ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY POLICY
(Updated July 199)
a. Membership in the ABS may be granted at any time subject to approval by the Executive Committee.
1. Applications may be received and approved at any time.
2. To facilitate approval of applications so that a "backlog" does not occur, the Treasurer or delegated representative should normally be delegated to act for the Executive Committee in this regard.
3. Only in questionable cases need the full Executive Committee pass on membership. This would occur where doubt as to sincerity or competence of the applicant are at issue. Decisions on these cases should be reached no later than the Society's annual business meeting.
b. The Society should encourage all individuals who have an interest in the biological study of animal behavior to join the Society and to take an active role in Society affairs. ( Revised at 1992 E.C. meetings )
c. The Society requires annual certification of student members by signature of a faculty member or department head on the membership renewal form ( annual dues notice ).
d. A membership list will be published every three years.
e. Visiting foreign scientists engaged in animal behavior research and not members of ABS may present papers at annual meetings and, for a period of not more than two years, receive the ABS NEWSLETTER, upon request from the Secretary.
2. Editorial Policy with Respect to ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
a. Once a year the editorial decisions of the European and American Executive Editors will be jointly reviewed in an effort to keep editorial policies as uniform and effective as possible.
b. Every other year to make available a reasonable amount of money ( to be determined by the Treasurer ) to the Executive Editor, President, or Treasurer for travel to Europe to conduct business pertinent to ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR. ( Enacted at 1987 E.C. meetings )
c. Names of reviewers ( other than those on the Editorial Board or Editors ) will be published in ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR.
d. At the discretion of the Executive Editor, additional editorial help in the American editorial office may be appointed, subject to approval by the Executive Committee. ( 1986; revised at 1992 E.C. meetings )
e. Any submitted manuscript reporting procedures which appear questionable to the Editorial Office will be referred to the Animal Care Committee, preferably before review. ( Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings. ) In the case of a recommended rejection by the Animal Care Committee, the Executive Editor will inform the President. ( Enacted at 1984 E.C. meetings. )
f. Any submitted manuscript that in the view of the Editorial Office appears to violate the Society's Code of Ethics will be referred to the Ethics Committee. In a case where the Ethics Committee recommends rejection of the manuscript, the Executive Editor, whose decision on the manuscript is his/hers alone, must inform the President. ( Enacted at 1991 E.C. meetings. )
a. The President with the consent of the Executive Committee may appoint commissions to represent ABS on public issues.
b. ABS will consider the passage of Resolutions by the membership. The Public Affairs Committee will initially screen all Resolutions.
c. In order that the membership be provided with the opportunity to consider resolutions prior to their presentation at the annual meeting of the ABS, the text of such resolutions should be sent to the Public Affairs Committee prior to the first day of the scheduled meeting. The Committee shall duplicate and make available copies at the registration area and a copy is to be placed on a bulletin board labeled PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS.
d. Procedure for the introduction of resolutions at the annual business meeting of ABS.
1. Resolutions deal with the timely and substantive political and social issues and are transmitted by the ABS to external agencies, organizations, or the general public.
2. Written resolutions should be submitted to the Chair of the Public Affairs Committee 60 days prior to the annual business meeting. Each resolution should provide direction to the President so that it can be acted upon promptly.
3. Timely issues may be submitted up to 24 hours prior to the annual business meeting for evaluation by the Public Affairs Committee.
4. The Public Affairs Committee, as one of its responsibilities, will receive, evaluate, and if necessary, edit submitted resolutions. In the event that editing is necessary, or if the Public Affairs Committee deems the resolution to be inappropriate to the aims of ABS, this decision shall be transmitted to the submitter(s) no later than 15 days prior to the start of the meeting during which the annual business meeting is convened. The initiator(s) of the resolution may appeal, in writing, to the Executive Committee. Final decisions regarding resolutions reached by the Executive Committee during its annual meeting will not be subject to appeal during the interval between the meeting of the Executive Committee and the annual business meeting. The Executive Committee should reach a decision on the appeal within 2 months following the annual meeting.
5. Approved versions of resolutions will be made available to the members during the course of the meeting by being posted on available bulletin boards; hard or projected copies of resolutions will be available for distribution or viewing at the annual business meeting.
6. Approval by a simple majority of members voting at the annual business meeting is required for passage of a resolution.
7. Regardless of the fate of a resolution at the business meeting, a simple majority of those present can approve a mail ballot for the consideration of a resolution by means of the NEWSLETTER.
8. Approval of a resolution at the business meeting or by mail ballot will be followed by prompt action by the President of ABS as directed in the resolution.
