Dr Alyx Elder
Dr Alyx Elder
Lecturer in Zoo Biology and Animal Behaviour
My profile
Biography
INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE
I am a Lecturer in Zoo Biology and Animal Behaviour with nearly 20 years of experience in industry training a wide range of exotic zoo animals. My passion lies in exploring and sharing my research, while continuously striving to elevate animal welfare, zoo conservation and animal training standards. I thrive on challenges and am deeply committed to advancing knowledge in my field. As a comparative sensory biologist, my research spans zoos, aquariums, and museum collections, using training as a tool to study animal behaviour, particularly with pinnipeds. I’m always open to new project ideas related to zoos, museums, and animal behaviour.
My research interests span the fields of sensory biology, comparative anatomy and animal behaviour training, including:
- the development ofpinniped sensory systems
- the application of AI-based tracking to zoo animal kinematics
- improving zoo animal behaviour and improving welfare
I contribute to external research and welfare initiatives, such as:
- Co-opted Member of BIAZA Pinniped Focus Group
- Pinniped Research, Training and Welfare Consultant
- Article Reviewer
- Public Engagement with museums, zoos and aquariums worldwide
Here at Manchester Metropolitan University I am:
- Conservation, Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour Research Group member
- BBSRC Discovery Fellow
RESEARCH WEBSITE
Impact
Awards
2015
BIAZA Research Award – Awarded the British and Irish Association for Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) Research Award for my PhD Research Active Touch Sensing in Pinnipeds on sea lion sensing, in collaboration with Blackpool Zoo and Manchester Metropolitan University
2008
ASET Essay Competition Award – Competition to highlight my Zoology BSc Hons Internship at Chester Zoo, with special commendation
2005
Animal Concepts Certification – Advanced animal learning course with Sabrina Brando
Projects
2021 – 2024 BBSRC Discovery Fellowship Super Seal Sense: Whisker movement control in Pinnipeds
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/research/research-centres/ecology-environment/projects/touch-sensing-mammals
Teaching
Courses
Supervision
Current PhD Students:
- Katie Todd (Director of Studies) Pinniped sensing strategies in water movements (2022 - 2028)
- Applications Now Open (2025-2028) Kennelnet in collaboration with Dog Trust
Current MSc Students:
- Emma Mcloughlin (Co-supervisor) South African Fur Seals Discrimination Tasks(2022 - 2024)
Completed MSc Students:
- Donata Lorenzo - Vibrissal Orientation and Movement in a Fish Finding Task in California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus), (2017 - 2018)
Completed BSc Students:
- Mollie Taylor - The role of macro-vibrissae in a texture discrimination task in the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus), (2017 - 2018)
- Catherine Smith - (Characterising Whisker Movements of Three Species of Pinnipeds during a Fish Sweeping Task, (2017 - 2018)
NOTE: While at Blackpool Zoo, I have supervised and supported many research projects as part of Work Experience, Internship and Trainee Student work; including BSc and MSc in Zoology, Conservation Biology, Zoo Conservation Biology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Welfare and Biology courses from multiple institutions across the UK.
Research outputs
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Journal articles
Nakhwa, A.A., Breakell, V., Chambers, L., Elder, A., McLoughlin, E., Roberts, S., Todd, K., Grant, R.A. (2024) 'Implications of tactile enrichment on the behaviour and whisker movements of four species of carnivorans.' Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 274
Elder, A., Evans, E., Brassey, C., Kitchener, A.C., Hantke, G., Grant, R. (2024) 'Describing the musculature of mystacial pads in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) using diceCT.' Journal of Anatomy,
Milne, A.O., Orton, L., Black, C.H., Jones, G.C., Sullivan, M., Grant, R.A. (2021) 'California sea lions employ task-specific strategies for active touch sensing.' Journal of Experimental Biology, 224(21) pp. jeb243085-jeb243085.
