University at Buffalo (UB)
Studying Animal Behavior in a Zoo Setting
Studying animal behavior to learn about evolution.
Project description
Gestural communication is often seen as a precursor to language. The way social carnivores and nonhuman primates make collective decisions without language is primarily ascribed to their ability to be entuned with facial gestures. The research assistant will collect behavioral and sensory data on hyenas, saki monkeys, and tamarins who live in small groups and display facial gestures. The primary goal is to contextualize these behaviors and categorize their breath compared to wild populations.
Studying animals in captive settings can inform our understanding of innate and learned behaviors. This project will assess adaptive flexibility, which is thought to be an essential part of our evolutionary history.
Project outcome
Student Posters
Scientific papers
Sorted Datasets
Students are encouraged to, at the very least, present a poster at a UB or regional meeting, but can also participate in writing the final manuscript.
Project details
| Length of commitment | About a semester; 3-5 months |
| Start time | Summer (May/June) |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-Person Project (can only function with in-person engagement) |
| Level of collaboration | Small group project (2-3 students) |
| Benefits | Stipend |
| Who is eligible | All undergraduate students |
Core partners
- Buffalo Zoo
Project mentor
Stephanie Poindexter
Assistant Professor
Anthropology
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
Reading relevant articles and book chapters- These will be provided by the PI once approved.
Complete required training orientation with PI- Arranged by the PI
Keywords
Animals, Zoo, Behavior, Sensory, Funded