Designing an assay to evaluate behavioral responses to opposite-sex conspecifics in the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).

The endangered black-footed ferret (ferret; Mustela nigripes) is a North American carnivore that is actively managed to reestablish self-sustaining wild populations. Behavioral abnormalities have been reported in the breeding program and may be a limiting factor for the species' success. Our goal was to design and test an assay that examines the ferret's exploratory response to odor cues in the form of soiled bedding from opposite-sex conspecifics.

Incorporating Research into an Undergraduate Animal Behavior Course using Zoos and Webcams.

In our nonmajors animal behavior class, we developed a semester-long research project assignment that incorporates project-based learning (PBL) and the opportunity for Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) that introduces, assesses, and applies the course concepts. This project can easily be adapted for nonmajors biology, majors biology, or other more general survey classes, including remote courses. This student-led project involves a field trip for data collection at our local zoo, additional data collection using webcams, and writing and presenting a scientific report.

Using odor cues to elicit a behavioral and hormonal response in zoo-housed African wild dogs.

Olfactory enrichment, like odor cues, can positively affect behavior, reproductive success, and stress physiology in zoo-housed species. Our goal was to determine if odor cues were enriching to the African wild dog (AWD; Lycaon pictus), a species with a complex social structure and a highly developed sense of smell. Our objectives were to: (1) examine changes in activity levels and stress hormone physiology in response to fecal odor cues from natural competitor and natural/unnatural prey species; and (2) determine whether these odor cues could function as effective enrichment for zoo-housed AWDs.

Hormonal and behavioral patterns of reproduction in female hylobatids.

Ovarian cyclicity, reproductive behavior, and gestation length were characterized in female hylobatids using non-invasive fecal steroid analyses and behavioral data. Progestagen metabolites were quantified in fecal samples collected for 3 months from seven females housed at seven North American zoological institutions. Mean (±SEM) ovarian cycle length was 23.

Hormonal correlates of paternal care differences in the Hylobatidae.

Only one of the 15 species of monogamous hylobatids, the siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), demonstrates direct paternal care in the form of infant-carrying, providing a unique model for examining hormonal correlates of paternal care differences between siamangs and gibbons. We used behavioral data and fecal hormone analysis to investigate (1) differences in monthly percent father-infant proximity in relation to monthly fecal androgen metabolite concentrations from infant birth to the late postpartum period between siamangs and gibbons, (2) the pattern of change in fecal androgen and fecal estrogen metabolite concentrations during the 8-week peripartum period between siamangs and gibbons, and (3) the change in mean fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations at 1-month postpartum from individual baseline between siamangs and gibbons. Father-infant proximity increased as androgen concentrations decreased over the postpartum period in siamangs but not in gibbons.