Handbook of Zoo & Aquarium Research Guidelines for conducting research in zoos and aquariums Editors: Joanna Bishop, Geoff Hosey and Amy Plowman Dedicated to Dr Miranda Stevenson OBE, Director of BIAZA 2003-2013, an inspirational advocate for zoo- and aquarium- based science and research ©British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. “Copyright (2019) by BIAZA Office (London). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in hard copy, machine – readable or other forms without advance written permission from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). Members of the Association may copy this information for their own use as needed.” Bishop, J., Hosey, G. & Plowman, A. (Eds.) (2013): Handbook of Zoo Research, Guidelines for Conducting Research in Zoos. London. BIAZA. First Published 2013 BIAZA Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom ISSN 1479-564 Contents Contents (Click content listing to follow hyperlink) Chapter 1 Planning and Carrying out a Zoo-based Research Project ................................................... 1 1.1. Choosing a Research Topic........................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. The scope of zoo research .................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2. Choosing a project topic ....................................................................................................... 3 1.1.3. Choosing a species ................................................................................................................ 4 1.1.4. Finding out where the animals are ....................................................................................... 4 1.1.5. Finding out what’s already known ........................................................................................ 5 Zoo associations ...................................................................................................................... 5 Records routinely kept by zoos ............................................................................................... 5 Enclosure design and enrichment ........................................................................................... 6 Peer-reviewed literature ......................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Designing the Research ................................................................................................................ 7 1.2.1. Hypothesis testing and generating questions ....................................................................... 7 1.2.2. Variables and Measures ........................................................................................................ 8 1.3. Planning the Research ................................................................................................................. 8 1.3.1. Contacting Zoos: getting approval and support ................................................................... 8 1.4. Multi-zoo research ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.1. Why carry out multi-zoo research? ...................................................................................... 9 1.4.2. How might you conduct a multi-zoo study? ....................................................................... 10 1.4.3. Confounding variables in multi-zoo studies........................................................................ 12 1.4.4. Standardisation and inter-observer reliability (one researcher or multiple researchers) .. 13 1.4.5. Co-ordination and time management of multi-zoo studies ............................................... 13 Chapter 2 Legal and Ethical Issues in Zoo Research ......................................................................... 15 2.1. Ethical Aspects of Zoo Research ................................................................................................ 15 2.1.1 Intellectual Property Rights ...................................................................................................... 16 2.1.2. Health and Safety .................................................................................................................... 16 2.2. Legislation .................................................................................................................................. 17 2.2.1 Definitions ................................................................................................................................ 17 2.2.2. Biological Samples ............................................................................................................... 18 2.2.2.1. Biological sample collection ......................................................................................... 18 Post mortem ......................................................................................................................... 18 Ante mortem ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.2.2. Biological sample transport ......................................................................................... 19 2.2.3. Summary of some key points of legislation ........................................................................ 20 2.3. Further Reading ......................................................................................................................... 21 Legislation ............................................................................................................................. 21 Websites:............................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3 Analysing the Results ..................................................................................................... 22 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 22 Contents 3.2. Descriptives, graphs and charts ................................................................................................. 22 3.2.1. Descriptives ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.2.2. Graphs and charts ............................................................................................................... 23 3.3. Statistical significance testing .................................................................................................... 23 3.3.1 Randomisation Tests ............................................................................................................ 25 3.3.1.1 Basic principles of randomisation tests ........................................................................ 26 3.3.1.2 Uses of randomisation tests for single case and small sample sizes in a zoo setting ... 27 (i) AB designs ......................................................................................................................... 27 (ii) ABAB designs ................................................................................................................... 28 (iii) ABCDABCD designs ......................................................................................................... 28 (iv) Any of the above designs for more than one individual (or group) ................................ 28 (v) Opportunistic designs ...................................................................................................... 29 (viii) Correlation / Regression ............................................................................................... 29 (ix) Choosing the right number of randomisations ............................................................... 29 3.3.1.3 Limitations of randomisation tests ............................................................................... 30 (i) Limitations specific to randomisation tests ...................................................................... 30 (ii) Limitations in common with other tests .......................................................................... 30 3.3.1.4 Presentation of results .................................................................................................. 31 3.3.1.5 Software for randomisation tests ................................................................................. 32 3.3.2 Multivariate tests and mixed models .................................................................................. 33 3.3.2.1 Choosing a multivariate test ......................................................................................... 33 3.3.2.2 Interpretation ................................................................................................................ 36 3.3.3 Analysing activity budgets with G-tests ............................................................................... 37 3.3.3.1. Limitations ...................................................................................................................