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Dissemination

Publications

  1. Quirke, T. & O’Riordan, R.M. (2011). The effect of different types of enrichment on the behaviour of cheetahs in captivity. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 133 (1-2), 87-94. impact factor 817  TQ_type of enrichment.pdf
  2. Quirke, T. & O’Riordan, R.M. (2011). The effect of a randomised enrichment treatment schedule on the behaviour of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 135, 103-109. impact factor 817  TQ_randomised enrichment.pdf
  3. Quirke, T. & O'Riordan, R. (2012). Evaluation and Interpretation of the Effects of Environmental Enrichment Utilizing Varying Degrees of Sampling Effort. Zoo Biology, 32 (3), 262-268. impact factor 153 TQ_type of enrichment.pdf
  4. Quirke, T. & O'Riordan, R., Zuur, A. (2012) Factors influencing the prevalence of stereotypical behaviour in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 142, 189-197. impact factor 817 TQ_cheetah_stereotypical behaviour.pdf
  5. Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. & Davenport, J. (2013). A comparative study of the speeds attained by captive cheetahs during the enrichment practice of the ‘cheetah run’. Zoo Biology, 32, 490-496. impact factor 153 TQ_A_comparative_study_of_the_speeds_attain.pdf
  6. Quirke, T. & O’Riordan, R.M. (2015). An investigation into the prevalence of exploratory behaviour in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Zoo Biology, 34(2), 130-8. impact factor 153 TQ_cheetah_exploratory behaviour.pdf
  7. Collins, C., Quirke, T., Overy, L., Flannery, K., O’Riordan, R. (2016). The effect of the zoo setting on the behavioural diversity of captive gentoo penguins and the implications for their educational potential. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 4(2), 85-90. CKC penguins.pdf
  8. Collins, C., Corkery, , Haigh, A., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R. (2017). The effects of environmental and visitor variables on the behavior of free-range ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Zoo Biology, 36, 250-260. DOI 10.1002/zoo.21370 impact factor 1.153 CKC_et_al-2017-Zoo_Biology.pdf
  9. Damasceno, J., Genaro, G., O’Riordan, R., Quirke, T., McCarthy, S. & McKeown, S. (2017). The Effect of Intrinsic Enrichments applied to wild cats in captivity. Zoo Biology, 36(3), 186-192. impact factor 1.153 Damasceno_et_al-2017-Zoo_Biology.pdf
  10. Haigh, A., Butler, F, O'Riordan, R. & Palme, R. (2017). Managed parks as a refuge for the threatened red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in light of human disturbance. Biological Conservation, 211, 29-36. impact factor 4.451 Haigh_red squirrel.pdf
  11. Haigh, A., O'Riordan, R., Butler, F. (2017). Variations in aggression and activity levels amongst squirrels inhabiting low and high density areas. Ecological Research, DOI 10:1007/s11284-017-1506-8. impact factor 546. AH_Variations_in_aggression_and_activity_le.pdf
  12. Collins, C., Quirke, T., McKeown, S., Flannery, K., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. (2019). Zoological education: Can it change behaviour? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 220, 104857. impact factor 1.817 CKC_2019 zoo education.pdf
  13. Collins, C., Corkery, I., McKeown, S., McSweeney, L., Flannery, K., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. (2020). An educational intervention maximises children’s learning during a zoo or aquarium visit.  The Journal of Environmental Education, DOI: 10.1080/00958964.2020.1719022. impact factor 2.040 CKC_JEE_2020.pdf
  14. Collins, C., Corkery, I., McKeown, S., McSweeney, L., Flannery, K., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. (2020) Quantifying the long-term impact of zoological education: a study of learning in a zoo and an aquarium. Environmental Educational Research. 26 (7), 1008-1026. DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2020.1771287 impact factor 2.255 CKC_Quantifying the long term impact.pdf
  15. Collins, C., McKeown, S., McSweeney, L., Flannery, K., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. (2021) Children’s conversation reveals in-depth learning at the zoo. Anthrozoös, 34(1), 17-32. impact factor 1.650 CKC_Conversation
  16. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Power, T., Quirke, T., & O’Riordan, R. M. (2020). Introducing three new males into a captive lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) group. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 8, 3. RN_macaque
  17. Collins, C. K., McKeown, S. & O’Riordan, R. (2021). Does an Animal–Visitor Interactive Experience Drive Conservation Action?. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2(3), 473-486. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/2/3/34/pdf
  18. Zhang, J., Quirke, T., Wu, S., Li, S. & Butler, F. (2021). Impact of Weather Changes and Human Visitation on the Behavior and Activity Level of Captive Humboldt Penguins. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 53(2).
  19. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T. & O’Riordan, R.M. (2021). The effect of a new enclosure on the behavior of a large captive group of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus). Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 9(1), 20-25. Newman_macaque
  20. Collins. C. & O'Riordan, R. Data triangulation confirms learning in the zoo (2022). Environmental Education Research. 28(2), 295-317. impact factor 2.255 https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/AIUZFX5JRTZQPKQUMTWD/full?target=10.1080/13504622.2021.1974351
  21. Collins, C., McKeown, S., & O’Riordan, R. (2023). A comprehensive investigation of negative visitor behaviour in the zoo setting and captive animals' behavioural response. Heliyon. 9,6. Full text
  22. Hennessy, J., Fonteneau, J., Scanaill, C. N., McKeown, S., O′ Donovan, D. & Killeen, G. F. (2023). Territorial vocalization patterns of captive Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) in the middle of winter at high latitude. Zoo Biology. Full text