9. Approved resolutions will be published in the NEWSLETTER.
a. Regional meetings are encouraged by ABS but are considered as independent of societal affairs. No financial support will be provided for regional meetings.
b. Guidelines for the Organization of Regional Meetings are available from the Secretary. Each region should inform the Secretary of Local Hosts, for publication in the NEWSLETTER.
c. The ABS name may be used for advertising Regional meetings. It is recommended that Regional meeting organizers obtain liability insurance.
a. Officers
1. Schedules for election of officers will be as follows:
a) Nominations will be completed by June 15 and published in the August NEWSLETTER [Revised at 1996 E.C. meetings].
b) Nominees will be introduced at the ABS Business Meeting by the President.
c) The ballot and the proportion of the membership which voted in the last election will be published in the November NEWSLETTER [Revised at 1996 E.C. meetings].
d) Election results, including the proportion of the membership which voted, will be published in the February NEWSLETTER. [Revised at 1996 E.C. meetings].
2. The number of votes received by each candidate will not be published.
3. The following statement should appear on the ballot for the annual election of ABS officers:
"The order of listing of candidates may influence voting. Please avoid this bias and read the resumes of the candidates which appear in this NEWSLETTER. This year the candidates are listed in alphabetical order." ( In alternate years --"...candidates are listed in reverse alphabetical order." ) [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings.]
4. The Parliamentarian should provide information on accessing the Constitution, Bylaws, Policy and Handbook to each new Executive Committee member and Committee Chairperson. (Revised at 1997 EC meeting).
5. Ballots sent either through the mail or by electronic mail must bear the voter's name or they will not be counted [Revised at the 1996 E.C. meetings].
6. The Secretary shall destroy all ballots submitted by members of the Society one month after the results of a vote are published in the NEWSLETTER, unless directed otherwise by the Executive Committee. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings.]
b. Fellows [Enacted at the 1987 E.C. meetings; revised at 1988 E.C. meetings]
1. The President will hold an election of new Fellows annually. [Revised at 1991 E.C. meetings]
2. The President will obtain from the Membership Committee a list of eligible persons as determined by the Constitution, Article 3 and Article 8, Section 3c. Nominees for Fellow must be active, regular members of ABS engaged in behavioral research. Members and members-elect of the Executive Committee are not eligible for nomination until 18 months after completion of their service on the Executive Committee. [Revised at 1993 E.C. meetings]
3. The President will distribute the list of eligible persons to all members of the Executive Committee and to all active Fellows, as per the Constitution, Article 3 and Article 8, Section 3c and e. The President will also distribute to the nominators a list of Fellows and a list of current Executive Committee members, members-elect, and members who have completed service on the Executive Committee within the year.
4. As per the Constitution, Article 3 and Article 8, Sections 3b and 3f, the President will determine the maximum number of new Fellows that can be elected in the year of the election.
5. In the President's communication to the Fellows nominators, the President shall ask the nominator to submit a brief summary of the key contributions of the nominee to the field of animal behavior.
6. The President will distribute a ballot based on nominations received (including his/her nominee) and including a summary of key contributions of each nominee to all members of the Executive Committee with instructions to vote yes or no for each nominee, sign the envelope, and return the ballot within three weeks to the Secretary. Each envelope must be signed; failure to do so will render that person's vote invalid.
7. Each nominee who receives a majority of votes cast for that nominee and receives at least five yes votes is elected a Fellow.
8. The Secretary will tabulate the results of the election and forward the information to the President.
9. The President will, taking into account the allowed maximum, determine the outcome of the election.
10. The President will notify, in writing, those who have been elected new Fellows and also the Secretary and Treasurer.
11. A list of Fellows of the Animal Behavior Society shall be published in the NEWSLETTER when requested by the Executive Committee. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings.]
6. Executive Committee Meetings
All Standing committee Chairpersons and Officers-Elect are invited (as non-voting participants) to attend each Executive Committee meeting. Meetings of the Executive Committee are closed to those who are not members of the Executive Committee, Standing Committee Chairpersons, or Officers-Elect, except at the discretion of the President.
a. There should be a lower annual meeting registration fee for pre-registrants than for those who register at the meeting. The exact fee schedule will be determined by the local organizer(s).
b. It is the responsibility of the Secretary that the February NEWSLETTER shall carry a request for bids to host the annual meeting to be held three years hence. The President and First President- Elect are jointly responsible for obtaining bids for future annual meeting locations. [Revised at 1995 E.C. meetings.]
c. No travel funds will be provided for officers to attend the regular independent meetings.
d. The selection of the Keynote Speaker(s) shall be made by the President, Program Officer, and Local Host ( the Selection Committee ), and shall not be restrictive except that ABS members shall not receive an honorarium and that the Speaker(s) shall not be member(s) of the ABS Executive Committee at the time of selection [Revised at 1989 E.C. meetings.]
