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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 18, 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 Review of Environmental Enrichment for Zebrafish

  • Kelly Garvin, Graduate Student, Colorado State University


An International Zoo Collaboration on Understudies Species: Investigating Local/Global Processing

  • Jenna V. Congdon, Concordia University of Edmonton
  • Muhammad A. J. Qadri, Concordia University of Edmonton
  • Suzanne L. Gray, College of the Holy Cross


Animal Training Ideas: A Foray Into Choice and Control

  • Ryan Ball, Animal Care Technician, Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo


Assessing Ambassador Snake Welfare: A Methodological Review and Preliminary Results

  • Kayla Fulkerson, Graduate Researcher, North Carolina State University / North Carolina Zoo


Bone-Appetit: Behavioral Effects of Carcass Feeding in Amur Leopards

  • Avery Schneider, Professional Science Master's in Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management Candidate, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
  • Dr. Jennie Willis, Graduate Coordinator for the PSM degree in Zoo, Aquarium and Animal Shelter Management, Colorado State University
  • Jessi DiCola-Palmer, Animal Keeper, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
  • Rick Hester, Curator of Behavioral Husbandry, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo


Calculating Clutter: Quantifying the Visual Complexity of Zoo Habitats Using Computational Measures

  • Charles Ritzler, Animal Welfare Scientist, Brookfield Zoo Chicago


Caution, Construction Zone: Building a Better Understanding of the Impact of Zoo Construction on Animal Wellbeing

  • Victoria O'Connor, Supervisor of Enrichment, Training & Wellbeing, Bergen County Zoo
  • Cindy Norton, Curator, Bergen County Zoo
  • Mark Romeo, Animal Keeper, Bergen County Zoo
  • Brianna Devine, Supervising Animal Keeper, Bergen County Zoo


Characterizing Red Panda (Ailurus spp.) Personality Using Novel Object Tests and Keeper-Completed Assessments: Initial Trends and Potential Applications for Well-Being

  • Sarah Huskisson, PhD Candidate, George Mason University; Pre-doctoral Fellow, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute


Digging Deep: An Evaluation of Enrichment Designed To Promote Digging Behavior in a Southern Three-Banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)

  • Allison Bailey, City Zoos Research Manager, Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Clara Arndtsen: Student Researcher, Hunter College
  • Serene Rivera: Student Researcher, Hunter College
  • Melissa Mason: Senior Wild Animal Keeper, Central Park Zoo
  • Susan Cardillo: Animal Curator, Central Park Zoo


Dummy Eggs for Dummies

  • Kristina Stephens, Animal Care Technician, Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo


Effects of Ambient Temperature on Zoo-Housed Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) Total Energy Expenditure and Behavior

  • Noah Dunham, Research Curator, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo


Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) Updates From the North American EEHV Advisory Group

  • Dr. Lauren Howard, Zoo and Conservation Liaison, Peel Therapeutics


Exploring Cognitive Bias in Orangutans

  • Eridia Pacheco, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Zoo Atlanta


Feeding Giraffes, Engaging Guests: Exploring Strategies for Increased Participation

  • Kaci Agre, Master's Student, Colorado State University


Hats On, Minds Open: Using 3D Printing To Explore Sea Urchin Behavior and Guest Engagement

  • Samantha Sherry, Masters Candidate, Colorado State University


Improving Wellbeing Through a Free Ranging Habitat

  • Liz DeCosmo, Master's Candidate, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
  • Dr. Jennie Willis, Graduate Coordinator for the PSM degree in Zoo, Aquarium and Animal Shelter Management, Colorado State University
  • Rick Hester, Curator of Behavioral Husbandry, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo


Investigations Into the Efficacies of Popular Estrogen Quantification Techniques for the Amur Tiger

  • Christopher Jackson, Graduate Research Assistant, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo


Lemur Snack Showdown: Finding the Perfect Balance of Flavor and Nutrition

  • Nathan Ooms, Student, Colorado State University


Modernizing an Animal Care Committee for a Zoological Institution

  • Carolyn Simonis, Animal Welfare & Safety Coordinator, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo


One Health Meets Comparative Medicine: Understanding Genetic Susceptibility of Disease Across Species