Currently in revision

- Moloney, D.M. et al. The Conservationist’s Toolkit: A critical review of the need for a synthesised approach of conservation strategies to ensure the success of captivity-based restoration ecology.

-Collins et al. A global investigation of the prevalence of negative visitor behaviour in the zoo.

-Newman, R., Casey, L., Quinn, A., Tobin, A., McKeown, S., Power, T., Quirke, T. & O’Riordan, R.M. Using multiple studies to monitor behaviour of a captive primate group over time. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 

Conferences

Oral presentations 

  1. Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “The effect of feeding enrichment on levels of active, inactive and stereotypical behaviour in cheetah Acionyx jubatus) at Fota Wildife Park, Co. Cork, Ireland’ at the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment 9 (ICEE9), Torquay, 31st May-5th June 2009.
  2. Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R., Zuur, A. “Factors influencing the prevalence of stereotypical behaviour in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)” at International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, Portland USA in 2011.
  3. Quirke, T., O’ Riordan, R. “The effects of different types of environmental enrichment on the behaviour of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in captivity” at the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment in South Africa in 2013.
  4. Haigh, A., O’Riordan, R., Butler, F., Palme, R. “The impact of visitors on a wild population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) at a wildlife park” at the VII European Conference on Behavioural Ecology, Prague, (July, 2014).
  5. Haigh, A., Butler, F., O’Riordan, R. “Variation in personality traits amongst an island population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) with differing degrees of human disturbance” at the XV Congress of the International Society for Behavioural Ecology, New York (July 2014).
  6. Collins, C., Kennedy, D., O’Riordan, R. “Common interests, mutual benefits: UCC and Fota Wildlife Park working together” at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) ACE (marketing and education) conference, Fota Wildlife Park, November 2014.
  7. Collins, C., Kennedy, D., O’Riordan, R. “Influencing visitor behaviour in the zoo setting through the use of environmental enrichment” at the European Zoo Educators’ (EZE) conference, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2015.
  8. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “The behavioural response of a captive group of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) to changes in social structure over time” at the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), Dublin Zoo, Ireland, 2015.
  9. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “Behavioural responses to changes in captive environment in a group of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)” at the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) UK & Ireland Regional Conference 2015, Teagasc, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
  10. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “The influence of wild and captive environments on populations of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) at the Joint Research Meeting of Fota Wildlife Park, Dublin Zoo and Belfast Zoo, Fota Wildlife Park, 2015.
  11. Collins, C., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. “Environmental Enrichment: Does it work for birds? at the UK and Ireland Regional Environmental Enrichment Conference REEC, Fota Wildlife Park, May 2016.
  12. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “Behavioural responses to changes in captive environment in a group of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)” at the Regional Environmental Enrichment Conference (REEC), May 2016, Fota Wildlife Park, Co. Cork, Ireland.
  13. Higgs, B, Butler, F., Burnell, G., Whitaker, A., O’Riordan, R. “Enhancing student engagement through interdisciplinary, international field-based research that tackles global issues”, EuroSoTL (European Scholarship of Teaching & Learning) Conference, Bilbao, Spain, June 13-14th 2019. (won the Joanne Renc-Roe award 2019 for Pushing the Boundaries of SOTL).
  14. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “The effectiveness of water enrichment in pair-house lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)” at the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) 2019, Kyoto, Japan, June, 2019.
  15. Collins, C., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. “Human-animal interactions in the zoo setting” International Symposium of Integrative Zoology, Auckland, New Zealand, December 2019.
  16. McKeown, S. & O’Riordan, R.M. “Fota Wildlife Park and University College Cork: an example of how zoos and universities can collaborate on research and conservation projects”, International Symposium of Integrative Zoology, Auckland, New Zealand, December 2019.
  17. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T. & O’Riordan, R. “A comparative study of multiple captive groups of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus); the effect of group size and enclosure complexity”, International Symposium of Integrative Zoology, Auckland, New Zealand, December 2019. 
  18. Collins, C., McKeown, S., McSweeney, L., Flannery, K. & O’Riordan. ''Data triangulation confirms that learning in the zoo setting is maximised with an educational intervention’’, International Zoo Educators Association, Virtual, October 2020. Collins_presentation
  19. Collins, C., Flannery, K., & O'Riordan, R. ''The effect of the aquarium setting on Gentoo penguins'', BIAZA National Aquarium conference, Virtual, November 2020. Collins_presentation
  20. Collins, C., McKeown, S., Flannery, K. & O'Riordan, R. ''Human-animal interactions in the zoo setting and the effect of an educational intervention'', WAFL Conference, Virtual, August 2021. 
  21. Collins, C., McKeown, S. & O'Riordan, R. ''Inspiring pro-conservation behaviour in the zoo with an interactive tiger experience'', International Conservation Education Conference, Virtual, October 2021. 
  22. Collins, C., McKeown, S. & O'Riordan, R. ''Ongoing research at Fota Wildlife Park: An examination of visitor experience and interactions with implications for animal welfare and pro-conservation behaviour,'' EAZA Animal Welfare Forum, Apenheul Primate Park, May 2022. 

