Ghostbuster
Since Ghostbuster (the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's former juvenile loggerhead sea turtle) was released this past November, it has swam over 4,000 miles! Check out it: http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?tag_id=122027
Monday: March 25, 2013
Check out the new videos posted under the Enrichment tab; new graphs will be posted soon (check back next month)!
I am now hitting the final stretch where data collection starts to wind down while data analysis begins. For the next month, I will be meeting with my instructor and my mentor, from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, to tweak my paper in preparation for my presentations in May.
I am now hitting the final stretch where data collection starts to wind down while data analysis begins. For the next month, I will be meeting with my instructor and my mentor, from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, to tweak my paper in preparation for my presentations in May.
Overall Experience to date- Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Over the past month I have become a more independent researcher. In other words, my mentor has allowed me to conduct the research myself (mainly consisting of placing the food within the individual's tank). I have also presented my project to a Middle School elective about Marine Biology where they have already created their own puzzle feeders. It was a great feeling informing the next generation the important role that research and zoological institutions play in order to help an endangered species. The presentation took myself down memory lane to when I was in Middle School, with a strong interest in Marine Biology. Since I have been collecting data for approximately three months to date, I can now start to plot and see minor differences between the age groups. It has also been an interesting experience to see how fast the hatchlings grow; they are now the length of my palm!
Wednesday: January 16, 2013
The graphs of all four of the individuals are now present on the Data tab. Check it out!
Since the hatchlings are out of quarantine, and now on display, pictures can be found under the Enrichment tab. Enjoy!
Since the hatchlings are out of quarantine, and now on display, pictures can be found under the Enrichment tab. Enjoy!
Saturday: December 8, 2012
From now on there will be updates on the Data Collection Tab (yet to come next month) where I will be posting my graphs of my data collection thus far. I will continue to post weekly abstracts under the Enrichment tab as well as overall experience posts here (on a monthly basis).
Week 9 Reflection: November 26-December 2
This week's data collection was a little difficult since a tour was present during the feeding enrichment device session on Tuesday, allowing Carson to be a little more distracted than usual. The excel workbooks are coming along, at this point only a couple of data points for each type of enrichment. Since I have been observing these turtles since June, it is now becoming easier to generally assess the turtles' behavior after the session has ended. For example, on Thursday since Carson was generally uninterested in the enrichment, approximately 40% of it's frozen treat remained. However Sunburst oriented with the frozen treat, while swimming slowly, followed by picking at the frozen treat which lead to approximately 20% of the frozen treat remaining. Therefore if the turtle is interested and interacting with it throughout the session, then most of the food is eaten in the process. The goal of next week is configuring graphs to post on the enrichment tab.
Overall Experience to date- Sunday, December 2
Over the past two months I've been thinking more and more about colleges since the majority of my applications have been completed and sent. When I read on various college websites about their research opportunities, the more appreciative I become with this fantastic hands-on research opportunity on sea turtles with Josie and her interns at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium as a high school senior. By conducting this type of research I learn more about animal behavior, nutrition, and growth which are all major components of veterinary medicine. Even if I'm doing a small part within the world of zoological research, it's still cool to be introduced to tours as the scientist collecting data on sea turtle behavior during foraging enrichment sessions. Next month I'm planning on teaching some middle school students about my project and the importance of conducting research as a way to encourage the public about conservation efforts for endangered species such as these sea turtles. Science stuff aside, I'm getting great advice from Josie about everything such as making possible career connections during college (and beyond) by being open-minded and assertive about my interests and goals.
Week 8 Reflection: November 17-25
This week was the official start of data collection, yay! On both Saturdays we observed shiner perch getting eaten, interactions with water jugs, as well as chomping down on frozen treats (check out the photos under the enrichment tab). The methods and materials section of the paper is now completed and finalized. This week's abstract was on Food choice, reinforcer preference, and visual discrimination in Monitor Lizards which is a lengthy, difficult graduate-level thesis. Only the first experiment (out of three) was abstracted since it was pretty straightforward while the other two either didn't connect with my study or was oddly worded. Next week's main goal is to start configuring excel workbooks to plot all of my data points (check out the enrichment tab to see a couple of graphs based on collected data during an enrichment session).
October 28-November 16
Sorry for the lack of updates. During this time either myself or Josie were sick or I was completing exams at school. In addition to this, Josie wasn't present between the end of October and the beginning of this month due to releasing Ghostbuster and Clemente. Check out the enrichment tab for photos from this past week's frozen enrichment session with Sunburst and Carson.
