AI Article Synopsis
- The study explored the effects of maternal nutrient restriction on the behavior of captive baboons, hypothesizing it would lead to increased anxiety and different maternal styles.
- Control (ad libitum) females showed higher rates of self-directed behaviors and aggression compared to nutrient-restricted (NR) females.
- The findings suggest that NR females conserve energy, benefiting fetal development, while the control group's higher infant retrieval may reflect greater infant independence rather than a difference in maternal behavior.
Article Abstract
Background: We hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction (NR) would increase activity and behavioral indicators of anxiety (self-directed behaviors, SDBs) in captive baboons (Papio sp.) and result in more protective maternal styles.
Methods: Our study included 19 adult female baboons. Seven females ate ad libitum (control group), and eight females ate 30% less (NR group) and were observed through pregnancy and lactation.
Results: Control females engage in higher rates of SDB than NR females overall (P ≤ .018) and during the prenatal period (P ≤ .001) and engage in more aggressive behavior (P ≤ .033). Control females retrieved infants more than NR females during weeks 5-8 postpartum (P ≤ .019).
Conclusions: Lower SDB rates among prenatal NR females reduce energy expenditure and increase available resources for fetal development when nutritionally restricted. Higher infant retrieval rates by controls may indicate more infant independence rather than maternal style differences.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6230519 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jmp.12350 | DOI Listing |
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