Doctor of Philosophy / Zoological gardens, or zoos, keep and display wild animals, mainly for the purposes of education, conservation and biological research. However, it is evident that a significant component of zoos is the vast number of people who visit them, since without the support of visitors, zoos would not be financially viable and would cease to exist. This research investigates the behaviours of these visitors and develops an understanding of their awareness relating to what they see and do while they are in the zoo, along with their motivations for visiting. The study focuses on two major metropolitan zoos in Australia: Adelaide (in South Australia) and Taronga (in Sydney, New South Wales). A brief historical account contextualises changes, raising awareness of the significance of visitors to the livelihood of zoos. More and more zoos are integrating into their management routines different programmes that relate to the care and welfare of the animals. Despite recent growth in scientific attention, which has focused on human-animal relationships, little research has been conducted relating to the human visitor in the zoo. To date, decisions made by administrators have been based upon assumptions of the visitors’ understanding of the work of zoos rather than on actual quantitative findings. This empirical research is significant in that it uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to appraise factual data and information. The data from unobtrusive tracking observations at different exhibits, combined with the results of questionnaire surveys, are used to explore and assess the perceptions of visitors. In developing a demographic profile of the people who visit zoos, this work considers the motivations and the frequency of visitors. Various factors that influence the viewing patterns of visitors are explored to assess the popularity of exhibits, and the perceptions of visitors relating to animals and enclosures are investigated, to assess the diverse levels of satisfaction. Case studies explore the perceptions and understandings of visitors towards the use of enrichment items, the use of signs and labels, and a hypothetical approach to the feeding of carnivores in zoos. The results are important in that they contribute essential knowledge that describes the perceptions of a wide range of people who visit zoos, along with their expectations, since it is crucial for these institutions to maintain their popularity with the public.

The use of anthropomorphic animal characters is pervasive in animation, but there has been little examination of how and why these are created, and how a viewing audience understands them. This Practice-based PhD examines how a re-defining of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representation might bring a new impetus to the use of animal imagery within contemporary animation practice. An initial stage of research was to define the term anthropomorphism both as a visual language within animation practice and in the wider contexts of scientific and philosophical discourse. Social and psychological aspects are discussed, recognising this form of hybrid representation throughout the development of human culture. Links with Human Animal Studies disciplines raised the question of relating anthropomorphism to negative aspects of anthropocentrism and this led to a second stage of the research that explores ways of working with anthropomorphism that do not promote an anthropocentric bias. This is firstly achieved through the devising of a new theoretical approach to character analysis that is based on the recognition of perceptual aesthetic and sensual animal qualities in human-led , animal-led and design-led anthropomorphic characters, rather than a reliance on conceptual symbolic referencing of human experiences, goals, and narratives. Moving into the practice and influence from historical animation work provides impetus for a move away from character and narrative based work. Experimental animation techniques are used to create rhythms and patterns of abstracted animal and human imagery. This new work is based on contemporary ecological ideas that discuss relationships between humans and animals as interconnected species, thus providing a second way of lessening of anthropocentric bias in the subject matter. Having a starting point of aesthetic and sensual responses to actual experiences with animals is an important factor and live action film is re-animated to create digitally manipulated rhythms of colour, texture, movement and sound. The practical research outcomes are animation samples that evidence the coming together of experimental digital techniques and contemporary ecological subject matter. An action research model was devised for the research to enable the integration of theory and practice, and reflection on theory and practice to have an important influence on the practical outcomes. The approach taken was dependent on experience as a creative practitioner and as a teacher helping others to develop a sustainable creative practice, in allowing an open and intuitive discovery of ideas from both theoretical and practical explorations to create a flow through the research. The combination of theoretical and practical research undertaken provides an impetus towards the creation of future animation work using an anthropomorphic visual language redefined as zooanthropomorphic animation . The submission includes outcomes of a written thesis and links to practical animation work.

