Priority Research 2020

Below is a list of priority areas for research at Blackpool Zoo. These priorities are essential in helping us continually improve and monitor our animals’ welfare and as a result, applications received to complete one of these projects will be looked upon favourably.

If you would like to discuss undertaking one of these projects, please contact Jess at [email protected]. If you have a research idea of your own please feel free to contact us, however please be aware that approval of projects is considerably more likely if it is selected from the Blackpool Zoo Priority Research List. Birds, reptiles & small mammals

Species Topics Timescale  Social dynamics of the flock Any  Comparison of behaviour in different enclosure African spoonbill designs, walkthrough exhibit vs. non-walkthrough (Platalea alba)  Nesting behaviour  Food presentation  Inter species interactions Scarlet ibis  Social integration of chick to colony and aviary Feb - May (Eudocimus ruber)  Inter and intra species interactions Any  Substrate preference Any Magellanic penguin  Enclosure usage (Spheniscus  Nest box preference magellanicus)  Environmental enrichment assessment  Visitor number effects  Insitu vs. exsitu activity budgets BIAZA Priority Any Stanley crane  Enclosure usage BIAZA Priority (Grus paradise)  Comparison of mixed mammal species exhibit and bird only aviary  Nesting and rearing preferences May Village weaver  Food comparison live food vs. frozen food Any (Ploceus cucullatus)  Grass preferences  Group social dynamics Eclectus parrot  Visitor impact on nesting and mating behaviours Spring (Electus roratus) Equipment required – nest box camera Ground cuscus  Activity budget Any (Phalanger gymnotis)  Social behaviour  Breeding behaviour Red-breasted geese  Enclosure usage Any (Branta ruficolis)  Activity budget North American tree  Breeding Behaviour ASAP porcupine  Male mate guarding behaviour (Erethizon dorsatum)  Stereotypical behaviour of individual  Pair bonding and interactions Any  Visitor number effects Black-casqued hornbill  Inter species interactions in mixed species exhibit (Ceratogymna atrata)  Enclosure usage

 Activity budget  Food and feeding preferences Currasow and piping Any  Inter and intra species interactions guans (Crax rubra &  Evaluation of visitor walk-through exhibit Pipile spp.) Long-nosed potoroo  Intra species social dynamics and dominance Any (Potorous tridactylus)  Feeding preferences  Relatedness study  Intra species social dynamics Any Rainbow lorikeet  Comparison walk-through vs. breeding enclosure (trichoglossus  Visitor number effects on behaviour molucanus)  Weather impacts on behaviour  Inter and intra species social dynamics Any  Activity budgets Giant tortoises  Use of UV lighting system and basking behaviour  Faecal analysis of corticosterone levels post- graduate level, funding required Leopard tortoise  Activity budgets Any (Stigmochelys  Social dynamics pardalis)  Utilisation of UV lights and basking areas  Activity budget of juveniles Any Sulcata tortoise  Social dynamics of juveniles (Centrochelys sulcate)  Utilisation of UV lights and basking areas  Activity budgets Any Yacare caiman  Social dynamics (Caiman yacare)  Utilisation of UV lights and basking areas  Zoo-housed activity budget vs. wild conspecifics Any activity budget Kea (Nestor notablis)  Enclosure usage  Environmental enrichment assessment  Enclosure usage Any Caribbean flamingo  Activity budget (Phoenicopterus  Nocturnal activity budget vs. diurnal activity budget ruber) camera trap required  Interactions with public and visitor effects Any Walk-through aviaries  Public opinion compared to breeding enclosures  Visitor dwell times and impacting factors  Activity budgets Any  Social dynamics Silent Forest Aviary  Intra-specific interactions  Visitor number effects?  Activity budgets Any Long-nosed potoroo  Feeding preferences Any (Potorous tridactylus)  Social interaction Any Asian short clawed  Activity budgets Any otter  Causes of anticipatory behaviour Any (Amblonyx cinereus) Education

