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The Dogs of Dickens: the Canine Presence in the Author's Works
Theses | Contributor(s): Christopher Koestner
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Contagious Yawning in the Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Theses | Contributor(s): Ariel M. Lombardo Aghishian
This study investigates contagious yawning in domestic cats towards their owners, looking at potential links with empathy. Results showed no significant difference in yawning between conditions. The solitary nature of wildcats and their shared ancestor, and the unique social behavior in...
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The Behavioral Effects of Feeding Enrichment on a Zoo-Housed Herd of African Elephants (Loxodonta africana)
Theses | Contributor(s): Caroline Marie Driscoll
A comprehensive study on the behavioral effects of feeding enrichment was conducted on six African elephants housed at the North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro, NC. The herd is comprised of are two adult males, three adult females, and one subadult female. The study was conducted over a...
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Public Perceptions: Risks in Dog and Coastal Wildlife Interactions
Theses | Contributor(s): Ian Banatoski, Bryanna Dellaripa, Samantha Hires, Larissa Naidoo, Elizabeth Rooney
The New Zealand Department of Conservation is seeking to better manage coastal wildlife interactions as dogs become more prevalent on beaches with vulnerable wildlife. We used site assessments, surveys, and interviews to assess the public’s perceptions of dog-wildlife encounters. Since...
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Canine for Disabled Kids Awareness Campaign Research and Implementation Plan
Theses | Contributor(s): Jiamin Gu, Kendall Harcourt, Chang Liu, Kiamu Liu, Jemmie Tejada
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service animals are: “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities” ( ADA, 2015). On the other hand, emotional support animals are: “dogs that provide comfort and support in...
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The Use of Trazodone Hydrochloride to Reduce Stress in Dogs During the Transition Period into a Municipal Animal Shelter: Impact on Incidence of Illness, Length of Stay, and Outcome
Theses | Contributor(s): Jennifer L. Abrams
A large municipal animal shelter in NYC gave dogs low doses of trazodone hydrochloride at the time of intake to evaluate its efficacy in reducing transitional stress. Statistically significant decreases in illness rate and length of stay and increase in adoption rate were observed in the dogs...
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Barriers to Sustainable Hunting-Based Conservation of Elephants in Zimbabwe
Theses | Contributor(s): Jessica Cusworth
The international demand for ivory has devastated African elephant populations. In 2015, more elephants were poached for ivory than were born. Many countries have sought to decrease poaching pressures through ivory trade bans. However, Zimbabwe, home to the second largest African elephant...
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The Effect of Play Group on the Behavior of Shelter Dogs
Theses | Contributor(s): Stephanie Flower
This study looked at two groups of dogs, one which attended play group prior to receiving their behavior evaluation and one that did not. The group that attended play group showed significantly lower scores when looking at the dog to dog portion of the behavior evaluation.
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Canines for Disabled Kids
Theses | Contributor(s): Erin Jerrett, Margarita Mnatsakanyan, Colleen Reynolds, Yin Wang
Canines for Disabled Kids have been working on behalf of children and their families to educate communities and promote service dog partnerships for almost twenty years. Their advocacy with local legislatures, business owners, and community leaders highlighted the difficulties encountered when...
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Tracing Economic, Ritual, and Social Pathways to Neolithization in the Southern Levant through Human-Animal Relationships at Kfar HaHoresh
Theses | Contributor(s): Jacqueline Suzanne Meier
During the transition to agriculture in the southern Levant of Southwest Asia, the PrePottery Neolithic B (PPNB) period is marked by the beginning of herd animal management, a fluorescence of ritual evidence and increasingly large settlements with diversified uses. These developments had...
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Contentions at the Human-Wildlife Interface: An Analysis of Chicago's Coyote Management Plan
Theses | Contributor(s): Ilanah Taves
Urbanization and habitat fragmentation cause animal species to either adjust to human- dominated landscapes or suffer population loss. This paper examines the municipal challenges associated with coyotes, an animal successfully adapting to cities throughout North America. The presence of...
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Sustainable Safari Practices: Proximity to Wildlife, Educational Intervention and the Quality of Experience
Theses | Contributor(s): Ryan Devine Tarver
This research examines the perceived quality of experience for safari tourists in relation to wildlife viewing proximities and the potential of educational interventions as a management strategy to mitigate adverse impacts of safari participant crowding. Crowding emanates from the safari...
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Use of Vertical Enclosure Space and Species-Typical Locomotion by a Rehabilitating Spider Monkey (Ateles fusciceps)
Theses | Contributor(s): Jake Funkhouser
With wild spider monkey populations in decline, investigations contributing to captive welfare, and successful rehabilitation and reintroduction knowledge is increasingly pressing. Quantifying and analyzing the appropriateness of naturalistic enclosure designs to foster species-typical...
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Planning for Cougars in an Urban Environment
Theses | Contributor(s): Edward Drew Brittain
Urban sprawl is a ubiquitous term and issue for planners across the United States. As sprawl occurs, planners are attempting to impede the effects (loss of biodiversity, increased effects of climate change, increased interaction between wildlife and urban environments) of converting natural...
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Elk and Deer Hunters in Washington State: Affiliations and Ethical Behavior
Theses | Contributor(s): Isa O. Harrison
Elk and deer are particularly challenging natural resources to manage due to their mobility and the impacts of other species and humans both direct and indirect. A man-made lack of natural predators has created a need for hunting in order to control the population expansions of herds. Such...
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A Case Study: Observations of Behaviors & Vocalizations in a Captive Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) During Quarantine
Theses | Contributor(s): Alexandra Dilley
Bozie, an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), was relocated from the Baton Rouge Zoo to Smithsonian’s National Zoo. During a requisite 29-day quarantine period, I recorded Bozie’s stress-related behaviors and the vocalizations she produced when she was alone and with her keepers in...
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The Effects of Reward-Based Training on the Behavioral Assessment of the Domestic Dog
Theses | Contributor(s): Shelby Vandergraff
Contrary to popular belief, pet overpopulation is caused more by owners failing to keep their dog than with accidental or intentional breeding (Moulton et al., 1991). Factors related to relinquishment have been researched, and concluded that behavioral problems are the most reoccurring reasons...
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Re-Evaluating Captive Chimpanzee "Dominance": Dominance Hierarchy and Chimpanzee-Caregiver Relationships at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Theses | Contributor(s): Jake Alan Funkhouser
This thesis is composed of two journal-ready articles and an accompanying appendix with additional data and interpretation. Overall, this thesis describes and statistically analyzes dominance relationships in two nonhuman primate groups with novel methods, possible correlations between...
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A Comparison of Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) Responses to Caregiver Use of Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) and Species-Specific Behaviors (SSB)
Theses | Contributor(s): Whitney D. Emge
The present study compared the effects of positive reinforcement training (PRT) and unstructured interactions (UI) on chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) behavior. In the PRT condition, a caregiver interacted with a chimpanzee to condition behaviors for 10 min. In the UI condition, a caregiver...
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Response of Three Species of Monkeys to Caregiver Use of Species-Typical Behavior
Theses | Contributor(s): Lillian Anna Stolar
Caregivers are a primary part of captive monkey environments. When addressing psychological well-being of captive nonhuman primates, social environment should be considered. Chimpanzees, gorillas, New World monkeys, and Old World monkeys responded positively to interactions with caregivers....
