Upcoming Events
MS Project Presentation - Environmental Science and Policy
Oct 7, 2024, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Virtual - please contact espgrad@gmu.edu for Zoom meeting info
MS Project
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
College of Science
George Mason University
Candidate: Megan Horning
Date and Time: October 7, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Location: Virtual
Title: Behavioral and Physiological Responses to Seasonal Change in Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) Living in a North American Zoo
Project Director: Dr. Elizabeth Freeman
Committee: Dr. Rosana Moraes and Dr. Kathleen Hunt
ABSTRACT
Like most mammals, maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), a solitary canid native to the Brazilian Cerrado, face many threats to survival; understanding how they respond to environmental change can help improve management for welfare and breeding success. Utilizing a novel biologger, I monitored multiple physiological metrics, hormones, heart rate, and activity levels, to provide a more holistic assessment of seasonality in maned wolves. Data were collected from six wolves at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Generalized Additive Models were built to assess drivers of the physiological metrics. Results showed this grassland species is sensitive to seasonal trends.