Discussion Panel

  1. Collins, C., Burke, N., Fernandez, E., McSweeney, L. & Moss, A. ''Zoo visitor interest, experience and education with the forgotten taxa: What do our visitors know about unpopular species?'' EAZA Education Conference, Wroclaw Zoo, Poland, March 2023. 

Posters 

  1. Hartery, E. & O’Riordan, R.M. “A study of the behaviour of captive giraffes in Fota Wildlife Park” at the 8th Annual BIAZA Zoo Research Symposium,24th-25th July 2006, Colchester, England.
  2. Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “Enrichment experiments on cheetahs (Acionyx jubatus) at Fota Wildlife Park” at the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment 9 (ICEE9), Torquay, 31st May-5th June 2009.
  3. Haigh, A., O’Riordan, R., Butler, F. “The impact of visitors to a wildlife park on a wild population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), at the 9th International Conference on Behaviour, Physiology and Genetics of Wildlife, Berlin, September 2013.
  4. Collins, C., Kennedy, D., Overy, L., McSweeny-Walsh, L. & O’Riordan, R. ‘The relationship and interactions between zoo visitors, captive animals, education and enrichment.’ BIAZA annual research conference, Dublin Zoo, July 2015.
  5. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “The behavioural responses of a captive group of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) to changes in social structure over time” at the All Ireland Mammal Symposium (AIMS), 2015, University College Cork, Ireland.
  6. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “Behaviour of a captive lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) group before and after move to a new enclosure” at the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland, 2017.
  7. Newman, R., McKeown, S., Quirke, T., O’Riordan, R.M. “Using multiple studies to monitor behaviour of a captive primate group over time” at the Primate Society of Great Britain (PSGB)Winter Meeting, 2017, London, UK.
  8. Collins, C., Kennedy, D. & O’Riordan, R. ‘‘Penguins’ behavioural response to zoo visitors with and without environmental enrichment.’’ at the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, 2019, Japan.
  9. Moloney, D. Collins, C. Newman, R. & O’Riordan, R. ‘‘Comparative Behavioural Analysis of Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) at Fota Wildlife Park’’ at The All Ireland Mammal symposium (AIMS), Dublin, November 2019.
  10. Moloney, D. Collins, C. Newman, R. & O’Riordan, R. ‘‘Comparative Behavioural Analysis of Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) at Fota Wildlife Park’’ at the International Symposium of Integrative Zoology, Auckland, New Zealand, December 2019.
  11. Collins, C., McKeown, S. & O’Riordan. ''A global investigation of the prevalence of negative visitor behaviour in the zoo’’ at The World Association and Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) conference, Virtual, October 2020.
  12. Moloney, D., McKeown, S., O'Donovan, D., Halloway, P., Collins, C. & O'Riordan, R. ''An investigation into the survivability and dispersion of Natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita) after translocation'' BIAZA, London Zoo, July 2022.
  13. Moloney, D., McKeown, S., O'Donovan, D., Halloway, P., Collins, C. & O'Riordan, R. ''Investigations into the necessary variables for continued success in a breeding programme of a vulnerable species, Acinonyx jubatus'' The 3rd International Meeting of Zoo Research, Conservation and Biodiversity, Germany, 2023.
  14. Moloney, D., McKeown, S., O'Donovan, D., Halloway, P., Collins, C. & O'Riordan, R. BIAZA, Dudley Zoo, UK, July 2023.
  15. Moore, D., Collins, C., & O'Riordan. ''Compare the meerkat: A multi-zoo behavioural comparison of meerkats (Suricata suricatta) including the introduction of a new diet'' BIAZA, Dudley Zoo, UK, July 2023.

