MSc. Student

Contact Information

Department of Biology
Concordia University (Loyola Campus)
7141 Sherbrooke St. W. H4B 1R6
Montreal, QC, Canada

Office: SP 301.06
Lab: SP434
(514) 848-2424 (ext. 4021)

emma.boisvert@mail.concordia.ca

 

Education

2025 – Present: MSc student in Biology at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

2021-2023: BSc in Biology (specialization in Ecology), Université du Québec à Montréal, Quebec, Canada

 

My Project

Effect of visitors on the activity budget and social behaviors and activity budget of social canines: wolves (Canis lupus) and dholes (Cuon alpinus)

 

Background

Social species such as wolves and dholes exhibit a range of cooperative and communicative behaviors that facilitate group cohesion and enhance survival. In these social canines, interactions such as play, dominance displays, scent marking, and vocal communication are essential for maintaining social bonds and regulating relationships within the pack. These behaviors are closely linked to welfare, as affiliative interactions are often associated with positive emotional states and reduced stress.

In captive environments, natural behavioral patterns may be influenced by management conditions and environmental constraints. Individuals housed in zoological institutions cannot fully express all aspects of their natural behavioral repertoire, such as hunting or dispersal, which may affect both social dynamics and activity patterns. In addition, human presence is increasingly recognized as a potential environmental factor influencing behavior in zoos. Depending on their intensity and characteristics, visitors may act either as a form of enrichment or as a source of disturbance.

Understanding how social carnivores respond to these conditions is particularly important for species such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and the dhole (Cuon alpinus), both of which have complex social systems and conservation relevance. This project aims to investigate how visitor presence may influence social behavior and welfare-related indicators in these species under captive conditions.

Field Work

Fieldwork for this project is conducted at two zoological institutions in Québec, Canada: Parc Omega, where grey wolves (Canis lupus) are observed, and Zoo de Granby, which houses a pack of dholes (Cuon alpinus). The study focuses on one social group of each species, providing detailed behavioral data from each pack.

Data collection is based on systematic behavioral observations using an ethogram developed for both species. Observations follow a focal sampling protocol, where a single individual is observed continuously for short periods. During each session, behavior is recorded at 15-second intervals to capture fine-scale variation in activity and social interactions. Each focal observation lasts five minutes, and multiple individuals are sampled across daily observation periods.

In addition to behavioral data, environmental conditions are recorded, including visitor number near the enclosure, weather, and temperature. These variables allow behavioral responses to be interpreted in relation to external conditions, particularly human presence. Observations are conducted throughout the summer season to capture variation in visitor density, including both low- and high-attendance periods.

All data are recorded using a standardized digital tool designed for behavioral research in zoos. This ensures consistent data collection across both study sites and provides comparable datasets for each species, although differences in group composition and housing conditions are taken into account in interpretation.

 

Objectives

• To describe the social structure of a captive pack of grey wolves and a captive pack of dholes, based on observed interactions between individuals.
• To investigate how social rank may influence behavioral interactions within each group.
• To assess how visitor presence influences activity patterns and social behaviors in captive social canines, including both affiliative (peaceful or cooperative) and agonistic (conflict-related) interactions.
• To examine whether behavioral responses to visitor presence differ between grey wolves and dholes, taking into account differences in social organization and group dynamics.

 

Publications

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