Track Ghostbuster
Feel free to track Ghostbuster, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's former juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, for approximately the next eight months through this link: http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?tag_id=122027
Week 7 Reflection: October 22-27
This week focused on more troubleshooting sessions with frozen and live enrichment. Saturday was a blast being that it revolved around videotaping (now available under the enrichment tab) live enrichment sessions with blue crab, which are close to being out of season and therefor difficult for the PIttsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (PZ&PPGA) to receive. This week we continued with the new data collection idea of noting what behaviors are observed throughout the enrichment sessions on a minute-by-minute basis (or whenever the turtle changes its behavior). By doing this, it's more interesting to observe the turtles' behavior and easier to compare and contrast their behaviors through discussions with Josie after we observe that day's enrichment sessions. In terms of my write-up next week the first draft of the methods and materials list sections are due, which will be my main goal of next week being that Josie is out of town next week.
This week's abstract was on "Different Strokes: Can Managing Behavioral Types Increase Post-release Success?" journal article. Overall this article was lengthy compared to other articles and blog posts abstracted in the past. In addition to this, the wording was difficult to understand since it was primarily written for those within zoological fields of study. Furthermore, the article primarily focused on populations, phenotypes, and social animals while my study does not have nearly enough time and financial resources to investigate phenotypes of all four patients as well as, again, sea turtles being solitary creatures. Despite this, I'm now curious whether Josie and/or the PZ&PPGA's veterinary staff has taken sea turtles' phenotypes into consideration, and if so, how that will or will not affect the future of this project. Feel free to read more of my abstract under the enrichment tab.
Again, in terms of next week, nothing (other than the abstract) will be posted since Josie is out of town.
This week's abstract was on "Different Strokes: Can Managing Behavioral Types Increase Post-release Success?" journal article. Overall this article was lengthy compared to other articles and blog posts abstracted in the past. In addition to this, the wording was difficult to understand since it was primarily written for those within zoological fields of study. Furthermore, the article primarily focused on populations, phenotypes, and social animals while my study does not have nearly enough time and financial resources to investigate phenotypes of all four patients as well as, again, sea turtles being solitary creatures. Despite this, I'm now curious whether Josie and/or the PZ&PPGA's veterinary staff has taken sea turtles' phenotypes into consideration, and if so, how that will or will not affect the future of this project. Feel free to read more of my abstract under the enrichment tab.
Again, in terms of next week, nothing (other than the abstract) will be posted since Josie is out of town.
Week 6 Reflection: October 15-20
This week worked out perfectly since I finally got to troubleshoot all three food-based enrichment techniques. Throughout the week Josie and I (as well as Mr. Marx at school) discussed the introduction in order to have the revised draft ready for next Friday's due date. Afterwards Josie and I will then discuss and revise the methods section in the near future. A main topic that was covered this was brainstorming how to present all of the final data into appropriate graphical displays (check out the enrichment tab for the first graphical display of Saturday's session). Right now we plan to graph the percents of time of each observed behavior out of the whole twenty minute session; in the final draft of the paper (will be posted around late April) a series of graphs will compare the behavioral differences between the three types of food-based enrichment for each turtle. In order to do to this we switched the methods during Saturday's session; previously I noted what behaviors I observed during every five minutes during the twenty minute session, now I write down the amount of time that each behavior is observed for (i.e seven minutes out of the twenty minute session focused behavior was observed rather than focused behavior was observed during the first and last five minute segments in the twenty minute session).
This week's abstract focused on a brief blog post about food-based enrichment techniques that Monterey Bay Aquarium uses. Unfortunately it wasn't very informative. Next week's goals include: finalizing the introduction, moving onto focusing the methods section, and continuing to troubleshoot our new methods (again noting the amount of time each behavior was observed rather than what behavior(s) was observed in each five minute segment).
This week's abstract focused on a brief blog post about food-based enrichment techniques that Monterey Bay Aquarium uses. Unfortunately it wasn't very informative. Next week's goals include: finalizing the introduction, moving onto focusing the methods section, and continuing to troubleshoot our new methods (again noting the amount of time each behavior was observed rather than what behavior(s) was observed in each five minute segment).
Thursday: October 18, 2012
Videos and photos are posted under the enrichment tab from today's and Tuesday's sessions.
Monday: October 15, 2012
Check out the Enrichment tab for photos and video from last Saturday's live enrichment session as well as troubleshooting with a new feeding device for Sunburst (sub-adult green sea turtle).