Participation at other conferences and workshops

  • Malaysian Zoo Conference 2004: Linking Wildlife and the Community, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4th-5th December 2004.
  • Effective education planning for outside the classroom practitioners, Chester Zoo, 2013

Students

Postgraduate research projects completed

PhD 

  1. Thomas Quirke (Oct. 2008-Oct. 2011). Comparative cheetah behaviour in captivity. NUI Travelling Scholarship holder and IRCSET-funded. Available in the UCC library on request.
  2. Juliana Damasceno. (Oct. 2012-Oct. 2016). Influence of environmental enrichment and enclosure size on the behaviour of wild cats in captivity. Co-supervised with Prof. Dr Gelson Genaro and Prof. Dr Mateus José Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Supervised by me but submitted to the U. of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Damasceno_PhDthesis
  3. Courtney Collins (Oct. 2012-Sept. 2018; part-time). An investigation of the relationship between education, visitors and animal behavior in the zoo setting. Co-supervised with Dr Declan Kennedy (Education), College of Arts, Celtic and Social Studies. Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) award and Self-funded. Collins_PhDthesis
  4. Rebecca Newman. (Oct. 2014- Sept. 2018). The influence of wild and captive environments on populations of Lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus); behavioural responses to changes in population dynamics and different environments and the influence of diet on health and behaviour. Co-supervised with Dr T. Quirke. IRC- Enterprise Partnership Funded with Fota Wildlife Park. Enterprise Mentor: Mr S. McKeown, Fota Wildlife Park. Newman_PhDthesis
  5. Maeve Boylan (2011). Aspects of the feeding ecology and breeding biology of the red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) in Ireland. Available in the UCC library on request.
  6. Neil Ramsay (1995). The influence of environmental constraints on aspects of the eco-ethology of the lemurs (Lemur catta). Available in the UCC library on request.
  7. Tom Gittings (1994). The community ecology of Aphodius dung beetles. Available in the UCC library on request.
  8. Daniel Moloney (2021-current). An investigation into how conservation strategies, employed both in captive and wild settings, inform our understanding of animal’s movement and behaviour.
  9. De Cai (Commencing October 1, 2023). An investigation into how the captive environment affects the behaviour of endangered primates and how analysis of animal behaviour and movement of captive species can be used to improve the success of captive endangered wildlife. Funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council.

MSc

  1. Ashley Markewinski (Jan. 2012-Aug. 2017, with cessation of registrations for medical reasons). The behaviour and environmental enrichment of selected captive vertebrates at Fota Wildlife Park. Self-funding fees, but Fota gave 1000€ towards travel/consumables. 
  2. Ms Sarah Forde (MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare - University of Edinburgh)
  3. Dylan Moore (Master by research) Commencing October 1, 2023. Felid behaviour in captivity at Fota Wildife Park and Dublin Zoo. 
  4. David O'Connor (Master by research) Commencing October 1, 2023. The behaviour of free-ranging wallabies at Fota Wildlife Park. 