The aim of this work was to evaluate international trade with Manis. spp. according to the CITES database during the period 2002-2013. Manis spp. was classified in appendix II CITES in 1995. In 2000 there was an unsuccesfull attempt to reclassified Manis spp. to appendix I CITES. In this year the zero quota was set for Asian pangolins for commercial purpose. A rapid increase of an illegal trade was noticed after the setting of zero quota. The most frequent trade with pangolins was in these forms: 1) derivatives, 2) specimens, 3) scales, 4) live pangolins and 5) skins. Asian pangolins´ species were traded mostly in forms of derivatives, specimens, scales and skins in the period 2002-2013. M. javanica and M. pentadactyla with medium and large distribution area were quantitatively the most traded species, respectively. Main importers of Asian forms of pangolins were: USA (derivatives and specimens), China (scales in kg) and Indonesia (scales in pieces) and Mexico (skins). The African pangolin M. tricuspis was the third most frequent species in the international trade and was traded especially in form of live pangolins. M. tricuspis lives in one of the largest distribution area. Main importer of live pangolins was Italy. Breeding pangolins in captivity is due to the specific feeding requirements demanding. There are about 46 individuals of pangolins in Zoos all over the world, whereas in Europe there are only 2 pangolins in the Leipzig Zoo.

The tesist are permanent plantings in locality Zoologická zahrada Ohrada in Hluboká nad Vltavou with a focus on the use and risks plants in plantings. Were created lists of plants represented the entire zoo. The result is a an overview of all plants on the territory and plans with plot plants. In the annex is draft of botanical guide in the form of information boards and handout to the pavilion Matamata.

Environmental enrichment and welfare are important elements for animals in captivity. This study starts with general introduction in breeding animals in zoos and environmental enrichment for important taxonomic groups. The practical part is following with a research on effect of food on frequency of stereotypic behavior. The theoretical assumption says that the different time of eating the food leads to different behavior. Long-term observation was done to confirm the theory. Eight animals belonging in three species were observed in time of feeding, eight types of food were given. The behavior at the time of feeding and after was evaluated by ethogram. General trends in time used for feeding were confirmed (the shortest time for chicken and opposite the longest for head of a goat). The evaluation of stereotypic behavior mainly showed the individuality of each animal. However, servals exhibit most of this pattern. The relationship between stereotypes and time of feeding was insignificant. Generally most of the results were statistically insignificant because of low number of repetition in the dataset.

The main task of project is build a accommodation with a miniature zoo for tourism development in the area. For these purpose it is necessary reconstruction of a building which will further serve as a suite accommodation. There should be three suites and in each of them two rooms for sleeping, one room with double bed, one room with separated beds, a usefully equipped kitchenette connected to the living room, and bathroom with WC. As for the garden, there should be pens or cages with sheep, goats, horses, turtles, parrots, pheasants, peacocks, emus and kangaroos.