Overall Experience to date- Monday, October 15, 2012
Over the past five weeks I've grown as an independent thinker and young scientist through constant hands-on experience with Josie and her interns. By participating in this research science project I've gained a better understanding of what goes into running an aquarium. In addition to this, by learning more about rehabilitating sea turtles, this experience has made my future career choice, veterinary medicine, more evident. By conducting this type of research in the 21st century, it's easier to look up countless articles and blogs through various search engines and online databases. Another thing that this experience has taught me is that despite the UV project being dropped, I learned how important time and financial commitments are to undergoing scientific research.
Thursday: October 11, 2012
Check out the Enrichment tab for today's photos of frozen treats. Check back this weekend for today's video of Ghostbuster.
Week 5 Reflection: October 8-13
This week's focus included troubleshooting with frozen and live enrichment as well as discussion about the next draft of the introduction. This frozen enrichment session was much better compared to the earlier one from week 3 due to the ice staying compact and not melting as soon as it touched the water's 70-degree (F) surface.
This week's abstract was on "Turtle Enrichment with a Twist" newsletter article. It was a basic overview of enrichment for rehab sea turtles, with a primary focus on food-based enrichment. Despite re-reading information that I have previously encountered, I learned about a new possible enrichment device design that might become useful in the near future; "An additional challenge of enriching these benthic grazers (off the bottom) was to prevent the veggies from floating at the surface of their tank. Our solution? PVC pipe. Slits cut in short pieces of PVC hold the veggies in place as the pipe sinks to the bottom". This device would be especially usefully in improving Sunburst's front flippers, which were injured from a boat propeller then developed a fracture, therefore that front flipper is barely useful as well as its back flippers used more than both of the front flippers. You can read more about this article in my abstract on the Enrichment tab.
Next week's goals include: troubleshooting all three food-based enrichment types (feeding devices, frozen, and live) while documenting each process through photographs and videos as well as discussing my latest rough draft of the introduction with Mr. Marx, my instructor.
This week's abstract was on "Turtle Enrichment with a Twist" newsletter article. It was a basic overview of enrichment for rehab sea turtles, with a primary focus on food-based enrichment. Despite re-reading information that I have previously encountered, I learned about a new possible enrichment device design that might become useful in the near future; "An additional challenge of enriching these benthic grazers (off the bottom) was to prevent the veggies from floating at the surface of their tank. Our solution? PVC pipe. Slits cut in short pieces of PVC hold the veggies in place as the pipe sinks to the bottom". This device would be especially usefully in improving Sunburst's front flippers, which were injured from a boat propeller then developed a fracture, therefore that front flipper is barely useful as well as its back flippers used more than both of the front flippers. You can read more about this article in my abstract on the Enrichment tab.
Next week's goals include: troubleshooting all three food-based enrichment types (feeding devices, frozen, and live) while documenting each process through photographs and videos as well as discussing my latest rough draft of the introduction with Mr. Marx, my instructor.
Monday: October 8, 2012
Check out the Enrichment tab for Saturday's video.
Week 4 Reflection: October 1-6
This week revolved around more troubleshooting with 'frozen-fresh' food placed within enrichment devices as well as on live feeding sessions for all four of the current rehab patients. The behavioral differences between all four of the patients during the course of the live feeding was incredible- Ghostbuster gobbled its shiner (a freshwater fish) in approximately sixteen seconds demonstrating focused behavior (click the Enrichment tab to see the video) compared to Sunburst who took approximately ten minutes to devour (by that time) dead fish while displaying fearful and curious behavior throughout its session. By interacting with Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium staff and interns throughout this process it has helped develop my independence as a thinker, communicator, as well as young scientist.
This week's abstract was on "Environmental Enrichment for sea turtles in rehabilitation: Preliminary Study" article. It was reassuring to see the authors basing their behavioral study on the same behavioral definitions that I am (Therrien et al.’s (2007)). Despite this similarity this study focused on four green sea turtle patients while my study focuses on three loggerheads and a green in addition to not specifying what enrichment was used. Next week's goals include taking and posting more videos of either the entire or a portion of some, if not all, the enrichment sessions in addition to working more on my next draft of the introduction.
This week's abstract was on "Environmental Enrichment for sea turtles in rehabilitation: Preliminary Study" article. It was reassuring to see the authors basing their behavioral study on the same behavioral definitions that I am (Therrien et al.’s (2007)). Despite this similarity this study focused on four green sea turtle patients while my study focuses on three loggerheads and a green in addition to not specifying what enrichment was used. Next week's goals include taking and posting more videos of either the entire or a portion of some, if not all, the enrichment sessions in addition to working more on my next draft of the introduction.