Milne, A.O., Muchlinski, M.N., Orton, L.D., Sullivan, M.S., Grant, R.A. (2021) 'Comparing vibrissal morphology and infraorbital foramen area in pinnipeds.' The Anatomical Record, 305(3) pp. 556-567.
Dougill, G., Starostin, E.L., Milne, A.O., van der Heijden, G.H.M., Goss, V.G.A., Grant, R.A. (2020) 'Ecomorphology reveals Euler spiral of mammalian whiskers.' Journal of Morphology, 281(10) pp. 1271-1279.
Milne, A.O., Smith, C., Orton, L.D., Sullivan, M.S., Grant, R.A. (2020) 'Pinnipeds orient and control their whiskers: a study on Pacific walrus, California sea lion and Harbor seal.' Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 206(3) pp. 441-451.
Milne, A.O., Grant, R.A. (2014) 'Characterisation of whisker control in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) during a complex, dynamic sensorimotor task.' Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 200
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Conference papers
Evans, E., Elder, A. (2024) 'Micro-CT Imaging Techniques for Visualising Pinniped Mystacial Pad Musculature.' Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 125-141.
Career history
2024 - Present
Lecturer in Zoo Biology and Animal Behaviour
Manchester Metropolitan University
2021 - 2025
BBSRC Discovery Fellowship
Super Seal Sense: Whisker movement strategies in Pinnipeds in collaboration with Seaquarium Rhyl and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Manchester Metropolitan University
2015 - 2024
Associate Lecturer
Manchester Metropolitan University
2015 - 2020
PhD “Active Touch Sensing in Pinnipeds”
Funded by Manchester Metropolitan University and Blackpool Zoo
Manchester Metropolitan University
2011 - 2021
Animal Trainer, Presenter and Keeper
Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool,
2016 - 2017
AET: Level 3 Award in Education and Training (BIAZA)
Reaseheath College, Nantwich
2011
Head of Sea lions
Welsh Mountain Zoo, Wales
2009 - 2012
Animal Behaviour MSc with zoo studies at Chester Zoo
Manchester Metropolitan University
2009 - 2011
Marine Mammal Trainer
Seaquarium Rhyl, Wales
2005 - 2009
Zoology BSc Hons with a sandwich placement year at Chester Zoo
School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moors University
Press and media
Television
ITV News
Good Morning Sunday with Aled Jones (2014) LIVE: Sea lions use whiskers for balancing balls and finding fish.
The ONE Show (2014) Sea lions use whiskers for balancing balls and finding fish.
Blackpool Zoo
https://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk/news/blackpool-zoo-keeper-secures-prestigious-fellowship
BBC News - Blackpool zookeeper’s MSc in sea lion whiskers,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-28725866
BBC 1 Ingenious Animals(2014) Sea lions use whiskers for balancing balls and finding fish,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07wsnpq
Canadian Discovery Channel, The Daily Planet. 2010
Radio
HEART Radio
BBC Radio Lancashire
Radio Wave,
Key 103.4
Newspapers and Articles
Marketing Lancashire
https://www.marketinglancashire.com/news/blackpool-zoo-keeper-secures-prestigious-fellowship/
About Manchester
https://aboutmanchester.co.uk/the-hunting-habits-of-sea-lions/
Wired - Sensitive sea lion whiskers get the job done,
https://www.wired.com/2014/10/sensitive-sea-lion-whiskers-get-job-done/
Manchester Metropolitan University
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/?id=2717
Sea World
Discover Animals
https://www.discoveranimals.co.uk/news/keeper-gets-seal-ion-of-approval-for-phd-study/
Dive Magazine
http://divemagazine.co.uk/life/7891-sea-lions-blue-planet-ii
Blackpool Gazette:Top sea lion trainer to be featured on BBC show.
Daily Mail - Animal trainer gets Masters degree for her research into how sea lion whiskers work
Mirror
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/zoo-animal-trainer-awarded-masters-4038124
Blackpool Gazette
Times of Malta
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/by-a-whisker.531505
Podcasts
Marine Mammal Science Podcast (2022)