Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

• 59: Reinforcers and Punishers with Shawna Spencer, Coral World Ocean Park

  Welcome back for the first episode of 2025!  This episode Shawna Spencer, Coral World Ocean Park, dives deeper into breaking down reinforcers and punishers.  This episode is full of examples and practical applications.  Shawna starts with a brief introduction to primary and secondary reinforcers before listing examples of common reinforcers and punishers.  The episode finishes with a discussion about how reinforcers can change over time and how to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer for an animal.  Stay tuned in for Shawna’s two doggone great “Training Tales”, one featuring dog training in German.  You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by listening or visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Shawna email [email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 3:20 Introduction to Shawna Spencer 13:10 Information about the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas 19:50 Definitions of Reinforcers and Punishers 23:05 What can be a reinforcer or punisher 25:10 Definition of Primary Reinforcers25:45 Definition and application of Secondary Reinforcers34:10 Examples of common reinforcers 42:10 Examples of common punishers52:35 If something is a reinforcer will it always be a reinforcer?  57:40 How to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer?  1:01:00 “Training Tales” 

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• 58: Superstitious Behavior with Jose Bello, Disney's Animals, Science and Environment

  This episode Jose Bello, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, discusses superstitious behavior. Jose starts with breaking down what it means for a behavior to be superstitious and examples of what that looks like in a practical application.  Next, Jose educates about the “potential danger” in labeling behaviors as superstitious and how taking the blame away from the animal and placing it on us as the trainers, can give us a better understanding of what is accidentally reinforcing or punishing a superstitious behavior. The episode ends with a discussion and a reminder that all behavior has function and how that mindset can help trainers and teams have a cohesive understanding of superstitious behaviors.  Stay tuned in for Jose’s o-fish-ally great "Training Tale" about a guest’s reaction to water kenneling fish.  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Jose email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!  7:00 Introduction to Jose Bello  10:05 Definition and practical application of superstitious behavior  14:55 What does it look like if something is accidentally reinforced?  16:15 How to identify a superstitious behavior?  19:10 What is the potential “danger” in labeling a behavior as superstitious?  21:25 If there is a “potential danger”, should we still call behaviors superstitious?  23:50 How can having extra communication about superstitious behaviors arising from accidental reinforcement help with any labels that may come with the term?  25:50 Advice for recognizing that a behavior has been accidentally reinforced and isn’t just “something the animal always does”  28:05 Recognizing what is actually the reinforcer(s) or punisher(s) for a superstitious behavior?   29:30 All behavior has function 33:45 “Training Tales”

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• 57: Training and Behavior in a Research Setting with Jonelle Mason, California National Primate Research Center - UC Davis

  In a special ABMA Behavior Month 2024 episode, Jonelle Mason, California National Primate Research Center - UC Davis, discusses training and behavior in a research setting. Jonelle educates about the similarities and differences between training, cooperative care, and enrichment programs in a zoo compared to a research setting. Additionally, Jonelle talks about some of the unique challenges that arise and the future of behavior management within a research setting. Stay tuned in for Jonelle's "Training Tale" about training her pet corn snake to help with a regurgitation issue. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Jonelle email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 4:35 Intro to Jonelle Mason  7:35 Comparison of behavior and training in a research vs zoo setting 16:45 Comparison of husbandry and cooperative care training  20:25 Considerations for research related training 29:10 Creating positive human-animal relationships  30:50 Enrichment programs in a research setting  33:30 Lessons from a research setting  35:10 The future of behavior management in a research setting  39:00 “Training Tale”

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• 56: The Modern Zookeeper and the Importance of Redefining What We Do with Sam Meinke, Palm Beach Zoo

  This episode Sam Meinke, Palm Beach Zoo, and podcast host, Shane Gorbett, discusses what it means to be a modern zookeeper. The definition of what a zookeeper is and does has drastically changed and is constantly evolving as we continue to progress animal care forward. Some other modern zookeepers were kind enough to share what being a modern zookeeper means to them so Sam and Shane dissect those answers as we redefine what it means to be a zookeeper. The discussion wraps up with the importance of redefining what a modern zookeeper is and does both for the knowledge of the public but also for those currently in the field or hoping to start their careers. Stay tuned in for Sam's "Training Tales" which involves a ground hornbill and a "long cheetah turd". For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to reach Sam you can message him on Facebook or Instagram. Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 3:20 Introduction to Sam Meinke  4:40 Definition of a Zookeeper and redefining into a Modern Zookeeper 13:40 Using the past as a baseline to grow from and do better  20:20 A Modern Zookeeper…. Adapts to new information  22:50 Progressive, Use the artful application of scientific principles  23:45 Knows the individual animals  25:20 Creative, thinks outside the box for enriching the lives of animals  28:20 Responsible for providing each individual animal the best life possible  30:22 Creates a bond with the animals, knows each of their personalities  32:00 Eager to share their special connection with everyone  32:50 Strives to create positive connections in all interactions, changing the mindset from making to asking  36:46 Does research, looks to natural history of animals  38:15 Selfless, puts the animals’ needs above their own, open to feedback  39:20 Prioritizes behavioral management as a necessity 41:30 Focuses on animal wellbeing  43:10 Importance of redefining the modern zookeeper 45:40 Advice on changing the mindset of a team into striving to be modern zookeeprs  49:00 “Training Tales”

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• 55: A Free Operant Approach to Behavior Management with Rick Hester, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo & BehaviorWorks

  This episode Rick Hester, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and BehaviorWorks, discusses a free operant approach to behavior management. Rick starts with explaining the practical application of free operant behavior and, in order to get the full scope, also discusses discrete trial training and the relationship between the two. Breaking down some of the science, Rick educates about Lindsley's (1996) Four Free Operant Freedoms and the considerations for providing and maintaining a free operant environment (depletion, satiation, and dosage of resources). Rick finishes the episode with giving advice on how to start curating free operant environments by celebrating each approximation. Stay tuned in for a "dam" great "Training Tale" about creating a free operant environment for beavers using the sound of running water. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Rick email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 6:40 Definition and application of “Free Operant”  10:05 Definition and application of Discrete Trial Training (DTT) 14:10 Connecting the dots between environmental enrichment and free operant principles  16:55 The Freedom to Present Stimuli  17:20 The Freedom to Repeat Responses Many Times to Each Signal  17:50 The Freedom to Form Responses  18:20 The Freedom to Slow or Speed Responses  19:15 Considerations for providing and maintaining a free operant environment 20:40 Resource Depletion  23:20 Satiation of Resources  24:50 Dosage of Resources  28:00 Advice for Getting Team Buy-In; Using Approximations  35:35 The balance between free operant and discrete trial training  39:50 “Training Tales” 

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