Research Strategy 2024 - 2025

Zoos and Aquariums are uniquely positioned to be able to help fill knowledge gaps related to animal husbandry, in-situ conservation, and species protection. All modern zoos recognise that evidenced-based conservation research is a key task.

At Tropical world we are expanding our research efforts in order to contribute to the worldwide effort of conservation research. We will do this in several ways:

  • Participating in research helping to improve animal welfare in zoological collections and in the wild, in line with our mission statement to ‘above all, provide a high standard of animal husbandry and welfare’.
  • Developing and maintaining our internal database of research questions, influenced by BIAZA’s research priorities.
  • Forming long-term partnerships with academic institutions and other zoos, providing assistance and access, and filling knowledge gaps in order to produce high-standard and high-value animal welfare research.
  • Maintaining our use of ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System) to ensure our records are accurate and up to date, allowing researchers access to a highly valuable dataset.
  • Continued participation in Nature’s SAFE – A conservation charity which is dedicated to storing tissues from deceased zoo-houses animals as an additional conservation tool to prevent vital genetics from being lost. Some tissues will be used by Nature’s SAFE for research to improve processing, storage, and regeneration techniques of zoo samples.

As stated above, we intend to steer all research towards BIAZA’s research priorities but overall the majority of research Tropical World is to be involved with will directly benefit the species we hold in our collection, either presently or in future.

Currently there is little by way of direct funding for research for Tropical World beyond relevant staff salaries – to counter this, we do not charge our partner academic institutions any research fees and allow full access to the animal collection and collected ZIMS data for behavioural studies (all research projects are agreed upon by Tropical World and the partner academic institution ahead of any work commencing). As a local authority-run collection, we are not currently applying for any grants in order to fund research but are investigating this as a possibility for the future.

All research projects at Tropical World are undertaken with the intent to share the results with the wider zoological community upon completion.

Current research questions at Tropical World

QuestionSpeciesAdditional Information

Which species of native butterfly are present in Roundhay park? Where are they most abundant?

 

Native butterfly species in Roundhay ParkOpportunity to survey native butterfly species in Roundhay parks. Data currently being collected via pollard walks by TW staff to submit to UKBMS.
Which type of enrichment item is interacted with the most or what is the preferred enrichment item for this species?Meerkats, Callitrichids (3 species), Indian porcupines

Different enrichment items being offered to mammalian species, keeping staff would like to know which items are being used the most for each species.

 

What behaviours are exhibited by the Indian porcupines during the night?

 

Indian porcupinesOur Indian porcupines are nocturnal and are not often seen during the day. We would like to know what behaviours are being exhibited by the animals during the night so that enrichment and food presentation can be adjusted so the group can perform a wide range of natural behaviours.
Which aquariums are affected by mycobacteria within the zoo? Which species of mycobacteria are present?Aquariums

We have been under the impression that all of our aquarium systems contain mycobacteria (presumably) M. marinum. It would benefit the collection and the health of our fish if we were able to ascertain whether or not this is true and if so which species of mycobacteria can be found in which aquarium.

 

Is the stud male meerkat reproducing with the female? Which of the males in the group is dominant?Meerkats

We are trying to breed our meerkat adult pair and would like to know if the stud male brought in from Blackpool zoo last year is mating the female; we would also like to know which of the male meerkats is dominant in the group - the stud male, or one of the two male offspring of the matriarch female.

 

Are our animals stress levels increased by high visitor numbers?Various

We would like to know whether our animals experience an increase in stress hormones during busy visitor hours at the zoo?

 

Which enrichment items increase activity levels the most in certain reptile species?Tegus, Emerald tree monitor

 

 

 

Butterfly activity within TW collection - Which areas of the butterfly house are utilised most by the butterflies?Butterflies

 

 

 

Do we see any animal behaviour or activity level changes when using partial visual barriers? - What are the effects on visitor satisfaction?Red-bellied Piranhas

 

 

 

Behavioural ethogram during high-traffic periods at the zooFree-flight birdsBehavioural ethogram tracking activity of bird species during busy hours at the zoo compared to quieter hours.