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Characterization Of Florida Landfills With Elevated Temperatures, Ryan Joslyn May 2019

Characterization Of Florida Landfills With Elevated Temperatures, Ryan Joslyn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The occurrence of elevated temperatures within landfills is a very challenging issue for landfill operators to detect and correct. Little is known regarding the causes of elevated temperatures (ETs) and the number of landfills currently operating under such conditions. Therefore, the goal of this research was to determine which landfills within Florida have been impacted by ETs, and to develop a more complete understanding of the factors that may lead to these landfills becoming elevated temperature landfills (ETLFs). Historical landfill gas wellhead data, waste deposition reports, and landfill site geometry were collected for 27 landfill cells through the FDEP OCULUS …

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Fluctuations In Walking Speeds And Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters When Walking On A Self-Paced Treadmill At Level, Incline, And Decline Slopes, Cesar Castano May 2019

Fluctuations In Walking Speeds And Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters When Walking On A Self-Paced Treadmill At Level, Incline, And Decline Slopes, Cesar Castano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On a daily basis, humans walk over a variety of terrains. Studies have shown that spatiotemporal gait parameters, such as stride length, stride frequency, stride variability, etc., change when humans walk down a decline and up an incline compared to level ground. However, these studies have been limited to using fixed speed treadmills or analyzing a small number of strides when conducted over ground. Thus, there is a need to investigate the fluctuations in spatiotemporal gait parameters of humans walking at their self-selected speed, which requires recording hundreds of strides. Here we hypothesized that subjects will walk with a slower …

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Quality Diversity: Harnessing Evolution To Generate A Diversity Of High-Performing Solutions, Justin Pugh May 2019

Quality Diversity: Harnessing Evolution To Generate A Diversity Of High-Performing Solutions, Justin Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Evolution in nature has designed countless solutions to innumerable interconnected problems, giving birth to the impressive array of complex modern life observed today. Inspired by this success, the practice of evolutionary computation (EC) abstracts evolution artificially as a search operator to find solutions to problems of interest primarily through the adaptive mechanism of survival of the fittest, where stronger candidates are pursued at the expense of weaker ones until a solution of satisfying quality emerges. At the same time, research in open-ended evolution (OEE) draws different lessons from nature, seeking to identify and recreate processes that lead to the type …

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University Of Central Florida Undergraduate Catalog, 2019 - 2020, University Of Central Florida May 2019

University Of Central Florida Undergraduate Catalog, 2019 - 2020, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

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University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2019 - 2020, University Of Central Florida May 2019

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2019 - 2020, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

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The Elite Meroitic Experience On Sai Island, Sudan: Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Identify Patterns Related To Sex And Age For The Interpretation Of Social Identity, Alexandria Brock May 2019

The Elite Meroitic Experience On Sai Island, Sudan: Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Identify Patterns Related To Sex And Age For The Interpretation Of Social Identity, Alexandria Brock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research conducted for this thesis utilized stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the diet of 35 individuals from an elite Meroitic (350 BC – 300 AD) cemetery (site 8.B.5A) located on Sai Island, Sudan, with a focus on adult age categories and biological sex, to understand intraclass variation in diet. Stable carbon and nitrogen values from human bone collagen were used to understand elite social organization, social practice, and gender roles in the Meroitic period through the lens of social identity and post-processual theories. The samples were grouped based on biological sex, median age, and assigned age categories (young, middle, …

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Miami-Dade Task Force: A Content Analysis Of How Coastal Communities View Sea Level Rise As A Threat, Francisco Alvaro May 2019

Miami-Dade Task Force: A Content Analysis Of How Coastal Communities View Sea Level Rise As A Threat, Francisco Alvaro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sea level rise (SLR) has become a serious threat for coastal communities in recent years. Many communities, including South Florida, are already having the security of their daily lives impacted as climate change causes SLR and other environmental impacts to worsen. This study reviews the Miami-Dade Sea Level Rise Task Force Report to determine how this coastal county government views SLR as a threat. Using mixed content analysis to analyze the report qualitatively and quantitatively, the Task Force's recommendations are categorized based on their focus on security, infrastructure, economics, and the environment. One finds the concerns of the people to …

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Light Matter Interaction In Single Molecule Magnets, Rebecca Cebulka May 2019