  • Dr. Joshua Schiffman, Co-founder and CEO, Peel Therapeutics
  • Dr. Lisa Abegglen, Consultant, Peel Therapeutics
  • Dr. Lauren Howard, Zoo and Conservation Liaison, Peel Therapeutics


Parsing “Shivering” Behavior in Bald Eagle

  • Katie Hall, Director of Animal Behavior and Wellbeing, Minnesota Zoo


Records Management Technology, Applications, Training and Compliance for Animal Records

  • Rae Lynn Haliday, MBA, CRM, CIGO, FAI, Curator, Animal Management Services, Saint Louis Zoo
  • Lily Moore, CRA, Zoological Manager/Registrar, Animal Management Services, Saint Louis Zoo
  • Karen Bauman, Manager, Reproductive Sciences, Saint Louis Zoo


Responses of Goats and Sheep to Visitors in Contact Area

  • Cathleen Cox, Los Angeles Zoo Research Director, Los Angeles Zoo
  • Jill Werner, Research and Welfare, Los Angeles Zoo


Seeing Red: Red Light’s Impact on Naked Mole Rats (Heterocephalus glaber)

  • William Allen, Research Assistant, Zoo Atlanta


Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) Interactions With Olfactory and Novel Enrichment

  • Annalise Schaaf, Graduate Candidate, PSM Zoo, Animal Shelter, and Aquarium Managment


The Animal Experience Plan: Visualizing the Slices of Behavior, Welfare, and Enrichment in One Whole Pie

  • Catherine Razal, Animal Excellence Scientist, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden


The Guiding Principles of AZA Animal Wellbeing Culture

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


The Power of a Single Fecal Sample: Hormones, the Microbiome, and Genetic Sexing in the African Penguin

  • Dr. Susan Smith, Research Scientist, Mystic Aquarium


Toys for Animals: 14 Years of Innovative Animal Enrichment

  • Marie Brown, Executive Director, Handshouse Studio
  • Cailigh MacDonald, Toys for Animals Project Director, Handshouse Studio / Associate Director of Design, New England Aquarium
  • Rick and Laura Brown, Co-Founders, Handshouse Studio / Professors Emeriti, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
  • Patrick Foran, Art Teacher, Boston Prep Public Charter School
  • Dr. Malu Celli, Vice President of Animal Care, Zoo New England


Unlocking Potential: Developing a New Team While Training Complex Animal Behaviors

  • Kelsey Forbes, Curator of Mammals, Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium


Variation in Diet and Leafy Browse Offerings Among Colobus Monkeys (Colobus spp.) and Langurs (Trachypithecus spp.) in AZA Facilities

  • Maura Plocek, Graduate Research Associate, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo


Variation in Zoo Diets and Offerings of Leafy Browse in Matschie’s Tree Kangaroos (Dendrolagus matschiei) and Impacts on the Composition of the Gut Microbiome

  • Diana Koester, Research Curator, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo


Waddle and Reflect: The Effects of Mirror Enrichment on Captive African Penguin Behavior

  • Emmalee Carruth, Master Student Candidate, Colorado State University


Waves & Water Motion: A Crucial Factor in Animal Enrichment & Realistic Environments

  • Lew Wemple, Product Manager – WaveTek, Aquatic Development Group


Zoo Diet Navigator: A Free Diet Management and Analysis Tool for Zoos

  • Heidi Bissell, Chief Animal Nutritionist, Disney's Animals, Science and Environment


Aquarium Affairs

Fishing for Answers: Decoding Life Expectancy Dynamics in Group Housed Fish

  • Cassidy Payne, Masters Student, Colorado State University


How Effective Can Enrichment Be for Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus) Which Do Not Have a Brain?

  • Auguste Schmidt, Staten Island Zoo Aquarium Intern, Staten Island Zoo
 
 Business Operations

Strategies for Cross-Departmental Zoo-Wide Events (Zoo Boo, Zoo Lights, Etc.)

