• Login
    View Item 
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Study Areas
    • Natural Sciences
    • Natural Sciences Journal Articles
    • View Item
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Study Areas
    • Natural Sciences
    • Natural Sciences Journal Articles
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Assessing stability in body weight of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

    Cameron, Kristie; Bizo, Lewis A.; Starkey, N.J.

    Thumbnail
    Share
    View fulltext online
    Lab Anim-2014-Cameron-0023677214541257.pdf (303.0Kb)
    Date
    2014-06-23
    Citation:
    Cameron, K.E., Bizo, L.A., & Starkey, N.J. (2015). Assessing stability in body weight of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Laboratory Animals, 49(1), pp.80-84. doi:10.1177/0023677214541257
    Permanent link to Research Bank record:
    https://hdl.handle.net/10652/3451
    Abstract
    When conducting controlled laboratory studies with non-traditional laboratory animals it is important that methods for determining body weight stability are reliable. This helps ensure the health and welfare of animals when they are maintained during periods of free feeding or food restriction. This study compared different methods for determining body weight stability in six common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) maintained on a free-feeding diet under laboratory conditions. A criterion of five consecutive weighings with less than 2.5% change across days and no more than two consecutive days of weight loss or weight gain was judged to be the most suitable criteria for determining stability. It is important to study nontraditional animals, especially endangered or pest species, under controlled laboratory conditions and to have robust methods for establishing body weight stability.
    Keywords:
    Trichosurus vulpecula (brushtail possum), laboratory animal management, animal studies, testing non-traditional animals in laboratories, body-weight, free-feeding, stability
    ANZSRC Field of Research:
    050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management
    Copyright Holder:
    Sage Publications
    Copyright Notice:
    © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
    Available Online at:
    http://lan.sagepub.com/content/49/1/80
    Rights:
    This digital work is protected by copyright. It may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. You will recognise the author's and publishers rights and give due acknowledgement where appropriate.
    Metadata
    Show detailed record
    This item appears in
    • Natural Sciences Journal Articles [133]

    Library home
    Send Feedback
    Research publications
    Unitec
    Moodle
    © Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142
     

     

    Usage

    Downloads, last 12 months
    45
     
     

    Usage Statistics

    For this itemFor the Research Bank

    Share

    About

    About Research BankResearch at UnitecContact us

    Help for authors  

    How to add researchOpen Access GuideVersions Toolkit

    Register for updates  

    LoginRegister

    Browse Research Bank  

    EverywhereAcademic study areasAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisorThis CollectionAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisor

    Library home
    Send Feedback
    Research publications
    Unitec
    Moodle
    © Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142