Light Matter Interaction In Single Molecule Magnets, Rebecca Cebulka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation includes a series of experimental realizations which focus on studying the coupling between photons and single-molecule magnets (SMMs) in both the weak and strong coupling regimes. In the weak coupling regime, the aim is to achieve coherent control over the time evolution of the spin of SMMs while applying rapid microwave pulses at sub-Kelvin temperatures, where polarization of the spin bath may be achieved without large magnetic fields, allowing the suppression of dipolar dephasing. The continuing results of this experiment will be to provide a window into fundamental sources of decoherence in single-crystal SMMs in an energy range …

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Applications Of Deep Learning Models For Traffic Prediction Problems, Rezaur Rahman May 2019

Applications Of Deep Learning Models For Traffic Prediction Problems, Rezaur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning coupled with existing sensors based multiresolution traffic data and future connected technologies has immense potential to improve traffic operation and management. But to deal with complex transportation problems, we need efficient modeling frameworks for deep learning models. In this study, we propose two different modeling frameworks using Deep Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network (LSTM NN) model to predict future traffic state (speed and signal queue length). In our first problem, we present a modeling framework using deep LSTM NN model to predict traffic speeds in freeways during regular traffic condition as well as under extreme traffic demand, such …

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Factors Contributing To Low Adequate Prenatal Care Rates In Orange County, Florida, Lauren Daniel May 2019

Factors Contributing To Low Adequate Prenatal Care Rates In Orange County, Florida, Lauren Daniel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2017, only 56% of births in Orange County, Florida, received adequate prenatal care - care that has been shown to prevent maternal and infant death. The Florida Department of Health uses the Kotelchuck Index to determine care adequacy. This index rates care adequacy based on when the mother first receives care, and how many recommended appointments she attends. Prenatal care is rated "inadequate" if it starts after the fourth month of pregnancy, and/or if less than half of the recommended appointments are attended. Receiving earlier and consistent prenatal care has been shown to be an effective way to improve …

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Biogeochemical Effects Of Sea Level Rise-Induced Transitions Within Coastal Wetlands, Havalend Steinmuller May 2019

Biogeochemical Effects Of Sea Level Rise-Induced Transitions Within Coastal Wetlands, Havalend Steinmuller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As sea level rise (SLR) affects coastal wetlands, ecosystem responses can include vertical accretion, landward transgression, or submergence. Sea level rise-induced transitions can alter key biogeochemical transformations within wetland soils, impacting the ability of these systems to provide ecosystem services, specifically carbon (C) storage and water quality regulation. Through a series of complementary laboratory and field-based studies, biogeochemical responses to salinity, vegetation shifts, and submergence were investigated. Changes in nutrient dynamics associated with saltwater intrusion were evaluated by artificially adding saline water to different freshwater wetland soil types, indicating that potential exports of critical nutrients (forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and …

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Detection Of Mercury Through Surface Plasmon Resonance Of Immobilized Gold Nanorods, Khang Trieu May 2019

Detection Of Mercury Through Surface Plasmon Resonance Of Immobilized Gold Nanorods, Khang Trieu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mercury is a known environmental pollutant that can damage the brain, heart, kidney and lungs upon exposure. Emissions from fossil fuel plants can release mercury into the air, where it can settle into the water supply and be exposed to human and aquatic life. The use of gold nanorods functionalized on solid substrates as a mercury sensor in tap water samples is investigated herein. The functionalization of the substrates involves the physical immobilization of the nanorods onto the solid surface through the use of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The immobilization of the nanorods drastically increases their stability, allowing for use in complicated …

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Novel Fuel-Producing Fungi And Methodologies For Increasing Fuel Production, Yuemin Wang Kovaleff May 2019

Novel Fuel-Producing Fungi And Methodologies For Increasing Fuel Production, Yuemin Wang Kovaleff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An endophytic fungus Hypoxylon sp. (BS15) has recently been isolated and found to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have potential relevance as hydrocarbon fuels. In the work described here, the traditional refined carbohydrate (e.g., sucrose) diet source was replaced by simple sugars produced using a solvent free green chemistry mechanocatalytic method involving ball milling in the solid. BS15 is able to grow on this degraded cellulose as well as the more traditional potato dextrose broth. The volatile compounds produced from both media were largely the same. Unfortunately, it is observed that long term in vitro growth of BS15 results …

