Bioacoustics , Zool 583, taught at Shedd Aquarium, Quad City and Macomb campuses. Topics include survey of animals that produce sounds, types of sounds produced, hearing, sound transmission, equipment considerations, recording methods, and analysis techniques. Students are issued a cassette recorder, collect, and analyze sounds from biological and non-biological sources. Laboratories include use of equipment, exercise on measuring ambient noise, observations of sensory tests on marine mammals at the aquarium, and use of pc-based sound analyzers. The course emphasizes methods of studies uniquely suited to captive animals, permit considerations, work policies, and behavioral study design.
Students conduct individual time budget on a captive animal.
The course discusses animal behavior, learning, and psychology, methods of training, and using training in research. Many demonstrations of concepts are give using animals at the Shedd Aquarium. Zoo Practicum , Biol. 587, 1-3 semester hours credit for onsite training at a zoo or aquarium. Employment, internship, or volunteer positions fill requirement.