• Interspecific interactions within the reserve:
  The unique way that our animals all coexist in one enclosure would make a great study whilst observing behavioural interactions across singular or multiple species.
• Exploring African and Asian ungulates:
  Comparing our seasonal feeding routines with energy expenditure outputs in the form of external body temperatures across the 4 different seasons. We have the equipment to analyse the external body temperatures and will gladly share our previous feeding regimes. This can focus on one species or multiple species. Explore the relationship between supplementary feeding and the possibility of utilising energy to maintain body temperature. Our team are currently working on taking thermal imaging photos displaying body temperatures across the varying seasons so the data will be readily available.
• Habitat exploration across different seasons looking at preference and usage within multiple different species.
• The relationship between haylage consumption intake and weather patterns, along with any other relevant external factors.
• Study the relationship between supplementary feeding and grass & browse quality within the reserve.
• Explore enclosure usage via our tracking collar across different species. Look at factors such as seasonality, circadian rhythms i.e. most of our ungulates are crepuscular but looking at some nocturnal species would be very interesting. This can be species-specific, or a comparison can be made against a range of species.
• Faecal analysis studies focusing on a variety of factors such as:
  – Having access to legume crops and anti-bloating and anti-worming crops such as Sainfoin
  – Having lots of wetlands dwelling species of birds in the reserve naturally foraging and thus keeping parasite worm burdens down etc.
• Faecal analysis studies focusing on species-specific trends vs seasonality.
• Faecal analysis studies focusing on the different categories of habitat that species choose to occupy I.e. woodland dwelling species, open grassland species and wetlands species. Are there any patterns or trends?
• Biodiversity surveys on any native species within the reserve.
• Observe sand martin nest box utilisation and breeding success rates of our artificial sand martin nest box and any variable factors involved in this.
• Study the bird nest box utilisation within the reserve.

If you would like to conduct a research project at Watatunga, please download and complete our Research Proposal Form and email this to operations@watatunga.co.uk.