Eduardo Fernandez

Eduardo Fernandez

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Eduardo J. Fernandez is a Senior Lecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). He received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from Indiana University, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. He received his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research applied to the welfare and training of zoo, aquarium, and companion animals. His past positions include a Visiting Professorship at Seattle Pacific University, a Visiting Professorship in the School of Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology, an Affiliate Assistant Professorship in the Psychology Department at the University of Washington, a Research Fellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and the Woodland Park Zoo, he started the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout the zoo. He currently runs the Operant Welfare Lab (OWL), which is dedicated to the use of learning principles to improve the lives of animals across many settings, including exotic animals in zoos and companion animals in homes and shelters. OWL is also part of the broader Animal Behaviour, Welfare, and Anthrozoology Lab (ABWAL; abwal.com). Many of Eduardo’s past publications, research projects, and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Fernandez18

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    Indiana University - Bloomington United States PhD
    University of North Texas United States Masters

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    Postdoctoral Researcher - National Science Foundation University of Washington United States

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2023 Clay, J. M., Fontana, B. D., Proserpio, C., Fernandez, E. J., Pagliarini, E., Lopes, F., . . . Parker, M. O. (2023). Drinking during social isolation: investigating associations between stress, inhibitory control, boredom, drinking motives, and alcohol use. Addiction Research and Theory, 31(1), 16-28.
    DOI
    2023 Ingvarsson, E. T., & Fernandez, E. J. (2023). Bridging the gap between laboratory and applied research on response-independent schedules. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(1), 55-77.
    DOI
    2023 Fernandez, E. J., & Martin, A. L. (2023). Applied behavior analysis and the zoo: Forthman and Ogden (1992) thirty years later. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 56(1), 29-54.
    DOI
    2023 Henning, J., Nielsen, T., Fernandez, E., & Hazel, S. (2023). Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats. Animal Welfare, 32.
    DOI
    2022 Fernandez, E., & Martin, A. (2022). <strong></strong>Applied Behavior Analysis and the Zoo: Forthman and Ogden (1992) Thirty Years Later.
    DOI
    2022 Ingvarsson, E., & Fernandez, E. (2022). Bridging the Gap Between Laboratory and Applied Research on Response-Independent Schedules.
    DOI
    2022 Lattal, K. A., & Fernandez, E. J. (2022). Grounding applied animal behavior practices in the experimental analysis of behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 118(2), 186-207.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2022 Brereton, J. E., & Fernandez, E. J. (2022). Investigating Unused Tools for the Animal Behavioral Diversity Toolkit. Animals, 12(21), 1-14.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2022 Northey, E. J., Craft, B. B., & Fernandez, E. J. (2022). Effects of New Seal Introductions on Conspecific and Visitor Activity. Animals, 12(21), 1-20.
    DOI
    2022 Brereton, J., & Fernandez, E. (2022). Which index should I use? A comparison of indices for enclosure use studies. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 9(1), 119-132.
    DOI
    2022 Brereton, J. E., Tuke, J., & Fernandez, E. J. (2022). A simulated comparison of behavioural observation sampling methods.. Scientific reports, 12(1), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC3
    2022 Fernandez, E. J. (2022). Training as enrichment:A critical review. Animal Welfare, 31(1), 1-12.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3
    2022 Henning, J. S. L., Nielsen, T., Fernandez, E., & Hazel, S. (2022). Factors associated with play behavior in human-cat dyads. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 52-53, 21-30.
    DOI
    2022 Henning, J. S. L., Fernandez, E. J., Nielsen, T., & Hazel, S. (2022). Play and welfare in domestic cats: Current knowledge and future directions. Animal Welfare, 31(4), 407-421.
    DOI
    2021 Fernandez, E. J. (2021). Appetitive search behaviors and stereotypies in polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Behavioural Processes, 182, 16 pages.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS9 Europe PMC1
    2021 Fernandez, E. J., Upchurch, B., & Hawkes, N. C. (2021). Public feeding interactions as enrichment for three zoo-housed elephants. Animals, 11(6), 15 pages.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS4
    2021 Fernandez, E. J., Myers, M., & Hawkes, N. C. (2021). The Effects of Live Feeding on Swimming Activity and Exhibit Use in Zoo Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2(1), 88-100.
    DOI
    2021 Fernandez, E. J., & Martin, A. L. (2021). Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, and Animal Welfare: A History of Behavior Analysis in Zoos. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2(4), 531-543.
    DOI
    2021 Learmonth, M. J., Chiew, S. J., Godinez, A., & Fernandez, E. J. (2021). Animal-Visitor Interactions and the Visitor Experience: Visitor Behaviors, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Learning in the Modern Zoo. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8(4), 632-649.
    DOI
    2021 Fernandez, E. J., & Chiew, S. J. (2021). Animal-Visitor Interactions: Effects, Experiences, and Welfare. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8(4), 462-467.
    DOI
    2021 Fernandez, E. J., & Harvey, E. (2021). Enclosure Use as a Measure of Behavioural Welfare in Three Zoo-Housed African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus). Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 9(2), 88-93.
    DOI
    2020 Fernandez, E. J., & Rosales-Ruiz, J. (2020). A Comparison of Fixed-Time Food Schedules and Shaping Involving a Clicker for Halter Behavior in a Petting Zoo Goat. Psychological Record, 71(3), 487-491.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS6
    2020 Fernandez, E. J., & Dorey, N. R. (2020). An Examination of Shaping with an African Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 24(4), 372-378.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS6 Europe PMC2
    2020 Fernandez, E. J., Yoakum, E., & Andrews, N. (2020). Seasonal and Daily Activity of Two Zoo-Housed Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 1(1), 1-12.
    DOI
    2020 Fernandez, E. J., Ramirez, M., & Hawkes, N. C. (2020). Activity and pool use in relation to temperature and water changes in zoo hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibious). Animals, 10(6), 1-11.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC4
    2020 Fernandez, E. J., & Timberlake, W. (2020). Superstition revisited: Sex, species, and adventitious reinforcement. Behavioural Processes, 170, 14 pages.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC1
    2020 Sanders, K., & Fernandez, E. J. (2020). Behavioral Implications of Enrichment for Golden Lion Tamarins: A Tool for Ex Situ Conservation. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 25(3), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1
    2020 Fernandez, E. J. (2020). Training petting zoo sheep to act like petting zoo sheep: An empirical evaluation of response-independent schedules and shaping with negative reinforcement. Animals, 10(7), 1-13.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC2
    2019 Fernandez, E. J., & Timberlake, W. (2019). Selecting and Testing Environmental Enrichment in Lemurs. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 12 pages.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS16 Europe PMC6
    2019 Godinez, A. M., & Fernandez, E. J. (2019). What is the zoo experience? How zoos impact a visitor's behaviors, perceptions, and conservation efforts. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(JULY), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus46 WoS46 Europe PMC13
    2019 Fernandez, E. J., & Timberlake, W. (2019). Foraging devices as enrichment in captive walruses (Odobenus rosmarus). Behavioural Processes, 168, 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC3
    2019 Fernandez, E. J., Kinley, R. C., & Timberlake, W. (2019). Training penguins to interact with enrichment devices for lasting effects. Zoo Biology, 38(6), 481-489.
    DOI Scopus13 WoS13 Europe PMC4
    2017 Fernandez, E. J. (2017). The empirical zoo in the 21st century