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Synthetic Design And Characterization Of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds In Molecular And Extended System, Gavin Pour May 2019

Synthetic Design And Characterization Of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds In Molecular And Extended System, Gavin Pour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The work presented herein focuses on the synthesis and characterization of polycyclic aromatic compounds for a wide variety of toxicological, analytical, and electronic applications. First, the modular synthesis of 12 dibenzo- and naphtho- fluoranthene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) via a Pd-catalyzed five-membered ring closing procedure is discussed. By understanding the various modes through which the Pd migrates during transformation, structural rearrangements were bypassed, obtaining regioselectivity through various redesigns in the synthetic route. Each compound in the serious was rigorously characterized via 1D/2D NMR, absorption and emission spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry, which shows vast differences due to small structural …

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Living With Cain: Associations Among Sibling Trauma, Sibling Aggression, Social Adaptability, And Risk Taking In College, Chad Collins May 2019

Living With Cain: Associations Among Sibling Trauma, Sibling Aggression, Social Adaptability, And Risk Taking In College, Chad Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the relationship between three different dimensions of sibling abuse– verbal, physical, and sexual– and communicative social adaptability and risk-taking outcomes. A quantitative survey (N = 477) explored the frequency of such abuse among college students and self-reported risk-taking behavior, social experience, social wit, appropriate self-disclosure, social confirmation, and social composure. Moreover, participants responded to nominal prompts asking whether they ever reported their sibling abuse. Independent sample t-tests and correlation tests show that survivors of sibling trauma are moee likely to appropriately disclose socially and are more likely to report engaging in an index of various risky behaviors …

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Performing Bernarda: Activating Power And Identity, Ana Martinez Medina May 2019

Performing Bernarda: Activating Power And Identity, Ana Martinez Medina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The musical Bernarda Alba tells the story of a woman who is confined within the heavily patriarchal and Catholic society that was 1930s Spain. Because of this, I thought it the perfect arena to explore power dynamics on stage. My thesis will explore status, hierarchies, relationships, and identity via the stolid matriarchal character Bernarda Alba. Through analyzing the playwright's words, fleshing out the character, and exploring the character's relationships with others in rehearsal, I have studied how to activate status on stage. There are many sociology theories and psychological studies that can be applied to theatre-making in order to create …

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Gender Performance In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Amanda Lee May 2019

Gender Performance In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Amanda Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cross-dressing is a recurrent theme in Shakespeare's comedies, and the theatrical trend of gender bending casting has added an extra layer of complexity to performing his work. How does the gender of the actor affect the performance of a role in Shakespeare? How does it affect the perception of the role, and how can an actor utilize that perception to connect more fully with the audience? How does the female perspective illuminate hitherto unexplored elements of Shakespeare's text and characters? I was inspired by Orlando Shakes' all male production of Twelfth Night to research gender theory in relation to classical …

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Physical And Digital Architecture For Collection And Analysis Of Imparted Accelerations On Zip Line Attractions, Kai David Quizona, Shelly Sicat, Nicholas Holman, Madison Glozer, Alan Black, Alex Ferworn, Kathryn Woodcock Apr 2019

Physical And Digital Architecture For Collection And Analysis Of Imparted Accelerations On Zip Line Attractions, Kai David Quizona, Shelly Sicat, Nicholas Holman, Madison Glozer, Alan Black, Alex Ferworn, Kathryn Woodcock

Journal of Themed Experience and Attractions Studies

The accelerations experienced by riders of Zip Line attractions is an underexplored area of public safety assurance. These amusement devices require complex processes to collect and analyze acceleration data. Highly versatile and effective rider-worn and ride-carried devices are necessary to collect acceleration and velocity data without affecting the integrity of the ride. This paper introduces the use of a sensor device for collecting Zip Line acceleration data in the form of a Trailing Trolley. This architecture extends the work of Sicat et. al.’s which proposed the use of a Sensor Vest and Headwear to collect linear and rotational accelerations of …

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Press Release - 2019-20 June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship Winner,, Ucf Libraries, Libraries Dean's Advisory Group Apr 2019

Press Release - 2019-20 June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship Winner,, Ucf Libraries, Libraries Dean's Advisory Group

Libraries' Documents

Press Release announcing the winner of the 2019-2020 June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Stefani Hammond.

