Topic

Description

Suggested Project Type

Health & Disease Program

Treatment of chytrid

This project would be undertaken off-site due to biosecurity issues of working with chytrid fungus in the same location as frog breeding and research.  The project would involve investigating different treatments for Chytrid infection on a variety of amphibian species.

PhD

Nutrition Program

Literature review on browse phytotoxins and phyto-oestrogens

Conduct a review of the literature for identification of phytotoxins of the various parts of the browse for all species fed to primates and to conduct a nutritional analysis on the different parts of the plant species, e.g. young leaf tip versus mature leaf, buds versus blossoms flowers etc.  This project is very relevant for a broad range of spp and is a high priority for orangutans.

ISC/3rd year project

Reproductive Biology Program

No projects available.

All projects in this area have already been taken up.

Captive Management Program

Monitoring conditions in nest boxes of captive and wild Black Cockatoos.

This project will link to other aspects of the wildlife rehabilitation program.

Hons

Western Swamp Tortoise Genetics

Using allantoic material stored since the commencement of the program the student will develop further microsatellites, analyse breeding success and parentage from the whole of the breeding program and also analyse success of different lineages of captive bred animals once released in the wild.  The student would have the full support of the WST Recovery Team.

PhD

Wildlife Management Program

Detection of Chytrid fungus in soil and water.

Development of qPCR tests of rsoils and water using fungal DNA standards. Work to be carried out off-site (SABC) at Murdoch University.

Hons

Invertebrate/microclimate study at Perth Zoo and Perth Zoo’s Bakers Hill conservation property

Compare the captive microclimate conditions (temperature, humidity, light levels, etc) of various invertebrates maintained in captivity at Perth Zoo with conditions found for similar species in the wild at Perth Zoo’s Baker’s Hill Conservation property.

Hons

Community Engagement Issues (Non-animal Projects) Program

Evaluating level of usage/effectiveness of interpretation facilities at Perth Zoo

To ascertain which interpretive devices/facilities engage visitors most; explore location, style, design etc of signage and other interp facilities to allow us to implement the most engaging interpretation facilities.

3rd year/ISC/Hons

Evaluating effectiveness of science communication of our education programmes and of Perth Zoo as an organisation.

a) To find out how effective selected education programmes are in communicating conservation messages to students.
b) To find out how effective the Zoo is in communicating conservation messages to the visitors.

Hons

Evaluating scientific validity of Night Stalk data.

To compare Night Stalk generated data to those that are more scientifically gathered and see if the former can be considered valid and useful.

Hons