Thursday: September 27, 2012
Check out the Enrichment tab for photographs from Tuesday.
Week 3 Reflection: September 24-29
This week only had two meetings with Josie instead of three. During these times I began troubleshooting data collection and my methods by observing behavior among the four current rehab patients with 'frozen-fresh' food placed within enrichment feeding devices as well as troubleshoot with frozen treats with 'Ghostbuster' (juvenile loggerhead) and 'Sunburst' (sub-adult green). Ghostbuster's contained fish while Sunburst's contained romaine (being that green sea turtles are primarily herbivores). Despite the ice breaking almost immediately after touching the water's surface, it was fascinating to observe and discuss the behavioral differences demonstrated between Ghostbuster (assertive and focused) and Sunburst (fearful due to never being in contact with a frozen treat). By discussing through troubleshooting process with Josie it has given me a better understanding of what behavior to be looking for when the loggerhead hatchlings arrive later next month. This experience has been a fantastic hands-on opportunity to learn about what goes into keeping an aquarium up and running overall as well as the rehabilitation process with sea turtles.
This week's abstract was done on "The effect of a simple feeding enrichment strategy on the behaviour of two Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinera)" article. Despite this article focused on social aquatic mammals rather than solitary marine reptiles, I learned more about basic food-enrichment approaches to carnivores in general. In addition to this, the article emphasized the common idea among the majority of articles that I have abstracted thus far- need for marine animals to undergo feeding enrichment in order to stimulate them within a captive environment by improving their overall wellbeing (read more of this abstract by clicking on the Enrichment tab).
This week's abstract was done on "The effect of a simple feeding enrichment strategy on the behaviour of two Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinera)" article. Despite this article focused on social aquatic mammals rather than solitary marine reptiles, I learned more about basic food-enrichment approaches to carnivores in general. In addition to this, the article emphasized the common idea among the majority of articles that I have abstracted thus far- need for marine animals to undergo feeding enrichment in order to stimulate them within a captive environment by improving their overall wellbeing (read more of this abstract by clicking on the Enrichment tab).
UV Project Update
Unfortunately due to funds and time restrictions, the UV project has been dropped. Now I will be completing the enrichment project for the rest of this academic year.
Thursday: September 20, 2012
Check out the Enrichment tab to see today's photographs.
Week 2 Reflection: September 17-22
This week only had two meetings with Josie rather than three. The first meeting was primarily focused on revising the introductions for both projects (now the first rough drafts are completed). While the second meeting revolved around Josie teaching her new interns how to properly take measurements of the patients (click the enrichment tab to see photos). This week I completed an abstract on the "Vitamin D3 in captive Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas)” journal article (which you can read on the basking tab). From this article I gained a better understanding of how to collect and analyze data from the serum (blood) samples for the basking project. My goals for this upcoming week include: continuing photographing and observing enrichment, figuring out the logistics of the basking project, to start trouble-shooting the methods for both projects.
Week 1 Reflection: September 10-14
Since early June I have read numerous journal articles and blog posts abstracts for both of my research science projects (my abstracts are available in the pages above). Since then I've been meeting with my mentor, Josianne Romasco, at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium weekly to figure what to do with these projects. One of the projects is investigating whether UV exposure, from different sources, affects the Calcium and vitamin D3 absorption within rehabilitating loggerhead sea turtles. Despite receiving our UV meter in the mail last Friday, we're still hashing through what our methods should be. In addition to this the hatchlings, which would be our main case studies, won't be arriving until the end of October giving us the rest of this month and most of October to troubleshoot our methods and materials lists for both projects. The other project focuses on studying behavioral differences, of two age groups (hatchlings and yearlings) between different food-based enrichment. The different food-based enrichment includes: 'frozen fresh' (their normal food which will eventually be placed within enrichment feeding devices), frozen where a reasonably small amount of food will be frozen within a large container such as a water jug, and live food such as cray fish and blue crabs where the rehabilitating loggerheads will become fit to survive in the wild.
Last week's meetings with Josie and my teacher, Mr. Marx, were primarily focused around clarifying the introductions for both projects. My goals for this week include: continue to discuss both projects' introductions with Josie, clarify the UV project, and ultimately start troubleshooting the enrichment methods.
Last week's meetings with Josie and my teacher, Mr. Marx, were primarily focused around clarifying the introductions for both projects. My goals for this week include: continue to discuss both projects' introductions with Josie, clarify the UV project, and ultimately start troubleshooting the enrichment methods.