Final year undergraduate zoo-based research projects

Contact courtney.collins@ucc.ie for a copy of any FYP listed below.

2022/2023

1) Ciara Keane - The Introduction of a New Male Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) to Three Female Drills at Fota Wildlife Park: A Controlled Lock-in forms the Beginning of a Cohesive Captive Primate Society

2) Dylan Moore - Compare the meerkat: A multi-zoo behavioural comparison of meerkats (Suricata suricatta) including the introduction of a new diet

3) Conor Phelan - The enrichment of hoofstock species in Fota Wildlife Park

2021/2022

1) Aoife Callanan - The addition of enrichments in the enclosures of hoof stock at Fota Wildlife Park. Is it worth the effort? Supervisors: Professor Ruth Ramsay and Dr Courtney Collins 

2)Rowan Collier - Multi-species Behavioural Comparison and Enclosure Utilisation Study after Enclosure expansion. Supervisors: Professor Ruth Ramsay and Dr Courtney Collins

3) Michael Feeney - The Influence of seasonal weather conditions on the temporal
distribution of territorial vocalisations by captive Asiatic lions. Supervisor: Ger Killeen

4) Bridin Foster - A Behavioural Study of the Ongoing Integration of Drill monkeys (Mandrillus leucophaeus) to Fota Wildlife Park. Supervisors: Professor Ger Killeen and Dr Courtney Collins 

5) Calvin Jordan - Behaviour dynamics in reforming a group of Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in Fota Wildlife Park. Supervisors: Professor Ruth Ramsay and Dr Courtney Collins

6) Rory Lucey - “How diet affects a dominance based hierarchy in captive Siamang gibbons, Symphalangus syndactylus.” Supervisors: Professor Ruth Ramsay and Dr Courtney Collins

7). David Twomey - Nighttime Behaviour of Captive Giraffes in Fota Wildlife Park. Supervisors: Professor Ruth Ramsay and Dr Courtney Collins

 

 2020/21

1) Sarah O'Donoghue - Assessing visitor effects on free ranging Aves and two species in enclosures at Fota Wildlife Park

 2019/20

1) Lydia Elliot- Behaviour of drills as they integrate at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Courtney Collins)  LE_FYP

 2018/19

1) Dearbhla Holohan - Analysis of behaviour and enclosure use in five Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Daniel Moloney - Comparative behavioural analysis of asiatic lions, Panthera leo persica, at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay) DM_FYP

3) Yasmin Gardezi - Behaviour study of the red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) at Fota Wildlife Park under differing weather conditions (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

4) Cian Holland - Behaviour of Lion-tailed macaques at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

5) Jordan Hanly - Supplementary feeding regime and its effect on natural foraging behaviour in Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Professor John Quinn)

2017/18

1) Claire McCarthy - A behavioural study of the Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens) in Fota Wildlife Park and the factors that may influence these behaviours (Supervisor: Dr Tom Quirke)

2) Cian McDonald - Behavioural Variation among 5 Sumatran Tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) when subjected to different enclosure conditions and following introductions in Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Tom Quirke)

3) Laura Sweeney Chis - Water quality in the ponds at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Professor Emer Rogan)

2016/17

1) Rachel Heaphy - Primate Politics: the social integration of new individuals into a group of captive Black Crested Macaques (Macaca nigra) at Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Centre (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Sara Leacy - The behaviour of ungulates at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

3) Rebecca O’Sullivan - Behaviour of Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) in captivity (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

4) Chloe Webster-Keleher - The behaviour of the two male and one female group of Lion-tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus) in their island enclosure at Fota Wildlife Park, including any effect of enrichment on behaviour (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

5) Alyssa Laprise - The foraging behaviour of captive greylag geese (Anser anser) snow geese (Chen caerulescens), and barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Professor John Quinn)

6) Valentine Joy Reiss-Woolever - The Effect of Feeding Regime on the Behaviour of Captive Humboldt Penguins, Spheniscus humboldti (Supervisor: Professor John Quinn)

 2015/16

1) Anna Brennan- A study on the behavioural effect of moving the agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis) population to a new island in Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Grace Copithorne*- Behaviour of European Bison at Fota Wildlife Park (now employed as a keeper at Fota) (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