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The Effect Of Social Hierarchy On Behavior In Cercopithecus Petaurista, Mason Reinhart Mar 2019

The Effect Of Social Hierarchy On Behavior In Cercopithecus Petaurista, Mason Reinhart

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

The social group hierarchy of three captive C. petaurista specimens was monitored and determined by observing agnostic fights, aggression, and allogrooming incidents. This social group was monitored from May to August in 2017 for 60.5 observation hours total as a continuation of a previous study conducted in spring of 2017. The study took place at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens. All observations were recorded on template sheets with the location of each individual noted on a 6x6 grid representing the enclosure. A new sheet was used for each 15-minute increment during observation periods. It was concluded that agnostic …

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Grooming Solicitation & Hierarchy In Cercopithecus Petaurista, Ryan Domitz Mar 2019

Grooming Solicitation & Hierarchy In Cercopithecus Petaurista, Ryan Domitz

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Allogrooming is a behavioral adaptation present in many primate systems that serves to organize social hierarchies and promote social cohesion by placating future agonistic conspecifics. Lesser Spot-Nosed Guenons (Cercopithecus petaurista) are one species that exhibits allogrooming both in the wild and in captive populations. In a population of C. petaurista, dominant males perform proportionately less allogrooming than do females, possibly indicating dominant individuals are the recipients of higher rates of allogrooming than are subordinate ones. My case study catalogs the activity budgets of three captive Lesser Spot-Nosed monkeys and investigates the relationship between allogrooming, solicitation of allogrooming, and aggression. It …

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The Brothers: A Study Of The Social Structure Between Two Captive Cheetahs, Chenienne Clemens Mar 2019

The Brothers: A Study Of The Social Structure Between Two Captive Cheetahs, Chenienne Clemens

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are easily differentiated among other Felids. They exhibit unique physiological features, and their type of social structure has not been seen in any other species of Felid. Coalitions of male cheetahs are seen both in the wild and in captivity, while female cheetahs remain solitary. This paper is a compilation of a twelve-week observational study of the two male cheetahs at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, Florida. The focus of the study was the social structure between the two related individuals. The observational data showed that there is a lack of any hierarchy or …

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Temperature Effects On Greenhouse Gas Production From Treatment Wetland Soils Along A Nutrient Gradient, Kyle Dittmer, Havalend Steinmuller Mar 2019

Temperature Effects On Greenhouse Gas Production From Treatment Wetland Soils Along A Nutrient Gradient, Kyle Dittmer, Havalend Steinmuller

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

It is generally accepted that increased temperatures are positively correlated with microbial respiration rates, causing greater greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CO2 and CH4) from wetlands. The goal of this study was to understand the interacting effects of temperature and nutrient concentrations on GHG emissions from wetland soils. Complementary field studies and a laboratory study were completed within Cell 1 of the Orlando Wetlands Park (Christmas, FL). Four sampling locations were established along a transect and sampled in summer and winter for the field studies. Soils (0-10 cm) were incubated under anaerobic conditions for 48-hours at ambient or …

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Nano-Biophysical Approaches For Assessing Nanoparticle Interactions With Biological Systems, Zachary Untracht Jan 2019

Nano-Biophysical Approaches For Assessing Nanoparticle Interactions With Biological Systems, Zachary Untracht

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems is fundamental for the development of emerging nano-biotechnology applications. In this thesis, I present an investigation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles interactions with biomolecules in two separate studies. The first section of my thesis covers tracking and detection of ZnO nanoparticles using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). ZinkicideTM is a bactericidal ZnO nanoparticle which has been developed for agriculture. The characterization of Zinkicide in biological media and in solution has been difficult due to its high dispersibility and ultra-small size. SDS-PAGE is considered a golden standard for protein qualitative interpretations. In …

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Nike's Corporate Social Advocacy (Csa) Practices As Related To Strategic Issues Management (Sim) And Threats To Organizational Legitimacy, Eve Heffron Jan 2019

