An Analysis of the Correlation between Cortisol Levels and Anxious Behavior of Captive Aye-Ayes (Daubentonia madagscariensis) at the Duke Lemur Center
| dc.contributor.advisor | Yoder, Anne D | |
| dc.contributor.author | Audra, Bass | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2016-05-06T19:52:47Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-05-06T19:52:47Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016-05-06 | |
| dc.department | Biology | |
| dc.description.abstract | I sought to determine if there existed a correlation between anxious behavior and cortisol levels for captive Aye-Ayes. I measured stress-related behavior by using an ethnographic methodology and focused on five specific behavior patterns: pacing, self-grooming, vigilance, human interaction, and vocalizations. I conducted 10 hours of observations on eight Aye-Aye individuals for a total of 80 hours. These observations were split between direct observations in an Aye-Aye’s enclosure and indirect observations by videotaping. Saliva samples were collected from each individual using chewed-on swabs; swabs were centrifuged and frozen for later extraction of cortisol concentrations. There was a general increase in anxious behavior when the Aye-Ayes were being observed directly; pacing showed the greatest difference. There was also a slight increase in cortisol concentrations when comparing weeks with direct and indirect observations. This study demonstrated that there is a potential relationship between anxious behavior and cortisol levels in Aye-Ayes that could be better understood with more research. Future studies should conduct more observation hours that are equally split between male and female Aye-Ayes. In addition, saliva samples should be consistently collected immediately after each observation. Finally, cortisol levels from saliva samples should be bolstered with other collection methods, specifically serum and fecal. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | ||
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.subject | Aye-Aye, anxious behavior, cortisol levels, saliva collection | |
| dc.title | An Analysis of the Correlation between Cortisol Levels and Anxious Behavior of Captive Aye-Ayes (Daubentonia madagscariensis) at the Duke Lemur Center | |
| dc.type | Honors thesis |