3) Doireann Ferris - The behaviour of meerkats, primates and their interactions in mixed species enclosures (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

4) Shannon Foley- A comparative study on the behaviour of free ranging Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

5) Elaine McCarthy - Fission-Fusion; Pride dynamics in an enclosed reserve (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

6) Roseanna O’Brien - Behaviour and environmental enrichment of white-handed gibbons (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

7) Stephanie Prout - Behaviour in captive penguins and the effects of enrichment (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

8) Sarah Kelliher - A comparative behavioural study of captive Sumatran tigers at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

9) Jonathan McClintock - The behaviour and enrichment of Sumatran tigers (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

10) Jack Maher - The behaviour of male only primate groups; lion-tailed macaques and siamang gibbons at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

11) Fiona McAuliffe - A Study on the Social Behaviour of Iberian Wolves (Canis lupus signatus) During Pup-Rearing (Supervisor: Professor John Quinn)

 2014/15

1) Shonnon McCarthy - The behaviour and enrichment of Sumatran tigers at Fota (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Joseph Beeken - The behaviour and enrichment of agile gibbons at Fota (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

3) John O'Riordan - The behaviour and enrichment of lar gibbons at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

4) Connor Dunne - Behaviour and enrichment of penguins at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisors: Professor Sarah Culloty; Dr Ruth Ramsay)

 2013/14

1) Michael O’Sullivan - Visitor effects on the habitat use of the Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Fidelma Butler; Dr Amy Haigh)

2) Brian Walsh - Responses of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) at Fota Wildlife Park to the alarm calls of a sympatric species (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Fidelma Butler; Dr Amy Haigh)

3) Cillian O’Connell - The foraging and behaviour of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Fidelma Butler; Dr Amy Haigh)

4) Eoin Clarke - A behavioural study of captive primates and meerkats, and their interactions in mixed species exhibits (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

5) Adam Ansboro - Ring-tailed lemur behaviour at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

6) Rebecca Pragnell - The behaviours of captive Rothchild Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) and European Bison (Bison bonasus) and their environmental enrichment at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Tom Quirke)

 2012/13

1) Anna Bracken - Siamang gibbon behaviour and reducing stereotypy (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Leon Harris - Bison behaviour at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

3) Rebecca Newman - The behaviour of lion-tailed macaques at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

4) Aileen Russell - Captive animal behaviour and environmental enrichment at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

5) Danielle Bray - Herbivory in captivity: the effects of competition and environmental factors on the foraging behaviour and distribution of herbivores (Supervisor: Professor John Quinn)

2011/2012

1) Ger McGrath - A behavioural study of the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Owen Twomey - Enrichment techniques and stereotypical behaviours in captive Symphalangus syndactylus. A behavioural study of Siamang gibbons at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsy)

2010/2011

1) Alice Power - The behaviour and aggression of a captive grey-cheeked Mangabey troop, Lophocebus albigena, at Fota Wildlife Park and their interactions with slender tailed Meerkats, Suricatta suricatta in a mixed species enclosure (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Caroline Bowen - Overwintering Behaviour of Captive Chilean Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus chilensis) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

3) Clare Looney - A behavioural study of the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) at Fota wildlife park, Cork: provisioned feeding vs. foraged (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2009/2010

1) Caoimhe O'Brein-Moran - Aggressive Behaviour among Captive Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Ciara Palmer - The Activity Budget of Columbian Spider Monkey (Ateles fusciceps robustus) with Reference to Aggression and Enrichment at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

3) Eoin Donovan - A behavioural study of the red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra), the black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata), and the ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

4) Fiona Walsh - The Behaviour of the Scimitar-horned Oryx (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

5) Noelle Finnerty - Behaviour of red squirrels at Fota Wildlife Park and Arboretum (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2008/2009

1) Brian Hogg - The behaviour of Red Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra) and Black and White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata) at Fota Wildlife Park (Supervisor: Dr Ruth Ramsay)

2) Travice Stapleton - The Behavioural Ecology of the Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, in the grounds of Fota Wildlife Park and Arboretum (Supervisors: Dr Ruth Ramsay; Dr Fidelma Butler; Dr Amy Haigh)

 

 

 

 

 

Zoo Research Group

School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, T23N73K

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