Department
of Psychology
Indiana
University,
Bloomington
BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS
AND
LEARNING LAB (BSL)
Projects
Welcome
Food Preferences in 4 Species of Lemur: Ring-tailed
(Lemur catta), Red Ruffed (Varecia variegata rubra),
Blue-eyed Black (Eulemur macaco flavifrons), and Collared (E.
fulvus collaris)
Over the past several decades, a number of researchers have attempted to quantify food preferences, (Young & Chaplin, 1945; Young & Kappauf, 1962; Thompson & Grant, 1971). However, it has only been recently that researchers in applied settings have focused on systematic preference assessments. Much of this research has focused on choosing one stimulus more frequently than another (Pierce & Epling, 1999). Several of the preference assessments developed include single-, paired-, and multiple-stimulus methods. Our current study attempts to examine food preferences using a paired-choice preference assessment across 4 species of lemurs located at the Indianapolis Zoo. Little is known about food selection of lemurs in the wild, or food preferences in general. The following study will allow us to examine potential similarities and differences across 4 species for several items of food. We will then attempt to relate these preferences to their native ecology. Also, systematic food preferences could provide meaningful benefits for captive animals in terms of determining potential enrichment items, discovering more natural food regimes, and selecting potential rewards for training purposes. Following the completion of the food preferences, we hope to develop an enrichment strategy based on particular individuals that could lead to scattering of particular items within the different lemur enclosures, and test for increased enclosure use and activity based on those enrichment strategies.
[Welcome]
[The
Lab]
[People]
[Projects]
[Publications]
[Links]