Species Topics Timescale Visitors  Visitor routes taken around the zoo Any  The effects of conservation station location and March » Visitors activities on donation rates  Connection to nature following a visit to Blackpool Any Visitors Zoo  Visitor nature connectedness compared to member Any Visitors nature connectedness  Comparison of visitor knowledge retained following Any Visitors a visit to Base Camp vs. attendance at an elephant talk  Evaluation of visitor knowledge during a 10 fact talk Any Visitors vs. traditional talk  Effects of signage location on visitor cooperation Any Visitors with zoo rules  Staff well-being following introduction of small Any Staff animal handling sessions during lunch breaks  Effects of interpretation and signage on visitor Any Visitors conversation topics  Conservation station dwell time, donation rates and February Visitors knowledge gained »  Survey of native mammal, invertebrate, amphibian Any Native species and/or reptile species found at Blackpool Zoo  Conservation messages delivered during talks Any Visitors program and effects on visitor behaviour change

Big cats

Species Topics Timescale  Feeding anticipatory behaviour Any African lion  Social interactions and dominance (Panthera leo)  Faecal testosterone sampling post-graduate level and funding required Amur tiger (Panthera  Activity budget Any tigris altaica)

Large mammals

Species Topics Timescale  Sleep patterns Any  Effects of environmental enrichment on male pacing Giant anteater behaviour (Myrmecophaga  Behaviour within a mixed species exhibit compared tridactyla) to non-mixed exhibit at another collection BIAZA support required due to multi-collection study  Sleep patterns Any  Effects of environmental enrichment on behaviour Aardvark  Behaviour surrounding visitor experiences (Orycteropus after)  Behaviour within a mixed species exhibit compared to non-mixed exhibit at another collection BIAZA support required due to multi-collection study Brazilian tapir  Reproductive behaviour March » (Tapirus terrestris)  Environmental enrichment evaluation Giraffe  Behaviour during peak and off peak seasons (Giraffa Any  Environmental enrichment assessment camelopardalis) Red-necked wallaby Any  Activity budget (Macropus TBC  Behaviour prior to and following enclosure update rufogriseus) Semi-domesticated  Enclosure usage Any reindeer  Social dynamics following increase in herd number Any (Rangifer tarandus)  Hierarchy of offspring compared to adults  Social dynamics Any Bactrian camel  Identification chart (Camelus bactrianus)  Behaviour surrounding enclosure change TBC Children’s Farm  Visitor effects and noise levels Any Red river hogs  Environmental enrichment assessment Any (Potamochoerus  Activity budget porcus)  Enclosure usage Sitatunga  Effects of substrate on hoof condition Any (Tragelaphus spekii) Events

Species Topic Timescale California sea lion  Affiliative and agnostic behaviours pre and post February (Zalophus breeding season with no breeding male present – August californianus)

Primates

Species Topics Timescale  Social dynamics of the groups, intra-pair Any Red titi monkey interactions (Calicebus discolor)  Outdoor enclosure usage White-faced saki monkey  Social interactions and social dynamics Any (Pithecia pithecia) Black-and-gold howler  Dominance, social dynamics and interactions Any (Alouatta caraya)  Enclosure usage De Brazza monkey  Faecal cortisol and visitor levels MSc level (Cercopithecus Any  Identification chart neglectus) Grey mouse lemur  Nocturnal behaviour and enclosure usage camera Any (Microcebus murinus) trap required Pileated gibbons  Male agonistic behaviour within the group Any (Hylobates pileatus)  Social dynamics  Social dynamics surrounding juveniles Any Western lowland  Juvenile development rates and play behaviour gorilla  Effects of troop member transfer - pre and post (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) activity budget and social dynamics  Social dynamics between oldest female and male Any Bornean orangutan  Behavioural changes surrounding oestrus (Pongo pygmaeus)  Oestrus data analysis  Identification chart Any King colobus monkey  Effects of browse provision on agonistic behaviour (Colobus polykomos)  Behaviour pre, post and during introduction of environmental enrichment L’Hoests monkey  Breeding behaviour and monitoring oestrus Any (Allochrocebus lhoesti)