Nike's Corporate Social Advocacy (Csa) Practices As Related To Strategic Issues Management (Sim) And Threats To Organizational Legitimacy, Eve Heffron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examined how corporate social advocacy (CSA) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts impacted perceptions of authenticity. Using an experimental survey, participants were randomly exposed to Nike's actions related to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement via mock-online news articles. Participants completed a survey that contained Likert-type scale items regarding attitudes (perceived corporate intent, perceived authenticity, brand trust, and brand credibility) and behavioral intentions (word of mouth intentions (WOM), and purchase intention (PI)). Results indicated that positive attitudes significantly increased when Nike implemented an action step after taking a public stance on a controversial social-political issue. Further, results revealed …

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The Unacceptable Rise: An Investigation Of School Shootings In The United States, Tracy Gulliford Jan 2019

The Unacceptable Rise: An Investigation Of School Shootings In The United States, Tracy Gulliford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study examined teachers' understanding of risk factors and characteristics of potential perpetrators of school shootings, as well as the steps to take when they are identified in students. Participants completed a survey that contained Likert-type scale items regarding self efficacy and open-ended questions regarding school violence experiences. A mixed methods analysis revealed three primary conclusions. First, teachers have high levels of self-efficacy regarding the importance of and ability to deal effectively with troubled students. This conclusion suggests that teachers do internalize the relevance of this issue to them. Second, this study revealed a gap in terms of the …

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Conformations Of Tricyanofuran-Type Metastable-State Photoacids, Juan E. Arias Jan 2019

Conformations Of Tricyanofuran-Type Metastable-State Photoacids, Juan E. Arias

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Tricyanofuran-type metastable-state photoacids, relative newcomers to the field of photochromism, outperform traditional light-controlled molecular switches in regards to applicability in biological systems. In a preliminary attempt to understand the underlying processes that govern these compounds, this thesis project establishes the isomeric identity of an unsubstituted tricyanofuran-type metastable-state photoacid, referred to as TCF 1 in this work. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance experiments are employed to experimentally determine the presence and identity of the open-form TCF 1 isomers. Electronic structure calculations are then used to provide quantitative insight into the experimental results. Experiment and theory show that four out of eight possible …

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Rigorous Analysis Of An Edge-Based Network Disease Model, Sabrina Mai Jan 2019

Rigorous Analysis Of An Edge-Based Network Disease Model, Sabrina Mai

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Edge-based network disease models, in comparison to classic compartmental epidemiological models, better capture social factors affecting disease spread such as contact duration and social heterogeneity. We reason that there should exist infinitely many equilibria rather than only an endemic equilibrium and a disease-free equilibrium for the edge-based network disease model commonly used in the literature, as there do not exist any changes in demographic in the model. We modify the commonly used network model by relaxing some assumed conditions and factor in a dependency on initial conditions. We find that this modification still accounts for realistic dynamics of disease spread …

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Evaluating Protective Behavior Strategy Intentions Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Dakota Sanchez Jan 2019

Evaluating Protective Behavior Strategy Intentions Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Dakota Sanchez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

OBJECTIVE: Amongst college students there exists a concerning trend towards problem drinking owed to the cultures on campus that support problem drinking habits. Several interventions are currently used to encourage students to drink wisely with the goal of decreasing this problem drinking and the consequences of these behaviors. The current study analyzes the intention to use Protective Behavior Strategies through the model suggested in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). METHOD: College student participants (N = 171) completed a web-based survey examining alcohol-related behaviors, intentions, and perceptions at the time of the survey and over the next four weeks. RESULTS …

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Activity Budgets And Behavior Of Captive Black-Handed Spider Monkeys (Ateles Geoffroyi) At The Central Florida Zoo And Botanical Gardens, Stephanie Hargrave Jan 2019

Activity Budgets And Behavior Of Captive Black-Handed Spider Monkeys (Ateles Geoffroyi) At The Central Florida Zoo And Botanical Gardens, Stephanie Hargrave

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Establishing baseline activity budgets for zoo-housed captive animals can be important in tracking behavior changes that may indicate medical or other concerns, as well as assessing overall welfare and the need for implementation of interventions such as increased amounts of enrichment. This study sought to calculate activity budgets for the current spider monkeys residing at the Central Florida Zoo, a father-daughter pair of Ateles geoffroyi. Having a baseline activity budget is also valuable because major changes in behavior may accompany the upcoming introduction of new individuals to this particular group of spider monkeys. BORIS behavior coding software was used to …

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