1. The observer effects and enclosure use of large lizards (Varanus prasinus & Corucia zebrata)
UoP:

2. Aims and Hypotheses
Null Hypothesis 1: There will be no significant difference between the behaviour of observed and non- observed large lizards  (Varanus prasinus & Corucia zebrata)
Alternate Hypothesis 1: There will be a significant difference between the behaviour of observed and non-observed large lizards (Varanus prasinus & Corucia zebrata)
Null hypothesis 2: There will be no significant difference in the enclosure use when the observer is present or not .
Alternate Hypothesis 2: There will be a significant difference in the enclosure use when the observer is present or not.

3. Motivation
Very little research already into observer effects on reptiles and their enclosure use
Ease of access to the two chosen species at the AMC
General personal interest in reptile behaviour

4. Current Literature
Observer effect – one of the first (and only) reptile studies was by Sugerman & Hacker in Found that observer presence resulted in less stereotypies. However, the animals had just been caught from the wild so results skewed by stress.
Enclosure use – even less studied. One study conducted in 2014 on the care for both reptiles and amphibians and found more complex enclosures led to a wider range of behaviours to be shown, as well as an increase in activity (Rose et al.)

5. Method
At least 30 hours of recording for each species (split equally between observed and camera recordings)
Instant focal sampling every minute
Location and behaviour recorded for later tests
All other extraneous variables will be recorded where possible

6. Overview Only just has proposal approved
Just about to start the data collection

7. Application to Industry
Very little prior research
Common species in zoos so research could lead to better enclosures for both activity and to allow for visitor effects

8. Any Questions? References:
Rose, P., Evans, C., Coffin, R., Miller, R., Nash, S. (2014). Using student-centred research to evidence-base exhibition of reptiles and amphibians: three species-specific case studies. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 2(1),
Sugerman, R. A., Hacker, R. A. (1980). Observer effects on collared lizards. Journal of Herpetology, 14 (2),