The Local Host is responsible for paying the Keynote and Banquet Speakers. The Local Host is responsible for providing an honorarium to the Keynote Speaker [Enacted at 1983 E.C. Meetings; revised at 1996 E.C. meetings].
The purpose of the Keynote Address is to provide the membership with an opportunity to hear from an individual whose contributions are relevant to the study of animal behavior. The person selected should present a lecture that integrates aspects of animal behavior or relates the study to other fields in inquiry. Examples are neurology, linguistics, philosophy, engineering, and the environment. The Keynote Speaker need not be a member of the Society. It is expected that the Speaker be available for discussion during the meeting.
e. ABS will meet with another organization for a meeting in addition to the ABS Annual Meeting whenever the geographic location and timing is compatible with the ABS Annual Meeting.
f. Abstracts from the annual meeting of the Society should not be sent to libraries or individuals, upon request, since these are not published materials. Also, programs will not be sent to non-members.
g. The program of the annual meeting of the Society should include one or more plenary sessions in which Fellows of the Society review their research accomplishments in the context of their research areas. Invitations for such Fellows Lectures shall be made by the Program Office in consultation with the President.
h. The ABS will support plenary lectures by Fellows to a maximum of (U.S.) $300 per speaker [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings; revised at 1996 E.C. meetings]
i. The Keynote Speaker and plenary lectures by Fellows will be coordinated by the Program Officer, First President-elect, and the Local Host for each annual meeting. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings]
j. Concerning the taping of presentations at the national convention.
1) A person who desires to make audio recordings of a presentation must obtain permission from the speaker.
2) If a speaker's presentation is to be recorded, this will be announced by the moderator.
3) The following statements will appear in the program booklet:
a) "Audio recording of presentations at ABS meetings is permitted only with prior approval of the speaker."
b) "Video taping may be allowed only under special circumstances with prior approval of the Program Officer, the Executive Committee, and the speaker." [Enacted at the 1986 E.C. meetings]
k. At the discretion of the Program Officer, an Assistant Program Officer may be appointed (subject to approval of the Executive Committee) to encourage and coordinate book displays and vendors at the annual meeting, to coordinate advertising in the program, and to set all applicable fees. At the annual meeting of the Society, ABS does not allow commercial advertisement outside of the exhibit area, and commercial advertisers pay an exhibitor's fee which is established by the Assistant Program Officer in consultation with the Local Host. [Enacted at the 1985 E.C. meetings; revised at the 1990 & 1992 E.C. meetings]
l. The local host will provide registration fees for up to 6 members of the press [Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings].
8. Paper Presentations at ABS Meetings
a. There should be no screening or rejection of formal presentations at ABS meetings except on the basis of submission or reception deadlines.
b. At the ABS Annual Meeting, members may sponsor or present only one technical or poster paper. At the same meeting, the same member may be a non-presenting, non-sponsoring author of additional technical or poster papers and may also present or sponsor one symposium or "invited paper" and one film. In cases where a member cannot present a paper, a co-author may not present the paper if he/she is already presenting another technical or poster paper.
c. A non-member of the Society may present a paper if the paper is sponsored (introduced or co- authored) by a member.
d. ABS members who fail to provide at least one week advance notice in writing to Program Officer if not presenting a paper scheduled for an ABS Annual meeting will not be allowed to present or sponsor a paper at the next annual meeting. Exceptions will be permitted by the Program Officer only in the case of emergency.
e. The following statement will appear on the Meeting registration forms: "By submission of an abstract to ABS, I declare that the research reported herein was conducted in compliance with all laws applicable to my work and with the ABS Code of Ethics and Animal Care Guidelines." It shall be the policy of ABS that in the eventuality of a questionable abstract, the Program Officer will consult with the President and Executive Committee for appropriate action. [Revised at 1991 and 1998 E.C. meetings.]
f. A letter of inquiry shall be sent from the president of ABS and Chairperson of the Animal Care Committee to any individual giving a paper at the Annual ABS meeting, Division of Animal Behavior-Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting or Regional meeting which is thought to violate the ABS Animal Care Guidelines. The letter should contain a request for an explanation and be accompanied by a copy of the ABS Animal Care Guidelines. Initial inquiries should be addressed to the President for final decision. In the case of multi-authored and sponsored papers, and additional authors and sponsors will also receive a copy of the material sent to the presenting author.
9. Allee Award
a. The following rules govern the Allee Award for best student paper presented in the Warder Clyde Allee session at the annual meeting:
1. Any independent student research (including, but not limited to, the doctoral dissertation) most of which is unpublished at the time of submission for the session is eligible. The work presented may be part of a larger collaborative effort, but the student should have the principal responsibility for the conceptualization and design of the research, the collection and analysis of the data, and the interpretation of the results. [Revised at 1992 E.C. meetings.]
