Capybaras with Elizabeth Congdon - #23

<p>In this episode I am joined by Dr. Elizabeth Congdon, a Capybara researcher and a Professor at Bethune Cookman University. In the episode we start with Beth’s experience with collecting and analyzing data at the Cleveland Zoo and Beth’s research on primates for her Master’s thesis. Then we get into the main focus of the episode, Capybaras! Beth compares Capybaras to other rodents, reviews the regions where they live, their diets, how they communicate, why they swim in the water, why they are so seemingly chill and much more. I hope you enjoy!</p><p><br></p><p>Ologies Podcast episode with Dr. Elizabeth Congdon: https://www.alieward.com/ologies/hydrochoerology</p><p><br></p><p>PAPERS:</p><p>Natal dispersal and new group formation in capybaras in a seasonally flooded savanna of Venezuela (Beth’s PhD thesis): https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/561/ </p><p>Self discrimination in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3887474/</p><p>Status of Capybaras &amp; Potential for Establishment in Florida: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345844506</p><p><br></p><p>WHERE TO SEE CAPYBARAS:</p><p>Pantanal, Brazil (In the wild)</p><p>Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine Florida, USA (Animal sanctuary)</p><p><br></p><p>BOOKS:</p><p>Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach</p><p>MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO:</p><p>Chillpeach - Tomato farm (https://youtu.be/Abc-M-X3jmQ)</p><p><br></p><p>CONNECT: </p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ </p><p>GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X: https://twitter.com/DolinayG </p><p>Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 </p><p>Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinayPODCAST: </p><p>Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 </p><p>Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN</p><p>iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ </p><p>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV</p><p><br></p><p>|-Video Chapters-|</p><p>0:00 – Intro</p><p>1:29 – Beth’s interest in animals growing up</p><p>2:39 – Conducting Research at the Cleveland Zoo</p><p>6:36 – Researching primates in the wild</p><p>12:10 – Why are primatologists located in the anthropology department of universities?</p><p>15:14 – What is a Capybara?</p><p>16:29 – Capybaras compared to other rodents</p><p>19:41 – What regions are Capybaras found in?</p><p>21:25 – Capybara’s diet</p><p>22:54 – A hypothesis on why Capybaras are so chill</p><p>24:02 – The size of Capybaras</p><p>25:02 – Time to adulthood and lifespans of Capybaras</p><p>27:03 – How male Capybaras become dominant</p><p>29:59 – Capybara communications</p><p>30:54 – Capybaras are semi-aquatic</p><p>34:54 – The area used by wild Capybaras</p><p>36:07 – Capybaras and predators</p><p>39:08 – Capybaras and birds</p><p>40:30 – Beth’s current research</p><p>42:46 – If Beth could do any type of Capybara research she wanted</p><p>46:59 – Are Capybaras cuddly?</p><p>47:34 – The feasibility of having a Capybara as a pet</p><p>48:44 – Would Capybaras be able to survive on their own in Florida?</p><p>51:25 – Capybara Litter sizes</p><p>52:58 – Where to see Capybaras in Central and South America</p><p>55:09 – Capybara Sanctuary in St. Augustine, Florida</p><p>57:03 – Beth’s favorite Capybara reference in pop culture</p><p>57:47 – Which dog breed is most like Capybaras?</p><p>59:18 – Beth’s favorite moments with Capybaras</p><p>1:02:02 – If Beth could study another species besides Capybaras it would be…</p><p>1:04:12 – Book recommendations</p><p>1:07:37 – Conclusion</p>