Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions
The impact of enrichment on stress reduction in zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) exposed to a novel environment was assessed. Four control shoals (CTRL) and five treated shoals (TRT), each with eight fish, were observed; in TRT tanks, a PVC pipe was included (three-way tube, 11.7 × 4 cm) a...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/1/38 |
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| author | Valentina Gazzano Martina Di Filippo Rosario Licitra Asahi Ogi Baldassare Fronte Maria Claudia Curadi Angelo Gazzano |
| author_facet | Valentina Gazzano Martina Di Filippo Rosario Licitra Asahi Ogi Baldassare Fronte Maria Claudia Curadi Angelo Gazzano |
| author_sort | Valentina Gazzano |
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| description | The impact of enrichment on stress reduction in zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) exposed to a novel environment was assessed. Four control shoals (CTRL) and five treated shoals (TRT), each with eight fish, were observed; in TRT tanks, a PVC pipe was included (three-way tube, 11.7 × 4 cm) as enrichment for 90 days. Subsequently, fish were moved to a new tank for a shoaling test, and behavior was evaluated over periods of 0′–5′ and 5′–10′. Cortisol dissolved in water was measured before and after the test. No differences were found between the two groups in distance moved, swimming speed, or shoal acceleration. Both groups reduced interindividual distance in the second phase of the test (CTRL: t = 8.977, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.0001; TRT: t = 8.247, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.0001), though TRT fish maintained greater spacing (t = 2.292, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). TRT fish spent more time without contact during both phases (first: t = 2.645, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05; second: t = 3.134, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01), while CTRL fish reduced this time in the second phase (t = 2.991, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Cortisol rose significantly in CTRL after the test (t = 2.452, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) but not in TRT fish. These results suggest that environmental enrichment mitigates stress, as seen by reduced cohesiveness and cortisol in TRT fish. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-45fc65b8f1fb47489a0e52b95da7f2402025-01-24T13:52:04ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-01-011213810.3390/vetsci12010038Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel ConditionsValentina Gazzano0Martina Di Filippo1Rosario Licitra2Asahi Ogi3Baldassare Fronte4Maria Claudia Curadi5Angelo Gazzano6Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIstituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThe impact of enrichment on stress reduction in zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) exposed to a novel environment was assessed. Four control shoals (CTRL) and five treated shoals (TRT), each with eight fish, were observed; in TRT tanks, a PVC pipe was included (three-way tube, 11.7 × 4 cm) as enrichment for 90 days. Subsequently, fish were moved to a new tank for a shoaling test, and behavior was evaluated over periods of 0′–5′ and 5′–10′. Cortisol dissolved in water was measured before and after the test. No differences were found between the two groups in distance moved, swimming speed, or shoal acceleration. Both groups reduced interindividual distance in the second phase of the test (CTRL: t = 8.977, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.0001; TRT: t = 8.247, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.0001), though TRT fish maintained greater spacing (t = 2.292, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). TRT fish spent more time without contact during both phases (first: t = 2.645, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05; second: t = 3.134, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01), while CTRL fish reduced this time in the second phase (t = 2.991, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Cortisol rose significantly in CTRL after the test (t = 2.452, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) but not in TRT fish. These results suggest that environmental enrichment mitigates stress, as seen by reduced cohesiveness and cortisol in TRT fish.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/1/38zebrafishenvironmental enrichmentshoalingcortisolstressanimal welfare |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Gazzano Martina Di Filippo Rosario Licitra Asahi Ogi Baldassare Fronte Maria Claudia Curadi Angelo Gazzano Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions Veterinary Sciences zebrafish environmental enrichment shoaling cortisol stress animal welfare |
| title | Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions |
| title_full | Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions |
| title_short | Rearing in a Physically Enriched Environment Affects Shoaling and Stress Responses of Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Exposed to Novel Conditions |
| title_sort | rearing in a physically enriched environment affects shoaling and stress responses of zebrafish i danio rerio i exposed to novel conditions |
| topic | zebrafish environmental enrichment shoaling cortisol stress animal welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/1/38 |
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