Dr Joanna Newbolt
Profiles

Dr Joanna Newbolt

Teaching and Research Associate (TARA)

School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

I am a Teaching and Research Associate in the School of Biological and Marine Sciences.

My research and teaching interests are primarily focused around zoo animal behaviour and welfare, and I have previously worked for the Wild Planet Trust at Paignton Zoo, for Chester Zoo and with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).

I am involved with the MSc Zoo Conservation Biology programme, the BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare programme and the Biological Sciences with Foundation Year programme.

Qualifications

2013: PhD, "Predictable Feeding in Zoos: Research Methods and Behavioural Effects", University of Plymouth.

2006: MSc Zoo Conservation Biology, University of Plymouth.
2005: BSc Hons Zoology, University of Wales, Cardiff

Professional membership

Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Roles on external bodies

Member of the BIAZA Animal Welfare Working Group
Editorial board for the BIAZA Handbook of Zoo Research

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

I teach on the MSc Zoo Conservation Biology programme, in particular modules ANIM5005 and ANIM5009, with a focus on zoo animal behaviour, welfare and management. I also contribute to other modules including ANIM5006 and ANIM5008, and supervise MSc project students (BIOL505).
I also teach undergraduate sessions, primarily on BIOL224 (Animal Behaviour and Welfare Field Course), BIOL227 (Animal Health and Welfare) and BIOL313 (Animal Welfare and Ethics) and Foundation Biology, plus BSc project supervision (BIOL315).

Research

Research

Research interests

My research interests cover a range of animal behaviour and welfare topics linked to an applied zoo setting.
In particular, my research focuses on the effects of predictability and routine (primarily related to feeding schedule), on patterns of animal behaviour.  This covers a range of species, but with a particular focus on carnivores.

I have also developed citizen science and qualitative techniques to enable data collection of animal behaviour by multiple observers. 


My other research interests include behavioural husbandry (with a focus on carnivores, particularly felids), environmental enrichment, positive reinforcement training, and effects of visitor feeding experiences on the behaviour of zoo animals.  
I also have a research interest in human behaviour, particularly looking at zoo visitor behaviour and education, and conservation behaviour change.

Publications

Publications

Journals

  • Murphy, G., Newbolt, J., Farmer, H. (2019). Change in stingray behaviour and social networks in response to the scheduling of husbandry events. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 7(4), 203-209.
Chapters

As Joanna Bishop:

  • Bishop, J., Hosey, G. & Plowman, A. (Eds.) (2013): Handbook of Zoo Research, Guidelines for Conducting Research in Zoos. London. BIAZA.
  • Bishop, J.K., DaVolls, L.,Feistner, A., Fisken, F., Hosey, G., Hill, S.P., Hosie, C, Marples, N., Mitchell,H., Pankhurst,S., Plowman,A., Sanderson,S., Turner, A., Wehnelt, S. (Bishop, J.K. Chapter Editor) (2013). Reporting and publishing the results. In: BIAZA Handbook of Zoo Research. Bishop, J.K., Hosey, G., and Plowman, A (Eds.). BIAZA, London.
  • Bishop, J.K., Hartley, A., Hosey, G., Masters, N., Melfi, V. (Bishop, J.K. Chapter Editor). (2013). Legal and Ethical Issues in Zoo Research. In: BIAZA Handbook of Zoo Research. Bishop, J.K., Hosey, G., and Plowman, A (Eds.). BIAZA, London.
  • Bishop ,J.K., Hill, S.P., Wehnelt, S., Hosie,C., Plowman, A., Feistner, A., Dow, S., Engel, J., Mitchell, H. (Bishop, J.K., Hill, S.P. Chapter Editors). (2013). Projects involving behavioural observation of animals. In: BIAZA Handbook of Zoo Research. Bishop, J.K., Hosey, G., and Plowman, A (Eds.). BIAZA, London.
  • Mitchell, H., Hosey, G. (Bishop, J.K. Chapter Editor). (2013). Studies on the Effects of Human Visitors on Zoo Animal Behaviour. In: BIAZA Handbook of Zoo Research. Bishop, J.K., Hosey, G., and Plowman, A (Eds.). BIAZA, London.
Conference Papers

As Joanna Bishop:

  • Bishop, J.K., Gee, P., Melfi, V., In Press. The effect of predictable routines on meerkat behaviour. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Environmental Enrichment.
  • Bishop, J.K., Gee, P., Melfi, V., In Press. Recording animal behaviour using subjective measures and multiple observers. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Environmental Enrichment.
  • Bishop, J.K., Gee, P., Melfi, V. (2011). Reliability and validity of a subjective measure to record changes in animal behaviour over time. In: Pajor, E.A., Marchant-Forde, J.N. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 45th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, p. 81.
  • Bishop, J.K., Gee, P., Melfi, V. (2009). How enriching are animals’ routines? Introducing a new method to measure the behavioural effects of predictable husbandry routines. In: Hare, V.J., Kroshko, J.E., Nelson, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, The Shape of Enrichment, Inc., San Diego, pp. 253-254.
Internet Publications

As Joanna Bishop:

  • Bishop, J.K., Gee, P., Melfi, V. 2012. Citizen science: using aquarium visitors to record fish behaviour. BIAZA Research Newsletter. Zoo Research News. 13(3), 5.
  • Bishop, J.K., Gee, P., Melfi, V., 2009. How enriching are animals’ routines? Introducing a new method to measure the behavioural effects of predictable husbandry routines. BIAZA Research Newsletter. Zoo Research News. 10(3), 4.
Personal

Personal

Conferences organised

20th Anniversary BIAZA Research Conference. Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts and South Devon College, UK (2018).
1st, 2nd and 3rd Annual School of Psychology Postgraduate and Staff Conference. University of Plymouth, UK. (2009, 2010, 2012)