  • Wendy Babineaux, Event Operations Manager, Houston Zoo
 

 Conservation

Adaptive Rewilding: Leveraging Captive-Breeding and Release To Inform Land Management

  • Steven Hromada, Postdoctoral Scientist, Fresno Chaffee Zoo


Calling for Love: Using Vocalizations to Estimate Sexual Receptivity and Track Reproductive Patterns in Amur Leopards

  • Maxwell Cozzini, Undergraduate Student, Fairfield University


Capacity Building for Collaborative Conservation

  • Christina Dembiec, Training Program Officer, IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group
  • Jessica Steiner, Senior Advisor, Conservation Networking, Wilder Institute and Calgary Zoo


Conspecific Cues Enhance Egg Viability in the Captive Breeding of Western Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris triseriata)

  • Jeffrey Ethier, PhD Candidate, University of Ottawa


Effects of Captive Rearing on Anti-Predator Behavior

  • Jonathan Schafer, Graduate Student, Washington State University


Ex-Situ and In-Situ Collaborations: The Case of Kenya’s Mountain Bongo

  • Donna Sheppard, Conservation Programme Manager, Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo in partnership with Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust


Hot and Bothered: Small Changes in Water Temperature, Big Changes in Fish Behavior

  • Elia Haghbin, Student, Fairfield University


Idaho Falls Zoo’s Results on Using an Empathy-based Model to Measure Conservation Behavior in Guests

  • Bethanie West, Curator of Education, Idaho Falls Zoo


Important Conservation Action Can Come in Small Packages: The Value of Small Zoos in Maintaining Captive Assurance Populations

  • Catherine Shier, Conservation Coordinator, Edmonton Valley Zoo


Informative Captions Do Not Mitigate the Conservation Harm of Images Depicting Human-Primate Interaction

  • Cassie Freund, Director of Science Communication, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
  • Katherine A. Cronin, Lincoln Park Zoo Animal Welfare Science Program
  • Michelle Huang, Department of Computer Science, Princeton University
  • Natalie Robinson, Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program
  • Boaz Yoo, Department of Computer Science, Princeton University
  • Alison Silldorff, Princeton University
  • Andrea L. DiGiorgio, Department of Anthropology and Writing Program, Princeton University


Leveraging Global Frameworks for Cheetah Conservation

  • Becky Johnston, International Cheetah Studbook Assistant, Cheetah Conservation Fund


One Health-One Welfare: Using a Holistic and Interdisciplinary Approach for Snow Leopard Conservation

  • Kayley Bateman, Programs Manager, Snow Leopard Conservancy


Participants Perceptions and Behaviors After Zoo Visit

  • Ashley Terry, Senior Manager, School & Community Programs, Conservation Society of California, Oakland Zoo

 

Scaling Impact Through Partnerships – Minnesota Zoo’s Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program

  • Tricia Markle, Wildlife Conservation Specialist, Minnesota Zoo


Semen Collection Program and Reproductive Assessment of Zoo-Managed African Elephant Bulls (Loxodonta africana)

  • Katie Campbell, Graduate Student, University of Nebraska, Lincoln & For Elephants Inc


Using Physiological Conditions To Assess Current and Future Habitat Use of a Subarctic Frog

  • Tom Hastings, Education Manager, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium


Watching the Little Things: Discovering Life History of the Endangered Half-moon Hairstreak (Satyrium semiluna)

  • James Glasier, Population Ecologist, Wilder Institute/ Calgary Zoo
 

Zoo Social Dynamics of Black-Handed Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)

  • Nora Crowley, Student, Fairfield University
 

 Education

A Story’s Strength: How Storytelling Can Influence Engagement Levels, Attitudes, and Emotions of Zoo Guests

  • Kaylie Adams, Master's Candidate, Colorado State University
  • Dr. Jennie Willis, Graduate Coordinator for the PSM degree in Zoo, Aquarium and Animal Shelter Management, Colorado State University
  • Basia Dann, Lead Animal Keeper, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
  • Rick Hester, Curator of Behavioral Husbandry, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo


Ecoedventures: Building Connections & Inspiration for Educators, While Saving Species

  • Gail Lemiec, Unique Experiences Coordinator, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
  • Deyanira Romo Rossell, Communications Manager, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher


Empathy in the Wild: Observations of Empathy-Related Practices and Visitor Behaviors Across the Ace for Wildlife Network

