days each), and three experimental condi...
This work aimed to evaluate two types of substrate for egg production by annual killifish (Hypsolebias flagellatus) and to describe the reproductive behaviour of males and females. Experiment I, with two phases, tested two types of substrates: coconut shell powder (CP) and brown 100% acrylic wool (AW), with five male–female pairs in each treatment....
Environments that do not provide animals with appropriate stimuli may affect their welfare and reproduction, for example by precluding them from exhibiting their full behavioural repertoire. In this study, we sought to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural management techniques to stimulate the exhibition of normal behaviours, and to promote br...
The inclusion of life history as a possible influential factor is pivotal in studies on behavior, welfare, and cognition. Shelter dogs have usually experienced a life involving poor social interactions with humans. Thus, we aimed to investigate the behavioral responses of shelter dogs (SDs) and companion dogs (CDs) during the training of two vocal...
The evolution of defensive coloration is dependent upon a complex combination of variables related to the prey itself, the environmental context, and predator vision/behavior. Some animals reflect ultraviolet (UV) light, which is visible to predators such as birds. Here, we report the first case of UV reflectance by a tadpole (Ololygon machadoi, Hy...
The current study investigated associations between behavioral problems in Brazilian dogs and the demographic characteristics of both the dogs and their owners, as well as the quality of owner-dog relationship. Although Brazil has a large population of dogs, little is known about their behavioral profiles and to what extent they are comparable to t...
The relative telomere length, a biomarker of cellular aging, can be influenced by the cumulative effects of positive and negative events experienced by an individual. For this reason, it has been used to assess the welfare of nonhuman species. Ensuring an animal’s well-being also involves choosing methodologies that will cause either none or minima...
Football matches, as a common urban activity, produce high levels of noise due to vehicular traffic, screams, whistles, and firework displays. Fear of noise is one of the most commonly reported behavior problems in dogs (Canis familiaris); however, few studies have focused on the effects of repeated exposition to noise in these animals. Here we inv...
Although discontinued with the introduction of ultrasonography, the study of mare sexual behavior may provide useful information for herds that lack technical assistance. In order to investigate how mare sexual behavior is associated with ovulation and age, sexual behaviors were recorded for 1,348 teasings of 82 mares during three breeding seasons....
The English version of the Positive and Negative Activation Scale (PANAS) is a useful tool for the assessment of dog temperament, helping to identify highly sensitive individuals that could be at risk of developing fears, phobias and anxiety problems, and potentially depressive states. This study evaluated the association between dogs’ and owners’...
The captive environment can limit some important behavioral options for nonhuman animals, which often results in decreased welfare. The companion of a conspecific can be a source of complexity in captivity, but this aspect has received little attention for solitary species. This study investigated the effects of two different housing conditions on...
The breeding practices adopted and the equipment typically found in animal facilities produce sounds at frequencies within the auditory range of the mice (1 to 100 kHz), which can cause hearing and other non-hearing effects. Another aspect that could potentially affects the welfare of experimental animals would be their impaired health condition, s...
Livestock is the category of animals that suffers the most severe welfare problems. Among these, physical, physiological, and behavioural distress caused by artificial grouping are some of the challenges faced by these animals. Groups whose members are frequently changed have been reported as socially unstable, which could jeopardise the welfare of...
Social species in captivity may face allostatic overload due to artificial grouping and other social constraints. In rescue centres, groups of psittacines are constantly mixed due to the arrival and/or release of individuals; this procedure is potentially harmful to animal welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the possible impacts of mate replace...
RESUMO: Parques Municipais possuem extrema importância em centros urbanos devido ao seu valor estético e como abrigo natural para diversas espécies silvestres. Com o objetivo de avaliar a possível influência de interações com seres humanos sobre o comportamento diurno de anseriformes, foram registrados os comportamentos de indivíduos de três espéci...
The welfare of animals in captivity is of considerable societal concern. A major source of stress, especially for wild animals, is the lack of control over their environment, which includes not being able to avoid contact with human beings. Paradoxically, some studies have shown that interactions with human beings may improve the welfare of wild an...
In wild wolf packs social relationships constitute the most important factor influencing the stress levels and welfare. In this review, we summarize factors influencing social stress of wolves, considering different wolf profiles and their relationships with humans. Wolf social relationships are influenced not only by rank order, but also by the af...
Contrafreeloading occurs when animals spend time and effort to obtain food in the presence of freely available food. There are several interpretations for such an apparent contradiction to optimal foraging models, with an emphasis either on the need to gather and update information about the environment or on the value of performing species-typical...
Domestic cats (Felis catus) are widely believed to be highly sensitive to the effects of social stress, especially when living in high density populations. Cats are capable of adapting to living in a group, but this will often require opportunities for escaping and hiding. In this pilot study, adrenocortical activity, as a valuable physiological in...
The field of research in environmental enrichment aims at enhancing the welfare of captive animals through the assessment and establishment of adequate environmental and social features. It has generated significant amount of data about procedures which may reduce stress and undesirable behaviors, and promote the performance of the species-specific...
Analysis of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites provides a powerful noninvasive tool for monitoring adrenocortical activity in wild animals. However, differences regarding the metabolism and excretion of these substances make a validation for each species and sex investigated obligatory. Although maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are the biggest c...
Procedures that increase foraging and exploratory behaviours are generally accepted as effective at improving welfare and reducing stereotypies in captive animals. To determine the effect of food and toy enrichment on the behaviour and hormonal levels of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), 11 wolves were submitted to a baseline-enrichment-baselin...
The experiment aimed at analyzing how responding maintained by VI schedule would be affected when it was subsequently exposed to different values of VT and extinction. Eight female rats were initially exposed to baseline sessions in which lever presses operated a water dispenser on a VI-20-s schedule. Afterward, subjects were exposed to sessions of...
The experiment aimed at analyzing how responding maintained by VI schedule would be affected when it was subsequently exposed to different values of VT and extinction. Eight female rats were initially exposed to baseline sessions in which lever presses operated a water dispenser on a VI-20-s schedule. Afterward, subjects were exposed to sessions of...