Student Research Projects
Students are encouraged to undertake innovative and industry focused research projects as part of their degree. Examples of previous studies include:
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It’s virtually summer, can the zoo come to you? Zoo summer school engagement in an online setting
Suitability of hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) enrichment techniques
Assessing the nutritional suitability of dog diets
Investigating nocturnal behaviour for tawny frogmouths
What is the impact of animal therapy for people and animals
Investigating the social behaviour of wolves (Canis lupus)
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Does enrichment effect the enclosure use and behaviour of zoo-housed rhea (Rhea americana)?
Should tortoise foods be chopped?
What behaviours do captive rodents do at night?
Assessing the effect of lemur (Eulemur macaco) personality on behaviour.
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Investigating prey preference of crocodile skinks
Investigating the enclosure use of chinchillas
Investigating the effect of tinted glass on sailfin lizard interactions
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Factors impacting pet owners’ decisions when choosing an animal behaviourist for their dogs’ behavioural issues.
Impact of owner attachment on the behaviour and stress levels of pet dogs.
Factors influencing choice of feeding site for UK bird species
Say it or see it: The effect of either verbal or gestural signalling on visual orientation of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) towards its handler
Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome, owner understanding and compliance with treatment plans
Impact of choice and control on behaviour during nail clipping procedures in dogs
Nocturnal behaviour in hoofstock
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Investigating the visitor effect in the zoo
Investigating the impact of food presentation on zoo animal behaviour
Enclosure use and behaviour of reptiles in a mixed-species zoo exhibit
Social media impact of zoos and aquariums
Investigating the effect of visitors and observers on black lemur (Eulemur macaco) behaviour
What do visitors think about carcass feeding for zoo animals?
Investigating the suitability of fruit free diets for primates
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Do Birds of a Feather Always Flock Together? Assessing Differences in Group and Individual Zoo Enclosure Usage by Comparing Commonly Available Methods
An investigation into the effect of browse on bite rate, chew rate, browsing time and the behaviour of Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
A global assessment of breeding success of hornbills (Bucerotidae) in Zoological Institutions
The activity budgets of translocated Javan Slow Loris (Nycticebus javanicus)’
Comparison of zoo and rehabilitation facility orangutan diets.
Social behaviour in captive crocodiles
Effect of demographics on public preferences of zoo animal traits
Are praying mantis suitable as flagship ambassadors for invertebrate conservation?
Flamingos that bump: investigating the social architecture of directed interactions between captive Chilean flamingos
Group decision making and leadership within flexible social systems: Using captive giraffe (Giraffa) as a model
Student and Staff Research
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Clodagh Walsh, Marianne Freeman, Kerry Hunt (2021) Multi-Zoo study of dietary contents and nutrition in sloths. Presented at BIAZA Research Conference
Zoe Phillips, Marianne Freeman, Kerry Hunt (2021) Research trends and influences: A GAP analysis of canid and hyena research. Presented at BIAZA Research Conference and EAZA Annual Conference
Elliot Cornish, Abigail Newman, Kerry Hunt (2021) Maternal factors and litter size:
An investigation into the variables affecting juvenile survivorship in captive spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Presented at EAZA Annual ConferenceMegan Williams, Marianne Freeman, James Brereton (2021) Investigating the Nocturnal Behavior of Zoo-Housed Tawny Frogmouths (meddocsonline.org)
Charlotte James, Andrew Nicholls., Marianne Freeman, Kerry Hunt, & James Brereton, . (2021). Should zoo foods be chopped: macaws for consideration. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 9(4), 200–207. https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v9i4.507
Katrina Williams, Marianne Freeman, Kerry Hunt (2022) Say it or see it: The effect of either verbal or gestural signalling on visual orientation of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) towards its handler. Highly commended in BSAS thesis of the year competition Say It or See It: The effect of either verbal or gestural signalling on visual orientation of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) towards its handler | BSAS
McConnell, Heather, James Brereton, Tom Rice, and Paul Rose. 2022. “Do Birds of a Feather Always Flock Together? Assessing Differences in Group and Individual Zoo Enclosure Usage by Comparing Commonly Available Methods” Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3, no. 1: 71-88. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3010007
Cozen-Keeble, E., Arnold, R., Newman, A., and Freeman, M., (2021) It’s virtually summer, can the zoo come to you? Zoo summer school engagement in an online setting. Journal of zoological botanical gardens. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg2040045
Collins B., Freeman M., & Hunt K (2019) Anthropomorphism as a conservation tool in non-charismatic species. Poster presentation at BIAZA research Conference 2019
Davies H., Bond J., & Hunt K. (2019) Nutritional analysis on captive aardvarks and separation of termant solution using emulsifier’s. Presented at the EAZA Nutrition conference 2018
Davies, V., Newman A., and Brereton, J (2018) Natural or artificial? How does exhibit design affect electric day gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi) behaviour & people’s perceptions of welfare? Speed presentation at 20th BIAZA research conference
Dyble, R., Hancock, P., Newman, A., and Cameron, L., (2019) The effect of hay net presentation on riding school, stabled, horses (Equus Caballus) forage intake, activity and under rug temperature. Poster at 9th Alltech conference.
