ABS 2023
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Hot Shit: Hormones and Behavior in the Zoo Environment
Sue W. Margulis. Canisius University, Buffalo, NY, United States

​Animal behavior has a long history of interdisciplinarity. Yet the days of pure natural history research may be behind us. This is both a blessing and a curse. Advances in methodology have opened up new avenues of research and opportunities to link observed behavior to physiological processes. The ability to non-invasively measure hormones has shaped the direction of behavioral research in the field, the lab, and the zoo. In the zoo world, greater emphasis on welfare and the needs of both individuals and populations, has led to an increased focus on conservation, education, and research as foundational pillars of captive management. The addition of non-invasive hormone analysis, particularly in conjunction with behavioral research, provides great insights into behavior, welfare, and reproduction in managed populations. My research has focused on the impacts of the zoo environment on behavior, and the addition of hormonal analyses has shaped my work for nearly 25 years. Here, I will summarize some of my research, and offer a cautionary tale with respect to interpreting such data. Finally, I will link my current work to my early experience as an undergraduate animal behavior major.