  • Theo Bamberger, Evaluation Specialist, Woodland Park Zoo


Lincoln Park Zoo Institutional Review Board (IRB) Services and the Importance of Ethical Oversight

  • Marisa Shender, Zoo Programs Manger, IRB Chair, Lincoln Park Zoo


Making Camp Inclusive for All Children

  • Kelly Reina, Manager, Early Childhood Education Programs, Brookfield Zoo Chicago


Marine Science Club: Cultivating Conservation Identities Through Community

  • Rachel Flanders, Youth Engagement Mentor, Seattle Aquarium


Piloting the Use of Anthropomorphic Language in Animal Chats at Zootampa at Lowry Park

  • Kerry Gray, Supervisor of Behavioral Research, ZooTampa at Lowry Park


Shutterbee Story: Successful Collaboration With Citizen Science

  • Erin Tate, Conservation Audience Research and Evaluation, Saint Louis Zoo

The Axolotl on Your Shoulder: How Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) Can Bolster Conservation Education
  • Amy Emmert, Director of Education and Engagement, Belle Isle Aquarium/Conservancy
  • Marion Bernstein, Associate Director of Programs & Comms, NYU Tandon School of Engineering 


World Desert Day-Let's Make it a Global Celebration!

  • Renee Barnett, Animal Care Curator-Wildlife Connections, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens


Zoo Teacher Professional Development as a Context To Build Conservation Capacity

  • Angela Barber, Director of Conservation Learning, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Trends & More
Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium:  A Sustainable Approach To Revitalizing Exhibits
  • Sumi Fasolo, Project Architect | Exhibit Designer, CambridgeSeven

Centering Disabled Audiences in Interpretive Design
  • Brian Slattery, Manager of Audience Research & Evaluation, Lincoln Park Zoo

Ethical & Equitable Approaches to Social Science Research
  • Peter Kalenda, Assistant Professor, SUNY Geneseo

No, Eels Don't Glow: A Case Study in Exhibit Prototyping
  • Sarah Aman, Senior Exhibit Designer, John G. Shedd Aquarium
  • Sarah Werner, Manager of Interpretive Programs, John G. Shedd Aquarium
  • Kristen Neria, Director of Exhibit Services, John G. Shedd Aquarium

Promoting Accessibility and Guest Engagement at the Seneca Park Zoo Animal Hospital
  • Peter Kalenda, Assistant Professor, SUNY Geneseo

Strategic Collection Planning – An AZA Perspective
  • Hannah Jenkins, PhD Student, Nottingham Trent University
 
The Philadelphia Zoo - A Theoretical Master Plan for the Expansion of a Historic Institution
  • Zvi Teitelbaum, Student, State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Validated Scales for Perceptions and Expectations of Informal Science Learning Institutions
  • Joe E. Heimlich, Sr. Director of Research, COSI Center for Research and Evaluation

Visualize This! Using Visual Analytics To Manage an Animal Training Program
  • Amanda Mazza, Registrar/Data Manager, Duke Lemur Center

What Do Guests Really See? Exploring Animal Visibility in Zoos
  • Rachel Dickler-Mann, Community Research and Evaluation Manager, Denver Zoo
 

Volunteer & Intern Engagement
Cultivating Connections: Strengthening a Volunteer Animal Ambassador Team
  • Corryn Zylstra, Student, Colorado State University

The ECHO Teen Volunteer Program: Advocating for Marine Debris Prevention
  • Leah Hintz, Senior Educator, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
  • Lisa Pinney, Senior Educator, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

The Process and Potential Behind Paid Youth Internships in Zoos
  • James Garcia, Youth Engagement Manager, Denver Zoo

Workplace Culture, Staff Engagement & Professional Development
Accreditation Inspectors: The Eyes and Ears of the Commission
  • Cheri Bermudez, Director, Accreditation Programs, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Inclusive Zoo and Aquarium Experiences for Autistic Individuals: Insights from an Autism Community Study
  • Kelly Riedinger, Senior Researcher & Program Lead in Informal, K-12 and Connected Learning, STEM Research Center at Oregon State University