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Poster Presentations

Posters will be on display during Exhibit Hall Hours in the rear of the Exhibit Hall. The authors of each poster will be present for discussion during the Poster Reception, Wednesday, September 13, from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Beer, wine, and light appetizers will be served.
Posters are listed by primary track.

 

 Animal Management, Health & Welfare

A Comparison of Three Different Enrichment Types for Nile Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) To a Baseline 24-Hour Activity Budget

  • Natalie Ervin, Graduate Student, Colorado State University

Analysis of Macro and Microplastics Present in Sri Lankan Wild Elephant Feces

  • Lalith Jayawickrama, Professor, University of Dubuque

Assessing the Behavioural and Physiological Wellbeing of Ambassador Animals Used for Education Programs in Zoos

  • Shao Doyon-Degroote, MSc. Student, Concordia University

Assessment of Steroid Hormone Concentrations in Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) Feathers

  • Corinne Kozlowski, Endocrinologist, Saint Louis Zoo

AZA’s Elephant Strategy Task Force

  • Matthew Krcmarik, Coordinator, Animal Programs, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Call Me Maybe? Using Videoconferencing in Enrichment Assessment and Approval

  • Meredith Bashaw, Professor & Chair, Franklin & Marshall College

Does Interest in a Magic Trick Reflect an Animal’s Welfare State? Curiosity as a Welfare Metric

  • Emily Walco, Wellness and Conservation Research Associate, San Francisco Zoo

Enclosure Usage and Activity Budget of the Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus Mindorensis Under Managed Care

  • Michelle Roy, Student, Colorado State University/Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

Environmental Complexity Impacts on Cluster Density of Seba’s Short-Tailed Bats (Carollia perspicillata)

  • Katie Vyas, Director of Animal Wellness and Research, Denver Zoo

Foot Clenching as a Potential Indicator of Pain in Gorillas

  • Katie Hall, Coordinator of Animal Welfare and Behavioral Husbandry, Sedgwick County Zoo

Improving Behavioral Welfare in Reptiles at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

  • Amanda MacDonald, Professional Science Masters in Zoo Management Student, Colorado State University & Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Innovations in the Care of a Sensitive Dragonfly

  • Jonah Fronk, Research Fellow, Colorado State University and Butterfly Pavilion

Investigating the Effects of Public Events and Special Attractions on Zoo Animal Well-Being

  • Liam Kelly, Animal Wellness Research Analyst, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Lifespans in Managed Care as a Measurement of Wellbeing

  • Ari Schlumbohm, Graduate Student, Colorado State University

Measuring the Effectiveness of Well-Being Based Educational Signage on the Reduction of Undesirable Behaviors of a White Bellied Bustard and Aversive Visitor Behaviors

  • Liam Kelly, Animal Wellness Research Analyst, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Measuring the Impact of Environmental Changes on Giraffe Welfare

  • Anna De Jong, Graduate Student, Colorado State University

Non-Conspecific Interactions of a Newly Introduced Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus)

  • William Allen, Research Assistant, Zoo Atlanta - Research

PMCtrack: A One Stop Shop for How Your Facility Collaborates in AZA Animal Programs

  • Amelia Berle, PMCTrack Coordinator, AZA Population Management Center

Preventing Diet Drift: A New Tool for Smaller Zoos to Track Diet Formulation and Change Over Time

  • Yichen Zhang, Graduate Student, Colorado State University

Psychological and Social Well-Being of Bony Fishes in Zoos and Aquariums

  • Ronald Oldfield, Senior Instructor, Case Western Reserve University

The AZA Strategic Framework for the Wellbeing of Animals

  • Clara Arndtsen, Animal Wellbeing Program Assistant, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

The Impact of Unnatural Dispersal Patterns on the Social Welfare of Bonobos Living in Human Care

  • Sara Skiba, Research Associate, Ape Initiative

Understanding Motivations of Aggression of Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) In Managed Human Care

  • Alia Zieg-Link, Master's Student, Colorado State University PSM Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management

Updates to AZA’s Animal Programs With a Focus on Species Survival Plans Moving Forward

  • Marissa Boland, Program Assistant, Animal Programs, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Using Training as a Stepping Stool to Enhance Enrichment Design

