Animal behaviorist
The scientific
study of animal behavior is known as animal behaviorism and it entails looking
into everything that animals do. single-cell creatures invertebrates, fishes,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, and animals are involved in the animal investigation.
Animal behaviorists study how animals interact with their surroundings as well
as other organisms. Animals’ inability to find and defend resources, avoid
predators, choose partners, breed, and care for their young are among the issue
studied.
EXPLANATION:
Animals
behaviors researchers are interested in learning about the causes, functions,
development, and evolution of animal behavior. Animals behaviorists will investigate
the function of behavior as well as behavior’s impact on animals and its adaptive
significance in assisting the animal’s survival or reproduction in a given environment.
The animal behaviorist will also look at the development of behavior to see how
it evolved throughout an animal’s life and how it is influenced by both genes
and experience.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Government and
private sector
Many animals behaviorist
work in government laboratories or private businesses or industries and many of
them entail health-related research. Animal behaviorists may be hired by drug
firms or government laboratories to perform a study on the behavioral effect of
new pharmaceuticals on animals, to investigate the link between animal behavior
and disease, or to assess the well-being of animals in their care. Animal behaviorists
are occasionally hired by state and federal government entities in charge of
natural resource management initiatives. Behaviorists are increasingly being
hired by private environmental consulting organizations to investigate the
effects of habitat change on animal feeding patterns, spatial dispersion, and
reproductive processes.
A Ph.D. is
required for many of these jobs, and training is also required. Training in
relevant subjects such as physiology, biochemistry, or pharmacology is very
beneficial for health-related occupations.
College Research and Teaching
The majority
of animal behaviorists work at colleges and universities, where they teach
and/or do independent research. Many behaviorists work in biology, zoology, or
psychology departments at universities. Departments of anthropology, sociology,
neuroscience, animal science, wildlife biology, entomology, and ecology, as
well as medical and veterinary colleges, employ other behaviorists.
A Ph.D. is
normally required for careers in college teaching and research, while some
junior colleges simply require a master's degree. The majority of animal behavior
employment is found in larger academic departments, and animal behaviorists
frequently teach in fields including physiology, ecology, and evolution. Students
who earn a Ph.D. in a program that focuses on behavioral or biological sciences
have an advantage in the job market; even though animal behavior is a
burgeoning field, competition for teaching and research positions remains
fierce.
Zoos &
Aquariums, Environmental Organizations, and Museums
Animal behaviorists
are occasionally hired as curators or researchers by zoos, aquariums, and
museums. Curators are in charge of acquiring, maintaining, and displaying
animal collections, whereas researchers are in charge of scientific studies on
such creatures.
Behavioral
research in zoos and aquariums is usually targeted at enhancing animal health
and reproduction. Behaviorists frequently work closely with field biologists
that specialize in endocrinology, nutrition, genetics, and veterinary medicine
in this capacity. Museum behavioral research can span a wide range of themes,
although it mainly focuses on aspects of ecology and natural history.
Animal behaviorists
are employed by some conservation organizations, particularly those that fund
long-term field research or are involved in reintroduction programs (the
release of captive animals into an area that was once part of a species'
historical range but has since been removed or extinct), nature preserve
design, or sustainable wildlife use. As these organizations grow in size and
popularity, the number of job openings for animal behaviorists in the area
should rise. Curators, researchers, and conservationists typically have a Ph.D.
or DVM in biology, as well as thorough training in at least one other field,
such as animal husbandry (the agricultural activity of breeding and raising
cattle), ecology, entomology, ornithology, mammalogy, or primatology.
Researchers
who specialize in animal behavior education are also employed by zoos,
aquariums, and museums. Educators use tours, lectures, and instructional
displays to share their understanding of animal behavior with the general
public. A B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in biological or behavioral sciences is required
of educators. It is usually recommended if you have some specific training or
experience in secondary or adult education.
Other Research Prospects
Universities,
zoos, museums, government agencies, and private facilities frequently engage
paid research assistants to assist with ongoing animal behavior studies. These behaviorists
operate under the guidance of professors and staff researchers to assist in the
design, execution, and analysis of animal behavior studies. Depending on the
nature of the study endeavor, research assistants may work in laboratories or in
the field. Full-time research assistants usually have a bachelor's or master's
degree, while part-time research assistants usually have a bachelor's or
master's degree.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
The majority
of scientists that engage directly with animals work in one of four fields:
ethology (the scientific study of animal behavior), comparative psychology, behavioral
ecology, or anthropology. The goals, interests, and methodologies of these
fields are quite similar. Behavioral ecologists have concentrated on how animal
behavioral patterns connect to social and environmental contexts, whereas
psychologists and ethologists have mostly been interested in the control and
functions of animal behavior. Ethologists and behavioral ecologists are often
educated in biology, zoology, ecology and evolution, entomology, wildlife, and
other animal sciences departments. The majority of comparative psychologists
receive their education in psychology departments.
Some animal behavior
careers just demand a B.A. or B.S. degree. However, most animal behavior
occupations necessitate considerable training
SALARY
Animal behaviorists
made an average salary of $71,830 in May 2015, according to the US Bureau of
Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid ten percent of animal behaviorists earned
$37,830 or less per year, while the highest-paid ten percent earned more than
$100,000 per year.
No comments:
Post a Comment