Behavioral Welfare Observations at Woodland Park Zoo
To find out about this 499 opportunity contact:
Faculty Information
Does faculty advisor meet with students? | Yes |
| If yes, how often? | Rarely; they report once a week to Dr. Fernandez |
Direct supervisor of students: | Eduardo Fernandez, Ph.D. |
| Supervisor Title: | Visiting Scientist, Psychology |
| Will 499 students participate in weekly or biweekly discussions sessions about research or project? | Yes |
Short Project Description
Observations of one of several exhibited animals/exhibits at the Woodland Park Zoo. Currently we are looking at enrichment/welfare effects with their 3 elephants, the effects of live feeds on the Humboldt penguins, daily activity of the 2 grizzly bears, and a fourth in-progress project that will examine behavioral changes in the 3 hippopotamuses. Students will be expected to learn how to use ethograms and PDA’s to collect behavioral data, as well as the importance of captive animal welfare research.
Work Schedule
| Min. number of hours/weekstudent must work: | 6 |
| Evenings/weekends OK? | Yes |
| Times a student must bepresent/work: | Self-Scheduled |
| Student commitment: | 1 quarter, but preferably 2 |
499 Responsibilities
| Working with Data |
Working with Subjects |
Working with Animals/physiology |
| 15 |
% data entry |
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% video taping |
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% animal care |
| 10 |
% database management |
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% interview subjects |
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% animal observation |
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% encoding data |
|
% scheduling appt |
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% surgical techniques |
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% library research |
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% running subjects |
|
% histology |
| 75 |
% data collection |
|
% child care |
|
% laboratory protocols |
| |
|
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% recruiting subjects |
|
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Other:
Skills / Experience Preferred
General knowledge of animal behavior through one of several animal-related courses is preferred, as well as psychology/biology majors. Students interested in going on to graduate school in an animal behavior-related field are given high priority for participating, as are students with higher G.P.A.’s. We will train research assistants in all other skills required to collect behavioral data using PDA’s.
Posting Removal
08/31/2010