  • Lesia Hryhorenko, Student, University of St. Andrews

Utilization of Artificial Intelligence to Better Understand Behavior in African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus)

  • Brenna Braasch, Master's Student, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Utilizing Zoomonitor to Enhance the Welfare of University-Housed Convict Cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

  • Kelly Barbour, Senior Laboratory Coordinator and Instructor, Thomas More University

Zoo-Housed Pangolin Maternal and Pup Nesting Burrow Behavior

  • Lisa Lauderdale, Animal Welfare Scientist, Chicago Zoological Society


Aquarium Affairs

A More Dynamic Fish Anesthesia Cart

  • Kyle Koehler, Assistant Curator of Quarantine, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

One Welfare for Public Aquariums: How Modeling Can Be Used To Predict Impacts on Humans, Animals, and the Environment

  • Brittany Fischer, Postdoctoral Researcher, The Ohio State University

To Hold or Not To Hold? Does Presentation Style Affect Learning Outcomes and Visitor Perceptions in Ambassador Animal Programs?

  • Jeff Harms, Education Manager, Oregon Coast Aquarium
 

 Conservation

Beyond the Zoo: Improving Conservation Through Research

  • Erik Runquist, Conservation Research Scientist, Minnesota Zoo

Cat Calls: Analyzing Possible Estrus Cues in Amur Leopards

  • Emma King, Student, Fairfield University

Collaborative Conservation Impact

  • Tiffany Evans, Educator, Saint Louis Zoo

Engagement of Meibae Community Conservancy Youth To Improve the Success of Camera Trap Surveys, Samburu County

  • Aemilia Mosswood, Candidate in the Professional Science Master's for Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management, Colorado State University

Engaging the Zoo and Aquarium Population of Polar Bears in Scientific Studiesdue To Inherent Challenges Associated With the Study of Wild Polar Bears, Bears in Zoological Institutions Serve as a Valuable Resource for Advancing Scientific Knowledge and Pro

  • Amy Cutting, VP of Conservation, Polar Bears International

Habitual Habitat Loss - Why Our Lack of Consideration Is Killing Earths Biodiversity With Every Cup

  • Ryan Lewton, Managing Partner, Conservation Coffee

How Sorting Compost Connects the Dots Between Zoo, Community, and Climate Action

  • Adrienne Mrsny, Conservation Manager, Oakland Zoo

It Takes a Village: The Value of Partnerships in a Successful Butterfly Conservation Program

  • Laura Burns, Conservation Programs Manager, Assiniboine Park Zoo

Making the Complex Simple - The Development of a Public Facing Policy Campaign

  • Paul Cox, CEO, Shark Trust

No Mow May: Pollinator Conservation

  • Auriana Donaldson, Conservation Programs Coordinator, Zoological Society of Milwaukee

Pollinator Conservation

  • Richard Reading, VP of Science and Conservation, Butterfly Pavilion

Reintroducing Staff to the Wild - Project Puffin and AZA

  • Mary Gunther, Instructor, Salisbury University

Rewilding the Valley Dragon: Captive Propagation and Repatriation of Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila)

  • Rory Telemeco, Director of Conservation Science, Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Snaring in a Stronghold: Poaching of Critically Endangered Tigers in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia

  • Joe Figel, Conservation Fellow, Memphis Zoo, Leuser International Foundation

Variation in the Ranging Patterns of a Reintroduced Species, the California Condor, in Southern California (2014-2022)

  • Andrea Blackburn, Postdoctoral Associate, Santa Barbara Zoo

Why Did the Freshwater Mussel Decide To Grow in the Laboratory? Because It Wanted To Live a Cultured Life!

