Table 3.
Key results of studies relating to occupational enrichment for laboratory zebrafish. Studies have been included where they have either addressed a preference (such as might be used to identify conditions which might promote welfare), or tested the effects of a condition intended to provide enrichment. Unless otherwise specified, all results here relate to the presence of the enrichment condition noted in the table compared with an absence of that condition.
| Study | Enrichment | Indicator(s) | Effect(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| [118] | Water flow (forced swimming training) | Survival due to chronic training | ↓ |
| Oxygen consumption during swimming | ↓ | ||
| Survival when exposed to hypoxia | ↑ | ||
| [119] | Water flow (forced swimming training) | Skeletal muscle mass | ↑ |
| [120] | Water flow (forced swimming training) | Bone-forming osteoblasts | ↑ |
| Bone volume | ↑ | ||
| Bone mineralisation | ↑ | ||
| [84] | Optional access to water flow | Preference (occupancy in enriched compartment) | Aversion to flow only; preference for flow when combined with physical enrichment (see above) |
| [105] | Housed with water flow | Aggression | ↑ |
| Latency to feed | No effect | ||
| Shoaling distances | No effect | ||
| [121] | Water flow (forced swimming training) | Learning | ↑ |
| [122] | Water flow (forced swimming training) | Anxiety | ↓ |
| [98] | Novel area in structurally enriched tank (sloped gravel substrate, rocks and five artificial plants) (NB: structural enrichment was present in both the main and novel sections of the tank) | Agonistic behaviours | ↓ |
| Shoal cohesion and coordination | ↑ |
↑ = increase; ↓ = decrease.