Hammerton R., Hunt K., Riley L. (2019) Food for thought: Keeper opinions on welfare and nutritional perspectives of fruit- free feeding in primates. Presented as a talk at the EAZA nutrition conference in January
Hammerton R., Hunt K., Riley L. (2019) Food for thought: Keeper opinions on welfare and nutritional perspectives of fruit- free feeding in primates. Submitted to JZAR
Hammerton R., Jones A., Hunt K., & Riley L (2019) Linking great ape keeper opinions with nutritional analysis: a case for collaboration. Poster presentation at BIAZA Research conference 2019
Harper, C., Newman, A., and Riley, L., (2018) Do female black lemurs (Eulemur macaco) see red? Poster at 20th BIAZA research conference.
Hooper E., Newman A., Hunt K (2018) Enriching the lives of captive wolves. Presented as a poster as the ASAB Winter meeting December 2018
Hooper E., Newman A., Hunt K (2018) Enriching the lives of wolves. Presented as a poster at the BIAZA 20th Anniversary Research Conference July 2018.
Hunt K., Riley L., & Smyth V (2015) Captive and wild dietary comparisons in black and white ruffed lemurs. Presented as a poster at the Marwell Nutrition seminar November 2015.
Jones, L., Roe, E., Newman, A., and Riley, L., (2018) Aye Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) behaviour in captivity: A preliminary study. Presented at 20th BIAZA research conference.
Martin K., Cameron L. & Hunt K. (2018) Impact of training method on the heart rate and behaviour of donkeys. Presented as a poster as the ASAB Winter meeting December 2018
McIlroy E., Rose P., & Hunt K (2018) A Study of the current diets and behaviour of captive Blue and gold macaws in UK Zoological collections. Presented as a poster at the Marwell Nutrition seminar Jan 2018.
Roe, E., Newman, A., and Riley, L., (2019) Can breeding behaviour and life history details predict the captive breeding success of aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis)? A novel use of ZIMS data. Presented at 21st BIAZA research conference
Rose P., Phillipson L., McIlroy E., & Hunt K (2019) Investigating nutritional provisions and any influence of dietary composition on behaviour in a commonly house parrot- a multi zoo study on blue and gold macaws. Presented as a poster at the EAZA nutrition conference in January.
Rose, P. E., Brereton, J. E., & Croft, D. P. (2018). Measuring welfare in captive flamingos: Activity patterns and exhibit usage in zoo-housed birds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 205, 115-125.
Rose, P. E., Lloyd, I., Brereton, J. E., & Croft, D. P. (2018). Patterns of nocturnal activity in captive greater flamingos. Zoo biology, 37(5), 290-299.
Scales, J. S., Rose, P. E., Brereton, J. E. (2019). Investigating the effects of visitor and keeper presence on black-casqued hornbill behaviour. BIAZA Research conference, Welsh Mountain zoo.
Shora, J., Myhill, M., & Brereton, J. E. (2018). Should zoo foods be coati chopped. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 6(1), 22-25.
Wiltshire S., Norris-Hill M, & Hunt K. (2018) Factors influencing the mortality rate of bat eared foxes in captivity. Presented as a poster at the BIAZA 20th Anniversary Research Conference July 2018.