Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Date of Award
8-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Dr. Frederic Zaidan III
Second Advisor
Dr. Robert Edwards
Third Advisor
Dr. Teresa Feria
Abstract
Conditions in which the animals are housed vary according to animal use. Conditions unfamiliar or unsuited to organisms usually induce stress. Stress is mirrored by a hormone cascade resulting in glucocorticoids. Of the glucocorticoids corticosterone is regarded as the most important. The corticosterone levels of sand boas (Gongylophis colubrinus) were measured under enriched and barren soil and cage features. Enriched soil consisted of enough dirt to allow borrowing. Enriched cage featured consisted of a wooded ball. Barren soil consisted of newspaper as substrate. Barren cage features consisted of plane newspaper. Snakes were subject to treatment for two weeks. No significant difference was found between treatments of both soil and features using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed ranks test (P=.285, Z=-1.069,Fig 2). A low sample size prevented possible further analysis. However, data was suggestive of an increase in stress with cage features and a decrease in stress with enriched substrate.
Granting Institution
University of Texas-Pan American
Comments
Copyright 2013 Jose Manuel Cantu Martinez. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/effects-habitat-enrichment-on-stress-level-sit/docview/1459462132/se-2