THERMAL NEUTRAL ZONE MONITORING AT THE BROOKFIELD ZOO

THERMAL NEUTRAL ZONE MONITORING AT THE BROOKFIELD ZOO JOHN KANZIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGER CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY/BROOKFIELD ZOO

HISTORY • Concept and methods developed by USDA’s APHIS Division in partnership with Biophysicist Dr. Vaughan Langman, Ph. D • Early work done with elephants • Kit and spreadsheet calculator developed to offer zoos the opportunity to monitor collections, and in effect, self-regulate • Biophysics workshop in Chicago in 2005 spurred CZS to invest $5 K in a kit

THERMAL NEUTRAL ZONE KIT Pyranometer IR Thermometer Pocket Weather Meter

THE GADGETS • Long-range IR Thermometer with Scope • • Pocket Weather Meter • • • Measures, wind speed, temperature (standard temp, wind chill, heat index, dew point, and wet bulb), relative humidity, and barometric pressure) 3 customizable User Screens for most-used parameters Pyranometer • • • 105: 1 distance to spot ratio (at 105 feet, looking at a 1 -foot diameter spot) Able to switch between °F and °C Able to change Emissivity value if needed for different types of materials Measures longwave radiation from all directions 15 -second average for no-hassle spot-check Zoned Spreadsheet Calculator

TAKING A MEASUREMENT • Using scope, take and record enclosure temperatures (right wall, left wall, floor, and ceiling – you need at least 3 • Using scope, take measurements of animal (head, side, back rump) – you need at least 3 • Record ambient weather conditions with the pocket weather meter • Record longwave radiation with Pyranometer

THE ACTUAL CALCULATIONS

THE SIMPLIFIED CALCULATION • Heat Gain = Heat Loss • Mb + Q a = Q r • • • Mb = metabolic heat Qa = heat gain from longwave radiation Qr = heat loss from animal’s surface • If heat gain > heat loss, animal is hot • If heat gain < heat loss, animal is cold • Up to 30% either way is allowed, >30% is cause for action

USDA ZONED SPREADSHEET CALCULATOR

SO HOW MUCH DOES ALL THIS STUFF COST? ? ? • IR Thermometer with scope - $3, 341. 00 from Cole Parmer Instrument Co. • Kestrel 5000 Pocket Weather Meter - $259. 00 from Forestry Suppliers • Li-Cor 200 R/LI-250 A Combo - $790. 00 from Li-Cor Scientific • Pelican Case - $262. 53 from VWR Scientific