Anseriformes mantidos em lagos de zôos e parques estão sob constante risco de exposição às doenças presentes nas populações de aves migratórias, que dividem com eles o mesmo local durante um determinado período todos os anos. São doenças que podem ter implicações para as aves cativas, para a população humana que tem contato com essas aves e para os plantéis de produção. Assim, ações de vigilância, com o objetivo de detectar rapidamente determinadas doenças, representam alternativas interessantes para se fazer gestão de risco. O objetivo do presente estudo foi pesquisar a presença de agentes etiológicos selecionados na população de Cisnes Negros (Cygnus atratus), mantida nos lagos da FPZSP, visto que essa população tem contato com as seguintes aves migrantes que visitam a FPZSP todos os anos: irerês (Dendrocygna viduata), marreca caneleira (Dendrocygna bicolor) e marreca asa de seda (Amazoneta brasiliensis). Assim, foram colhidos suabes de traquéia e cloaca de uma amostra capaz de detectar doença com prevalência estimada em 1% para um nível de confiança de 95%. Além disso, foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo (2001 a 2006) das principais causas de morte nessa população. As principais causas de mortalidade registradas em 184 registros analisados foram: desvio de tendão extensor tarso-metatarsiano (37, 20,1%), desnutrição (20, 10,9%), problemas hepáticos (17, 9,2%), traumas (15, 8,2%), problemas respiratórios (8, 4,3%), septicemias (6, 3,3%), intoxicações (5, 2,7%) e problemas gastrointestinais (3, 1,6%). Um terço das carcaças (62, 33,7%) foi encontrado em estado de putrefação. A taxa de mortalidade foi decrescente de 2001 a 2006 e apresentou sazonalidade, sendo maior entre os meses de novembro a maio. No momento das coletas, não houve nenhuma evidência clínica ou laboratorial da presença dos seguintes agentes: Pasteurella multocida., Salmonella sp., Chlamydophila psittaci, Orthomixovírus (Influenza Aviária), Paramixovirus (Doença de Newcastle) e Coronavirus (Bronquite Infecciosa). / Waterfowls housed in ponds of zoos and parks are under constant risk of exposure to pathogens of migratory birds that visit these places every year. Some of them involving zoo animals and humans. The spread of particular diseases may also become a serious threat for domestic poultry. So, surveillance, focused in early detection of some diseases, can be an interesting tool to do risk management. The goal of the present work was to search the presence of some select pathogens in the captive black swan population (Cygnus atratus) present in the ponds of the Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo (FPZSP), because these animals have contact with the following free-living waterfowls: white-faced whistling-duck (Dendrocygna viduata), fulvous whistling-duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) e brasilian teal (Amazoneta brasiliensis). Swabs of trachea and cloaca were sampled from 239 animals, the sample size required for detecting disease present in at least 1% of the animals (CI = 95%). Moreover, a retrospective study was done about the causes of death to the period from 2001 to 2006. The mainly causes of black swan death in FPZSP were: slipped tendon (37/184, 20,1%), malnutrition (20/184, 10,9%), hepatic problem (17/184, 9,2%), trauma (15/184, 8,2%), respiratory problem (8/184, 4,3%), septicemias (6/184, 3,3%), intoxication (5/184, 2,7%) e gastro-intestinal problems(3/184, 1,6%). One third of the carcass (62/184, 33,7%) was in autolysis. The mortality presented peaks of occurrence from november to may and a decreasing trend from 2001 to 2006. At the moment of the sampling, there was no clinical or laboratorial evidence of the infection by the following pathogens: Pasteurella multocida., Salmonella sp., Chlamydophila psittaci, Orthomixovírus (Avian Influenza), Paramixovirus (Newcastle Disease) e Coronavirus (Infectious Bronchitis).

Stallgödsel består av spillning, gödselvatten, urin och strömaterial. Miljö- och hälsoskadliga ämnen kan också förekomma i form av antibiotikarester eller patogener. Det är därför viktigt att gödselhanteringen sköts på korrekt sätt för att undvika att de skadliga ämnena vållar miljö- och hälsoproblem. Naturliga ämnen som kväve och fosfor förekommer också i stallgödsel bidrar till miljöeffekter som övergödning eller försurning vid felaktig gödselhantering. Miljöeffekterna drabbar i sin tur ekosystem och de konsekvenser som uppstår är bland andra fiskdöd och giftalgblomningar i vattendrag. Examensarbetet kommer att belysa de ekologiska och sociala fördelarna som Kolmården skulle kunna erhålla om de byter gödselhanteringssystem från gödselspridning till rötning. Dessutom kommer Kolmårdens nuvarande stallgödselhantering att beskrivas, aspekter som kan påverka biogaspotentialen att presenteras och den teoretiska mängden biogas som kan utvinnas ur stallgödseln att beräknas. Det första som genomfördes i examensarbetet var att dela in Kolmårdens djur i olika djurgrupper för att kunna utföra beräkningar på biogaspotentialen. Totalt tre djurgrupper figurerar i examensarbetet och de är: fågel, icke-idisslare och idisslare samt allätare och rovdjur När djuruppdelningen var slutförd påbörjades litteraturstudien för att få fram aktuellt material att använda i studien och förbereda de intervjufrågor som sedan användes i samband med ett studiebesök på Kolmården. Stallgödseln som uppkommer i djurparken mockas från djurens hägn och stall varje dag för att sedan lagras på mindre gödselplattor. Dessa töms sedan tre gånger i veckan av entreprenörer som fraktar stallgödseln till en central gödselplatta innan den sprids på arrenderad mark eller överförs till en lantbruksentreprenör. Stallgödseln på Kolmården har teoretisk sett en potential att kunna täcka nära hälften av djurparkens årliga energibehov. Aspekter som påverkar biogasutbytet är föda, strömaterial, näringsinnehåll och antibiotika. / Manure consist of feces, manure water, urine and stray material. Environmental and health harmful substances can also occur in manure. That is why it is important that the manure management is handled in a correct way to avoid the harmful substances that are likely to cause environmental and health problems. Natural substances are also a part of the manure and those are nitrogen and phosphorus and they could cause environmental effects as eutrophication and acidification with insufficient manure management. The environmental effects could affect ecosystems and the consequences could appear as that fishes are dying and poisonous algal blooms in watercourses. The bachelor thesis will illustrate the ecological and social benefits that Kolmården could achieve if they are replacing the current manure management which is manure spreading with anaerobic digestion. Besides that the current manure management will be described in more depth, aspects that could affect the biogas potential will be presented and the theoretical amount of biogas of the manure will be calculated. The first step that was completed in the thesis were to divide Kolmården’s animals into different animal groups that later could be used in the calculations of the biogas potential. Totally there are three animal groups in this thesis and they are: fowl, non-ruminant and omnivore and beast of prey. When dividing the animals was completed the search for literature began with the purpose to get up-to-date material that could be used in the thesis and to prepare the interview questions for the study visit at Kolmården. The amount of manure that emerge in the zoo is mucked from the animal’s pens and stables every day to be stored in small manure storage places. Those are emptied three times a week and freighted to a central storage place before the manure is spread on tenancy land or transferred to a farmer. The theoretical biogas potential from the manure at Kolmården can cover almost half of the energy need in a year. Aspects as food, straw material, nutrition content and antibiotics can affect the biogas yield.

