Capybaras with Elizabeth Congdon - #23

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! Ologies Podcast episode with Dr. Elizabeth Congdon: https://www.alieward.com/ologies/hydrochoerology PAPERS: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/ Self discrimination in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3887474/Status of Capybaras & Potential for Establishment in Florida: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345844506 WHERE TO SEE CAPYBARAS:Pantanal, Brazil (In the wild)Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine Florida, USA (Animal sanctuary) BOOKS:Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard BachMUSIC INTRO/OUTRO:Chillpeach - Tomato farm (https://youtu.be/Abc-M-X3jmQ) CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X: https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinayPODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SNiHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV |-Video Chapters-|0:00 – Intro1:29 – Beth’s interest in animals growing up2:39 – Conducting Research at the Cleveland Zoo6:36 – Researching primates in the wild12:10 – Why are primatologists located in the anthropology department of universities?15:14 – What is a Capybara?16:29 – Capybaras compared to other rodents19:41 – What regions are Capybaras found in?21:25 – Capybara’s diet22:54 – A hypothesis on why Capybaras are so chill24:02 – The size of Capybaras25:02 – Time to adulthood and lifespans of Capybaras27:03 – How male Capybaras become dominant29:59 – Capybara communications30:54 – Capybaras are semi-aquatic34:54 – The area used by wild Capybaras36:07 – Capybaras and predators39:08 – Capybaras and birds40:30 – Beth’s current research42:46 – If Beth could do any type of Capybara research she wanted46:59 – Are Capybaras cuddly?47:34 – The feasibility of having a Capybara as a pet48:44 – Would Capybaras be able to survive on their own in Florida?51:25 – Capybara Litter sizes52:58 – Where to see Capybaras in Central and South America55:09 – Capybara Sanctuary in St. Augustine, Florida57:03 – Beth’s favorite Capybara reference in pop culture57:47 – Which dog breed is most like Capybaras?59:18 – Beth’s favorite moments with Capybaras1:02:02 – If Beth could study another species besides Capybaras it would be…1:04:12 – Book recommendations1:07:37 – Conclusion