Student Research Projects
Student research projects in Behavioral Biology at Kennesaw State University
CROW STUDIES
Most of the behavioral Directed Study projects at KSU have been studies of the American
Crow, Corvus brachrhynchos.
Studies have focused on learning abilities, foraging, and vocalizations. Several of
the students have presented their findings at annual meetings of the Georgia Academy
of Sciences:
Debra Phillips
Debra carried out studies of "insight learning" in crows. She submitted a video made
during her project and was awarded video analysis software and computer components
by the Noldus Corporation. She has graciously donated this equipment to the KSUDepartment
of Biological & Physical Sciences. Debra has produced an interesting web site reflecting
her interests (click on her name). Debra presented her findings at the1997 Georgia
Academy of Sciences meeting.
Jenny Hobson
Jenny was a student in the Masters of Education program at KSU. She was awarded "Best
Student Presentation" in the Science Education Section, Georgia Academy of Sciences
meeting, 1992. She developed a Middle Grades curriculum unit incorporating studies
of crows.
Ramona Nichols
Ramona did two studies of "shared group repertoires" in crows, showing that family
groups recognize same-group and different group vocalizations, and respond differently
to these calls. Her presentation was awarded "Best Student Presentation" in the Biology
Section of the 1999 Georgia Academy of Sciences meeting. She presented an update of
the research at the 2001 meeting.
Jody Frost
Jody studied crow nutritional preferences, and presented her findings at the 1999
Georgia Academy meeting.
Georgia Webb
Georgia followed up on Ramona Nichol's study with playback experiments directed at
two neighboring families of crows. Her results suggest that the groups are more responsive
to the calls ofknown groups s compared to those of groups they have not heard before.
Previous findings of same group recognition were reaffirmed.
OTHER ANIMALS
Christine Sheres
Christine studied the distribution of dolphins off the Georgia coast. She presented
her findings at the 1991 Georgia Academy of Sciences meeting.
Traci Nichols
Results of Traci's acoustical survey of amphibian populations were presented at the
1999 Georgia Academy of Sciences meeting.
Dale Zaborowski & Al Hanson
Dale Presented the results of a study of quail covey formations at the 2001 Georgia
Academy of Sciences meeting.
Gwen Smith
Gwen studied the behavior of Zoo Atlanta's Giant Pandas, looking at the behavioral
effects of introducing "enrichment objects" into their zoo habitat.(Spring, 2001.)
Chad Beck
Chad carried out a sound survey of amphibian species diversity at the Margaret and
Luke Environmental Preserve in Bartow County.
Jon Gotch
The effects of anthropogenic noise levels on animal acoustic signals.