The geomorphological impact of small fossorial mammals (adapted to digging and living underground), such as rodents can be significant, and both their direct and indirect effects may contribute to landscape formation. This thesis is based on empirical field studies of two burrowing rodent species in sub-polar environments, namely invasive House mice (Mus musculus) on sub-Antarctic Marion Island and Norwegian lemmings (Lemmus lemmus) in sub-Arctic Abisko. The spatial distribution, sediment displacements, impact on vegetation and microclimatic effects of the rodents are documented. Invasive mice and rats, introduced on sub-Antarctic Islands during the 19th century, lack natural enemies and are shown to have a significant direct and indirect geomorphic impact by direct sediment displacement, vegetation removal by burrowing, grazing and trampling and thereby exposing the sediments for rain, wind and frost processes.  The geomorphic impacts of lemmings are comparatively more limited as they rely on natural hollows and snow cover for protection and do not burrow to the same extent as other fossorial rodents in cold regions. Lemmings are thus suggested to have little impact on landform integrity, but can affect vegetation composition. A comparison of the findings from this study with published data on seven other rodent species and other physical mass transfer mechanisms in sub-polar and alpine environments suggests that fossorial rodents are a significant and sometimes dominant geomorphic force in sub-polar and alpine environments. The geomorphic work by ground squirrels, ice rats, plateau pikas and zokors is shown to be in the same order of magnitude as solifluction and rock falls. In alpine and periglacial environments these rodents are considered to act as key-stone species and ecosystem engineers through the creation of landforms by  dislocation and of soil and other impacts on soil properties, vegetation and ecosystem function

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) kept in zoos and dolphinarias rarely get an outlet for their echolocation abilities as their pool environment is often quite barren. Not much research has been carried out on enrichments promoting echolocation for dolphins in human care. In the present study a setup with live fish was compared to a setup with air-filled floats (providing strong sonar targets, similar to the swim bladders of large fish) and a control setup. A PCL (porpoise click logger) was used to record the echolocation click trains produced by the dolphins and aimed at the three setups. Behavioural data was also collected from video footage. Both the PCL data and all the behavioural observations indicated that the fish setup was more interesting than the float and the control setup, for the dolphins to echolocate towards. However, there were some contradictions with some parameters, where the floats and control seemed to be more interesting. This was probably due to the location of the PCL hydrophone in relation to the floats and fish, and not because the dolphins had a real bigger interest in these setups. To increase the possibility for dolphins to perform more echolocation in human care and increase their welfare, live fish can be recommended as echolocation enrichment.