    THE PROFESSOR IN THE ZOO
    Maple, T. L
    Red Leaf Press,
    Tequesta, FL,
    2016. pp. 360.. Zoo Biology, 36(2), 170-171.
    DOI
    2013 Godinez, A. M., Fernandez, E. J., & Morrissey, K. (2013). Visitor behaviors and perceptions of jaguar activities. Anthrozoos, 26(4), 613-619.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS17
    2009 Fernandez, E. J., Tamborski, M. A., Pickens, S. R., & Timberlake, W. (2009). Animal-visitor interactions in the modern zoo: Conflicts and interventions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 120(1-2), 1-8.
    DOI Scopus149 WoS156
    2008 Fernandez, E. J., & Timberlake, W. (2008). Mutual benefits of research collaborations between zoos and academic institutions. Zoo Biology, 27(6), 470-487.
    DOI Scopus48 WoS48 Europe PMC17
    2008 Yin, S., Fernandez, E. J., Pagan, S., Richardson, S. L., & Snyder, G. (2008). Efficacy of a remote-controlled, positive-reinforcement, dog-training system for modifying problem behaviors exhibited when people arrive at the door. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 113(1-3), 123-138.
    DOI Scopus20 WoS19
    2004 Fernandez, E. J., Dorey, N. R., & Rosales-Ruiz, J. (2004). A two-choice preference assessment with five cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 7(3), 163-169.
    DOI Scopus28 Europe PMC16
    - Ali, A., Mehmood, S., Ullah, I., Fernandez, E. J., Khan, M. N., Ullah, M., . . . Spooner, S. L. (n.d.). Pakistan Zoo Visitors’ Perceptions toward Zoos and Large Native Carnivores. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 3(4), 665-676.
    DOI

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2021 French, F., Williams, L., Charles Coe, J., Single, L., Fernandez, E., & Flynn Martin, C. (2021). ReptileJam 2021: Designing Enrichment for Reptiles in Captivity: This is a proposal for a ZooJam workshop around the theme of designing tech-enabled enrichment opportunities for zoo-housed and domestic reptiles. In ACM International Conference Proceeding Series. ACM.
    DOI

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Co-Supervisor Anthropogenic Effects on Zoo Animal Welfare Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Claudia Pei Pei Tay
    2022 Co-Supervisor Efficacy of training and enrichment to improve welfare: How can animal training be applied across settings to help animals live a good life? Examining the physiological and behavioural effects of scent work for domestic dogs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Jade Fountain
    2022 Co-Supervisor Teaching old dogs new tricks to fight the signs of canine cognitive dysfunction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Tracey Louise Taylor
    2022 Co-Supervisor Feline Behaviour Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Julia Sophie Lyn Henning
    2022 Co-Supervisor Investigating Correlations Between Behaviour, Affect, and Welfare in Reptiles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Jessica Thea Turner
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