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Long term changes in nest condition and pup grouping following handling of rat litters
Author(s) -
Lee M. H. S.,
Williams D. I.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420080113
Subject(s) - nest (protein structural motif) , zoology , term (time) , biology , disturbance (geology) , psychology , biochemistry , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics
Observation of rat litters over the entire preweaning period revealed long term changes to result from handling pups. Handled litters had fewer good nests and were less likely to be found in a single group than control litters. These differences are not attributable to the disturbance per se, as litters where the mother was removed did not differ significantly from undisturbed controls. The differences occurred predominantly in the daytime when maternal activity was at its lowest.