  • Kaitlin Ulin, Graduate Research Associate, Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Research Center (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)

Development/Fundraising & Membership

Motivation of Major Gift Donors at the Wildlife Conservation Society

  • Irene Masoutis, Master’s Student, Colorado State University

Transforming Members Into Conservation Activists

  • Ashley Cioppa, Membership and Annual Gifts Manager, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

 Education

Bringing Hope To Messaging About Endangered Species on Zoo Websites: A Focus on Lemurs

  • Lynne Venart, Digital Communications Manager, Lemur Conservation Network

Enhancing Family Engagement in Community Nature Programs

  • Emily Murgia, Conservation Learning Manager: Children and Families Programs, Denver Zoo

Experimentally Evaluating the Effects of Ambassador Animals on Conservation Knowledge and Attitudes

  • Daniel Kirsch, Conservation Educator, New York Aquarium

How Do Zoo Visitors Define Animal Wellbeing? A Qualitative Approach

  • Wilson Sherman, Community Engagement & Collaborative Research Fellow, Conservation Society of California - Oakland Zoo

Integrating Pollinators Into STEAM and SEL Curriculum for a Sustainable Future - Butterfly Pavilion’s Pace Program

  • Oksanna Wildrick, Offsite & Camp Programs Manager, Butterfly Pavilion

Reinventing Summer School To Meet the Needs of Low-Performing Students

  • Lauren Magliola, Education Manager, Early Childhood Programs, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

Salisbury Zooniversity Advisory Group (SZAG) Working to Foster Collaboration Between Salisbury University and the Salisbury Zoo

  • Mary Gunther, Instructor, Salisbury University

So You Want To Start a Podcast: Lessons Learned From the Bear TAG Podcast

  • Emily Bisordi, Program Coordinator, Capron Park Zoo

Soaring to New Heights in Educational Programming: Tools for Landing a Program for Multiple Age Groups

  • Rebekah Wilson, Professional Science Master's in Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management Candidate, Rocky Mountain Raptor Program and Colorado State University

Trading Cards, Trading Stories

  • Patrick Wolff, Manager of Public Programs, Oakland Zoo

Unintended Consequences? An Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Zoo Animal Handling Style on Children’s Conservation Attitudes

  • Sean Palmer, Student, Otterbein University

WCS Presents Field Sight: Bringing Global Conservation Field Work Into Zoo and Aquarium Classrooms

  • Anine Booth, Manager of Professional Development, Wildlife Conservation Society
 Public Relations & Marketing
Content and Trends and Mission — Oh My! How To Stay Relevant on Social Media While Staying True to Your Organization’s Goals
  • Kelsey Wallace, Senior Content Specialist, Oregon Zoo
Innovation Zoo Podcast: Telling the Story of the Science and Technology Behind Designing Zoological Exhibits
  • Ryan Marquez, Undergraduate Student, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Redeveloping the Communication Platform To Maximize Effective Partnerships and Opportunities With Other Organizations
  • Tatiana Jourdan, Professional Science Master's Student, Colorado State University
Seeing Spots - Public Perception of Ambassador Cheetahs as Pets on Social Media
  • Andrea Haugen, Senior Cat Ambassador Program Trainer, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Trends & More

Breaking Free From IRB: When To Consider Not Submitting an IRB Proposals

  • Sara Aldridge, Evaluation Specialist, Woodland Park Zoo

Conservation Breeding Centers: Lessons for Zoos

  • Russell Ploutz, Principal, Zoo Design Inc

Empathy Infusion in Exhibit Design

  • Cari Garand, Seattle Aquarium
  • Nicole Killebrew, Seattle Aquarium

Flying Bamboo Across the Globe and Invisible Animals: Tales of Feeding Animals in Zoos

  • Sabrina Brando, Director / PhD Candidate, AnimalConcepts

Manyzoos: A Big-Data Collaboration Among Zoos

  • Victoria O'Connor, Animal Keeper Supervisor- Enrichment, Training, & Welfare, Bergen County Zoo, Oakland University, ManyZoos Project

The Sinister Six of Accessibility

  • Tai Penn, MPA-MSES Graduate Student, Indiana University

Workplace Culture, Staff Engagement & Professional Development

Amplifying a Culture of Animal Excellence at the Cincinnati Zoo

  • David Orban, Director of Animal Science & Strategy, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Barriers Experienced by BIPOC Professionals in Animal Care at Zoos and Aquariums

  • Naomi Lewis, Undergraduate Student, Otterbein University

Improving Interdisciplinary Collaboration Through the Model of Community-Based Conservation Storytelling

  • Monae Verbeke, Director of Evaluation, Institute for Learning Innovation

Knowing vs. Doing: Analysis of Leadership Program Participants’ Self-Efficacy

  • Taylor Gilley, Staff Learning & Devlopment Manager, Houston Zoo