2. The entrant cannot have completed defense of the doctoral dissertation before the preceding ABS annual meeting.
3. An individual can enter the session only once per lifetime.
4. Only single-authored papers are eligible for the session.
5. Four copies of a written version of the paper must be submitted. The paper is to be in Animal Behaviour format and no more than 7 pages double spaced text pages in length. This limit does not include the abstract, references or acknowledgments. The combined number of tables and figures can not exceed 4. Papers exceeding these limits will be rejected [Revised at 1994 E.C. meetings).
b. The Allee Award Committee may, at its discretion, designate up to one Honorable mention when there are six to ten contestants and up to two Honorable Mentions when there are more contestants.
c. If the number of contestants in the Allee Award session is greater than 18, a panel of judges appointed by the Chairperson of the Allee Award Committee will select the best 18 submitted papers.
d. The Senior Member-at-Large will assume responsibility for the Allee Award session in case the Second President-elect cannot act in this capacity.
e. The amount of the Allee Award shall be (U.S.) $250. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings.]
f. The Host is to provide each Allee participant with a banquet ticket. [Enacted at the 1987 E.C. meetings.]
g. Membership of the Allee session judging committee shall not include graduate students. [Enacted at the 1986 E.C. meetings.]
h. The chair of the Allee judging committee handles correspondence regarding rules, regulations and information [Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings].
10. Film Awards
a. The Jack Ward Memorial Film Award consists of (U.S.) $250 plus a certificate for the best non- commercial film or videotape in animal behavior presented at an annual meeting of the ABS. Semifinalists receive a certificate of recognition. Non-commercial: made by an individual largely associated with animal behavior from a teaching, research, and/or applied perspective; the assistance of professional photographers or a university media/photography department is allowed, but the film must be made primarily for educational/research purposes and not with the major goal of grossing an income for the individual or the professional photographers. Typically, it is the individual who initiates the film's production. The award need not be presented annually. [Enacted at 1984 E.C. meetings.]
b. The Animal Behavior Society will present a plaque for the best commercial film in animal behavior presented at an annual meeting of the ABS. Semifinalists will receive a certificate of recognition. Commercial: Made by professional photographers/filmmakers with the express purpose of grossing a net profit; the film is promoted through extensive advertising and may be shown on national television as part of an ongoing series (example: National Geographic serials, Oxford films). Various scientists may or may not be used as consulting experts, but typically the scientist is not the individual initiating production of the film. The award need not be present annually. [Enacted at 1984 E.C. meetings.]
c. Receipt of either award carries the privilege of listing the award in promotional advertising for the winning films. [Enacted at 1989 E.C. meetings.]
11. Founders'Award
a. The Founders' Memorial Poster Paper Award is to be given for the best Poster Paper presented at the Founders' Memorial Poster session at the annual meeting. For each year the award shall be named in honor of any one or more founders of the Animal Behavior Society that have died during the previous 24 months. In a period in which no founders have died the award shall be simply in honor of all founders of the Animal Behavior Society or in the name of a founder who died prior to establishment of the award; the President shall make the decision. No founder should be honored more than once.
b. A "Founder" is defined as a person active in the six-year period 1960-65 and who was an elected officer or held a committee assignment in ABS or the ESA Section on Animal Behavior and Sociobiology or the SICB Division of Animal Behavior as recorded by the ABS Historian. This period involves the organizations preceding ABS that planned the transition to ABS and the first two years of ABS.
c. The Poster Paper Award competition shall be conducted by the First President-elect of the Society. The First President-elect shall appoint a judging committee with four members, including her/himself as chair. The committee chair, with possible advice and assistance from the other judges and the previous chair, shall develop a set of criteria for judging to posters.
d. All members of the society in good standing are eligible to enter the competition. There shall be one winner for the Founders' Memorial Poster Paper Award, who will receive a certificate and (U.S.) $100. In the case of papers with multiple authors the award shall be made only to the senior author. The award certificate shall be presented during the Annual Meeting of the Society. The First President-elect is responsible for having the certificate lettered appropriately prior to its presentation.
e. With at least 10 entrants in the competition the judges may award one honorable mention. With at least 20 entrants in the competition, the judges may award two honorable mentions and so on. There is no requirement that the judges award any honorable mentions. The First President-elect shall write to the family of the deceased founder(s) honored by the award for that year to inform them of the selection(s).
f. A note regarding the Founders' Award shall be placed in the information accompanying the Abstract/Transmittal forms and a check-off box should be included on the forms so that members can indicate their intention to enter the competition.
g. When the Program Officer notifies those who have submitted abstracts of their scheduled place on the program she/he should also send them a list of suggestions for preparing an effective poster paper [Passed by mail vote October 1986; revised at 1989 E.C. meetings].
h. The chair of the Founders' Award Poster Competition handles correspondence regarding rules, regulations and information [Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings].
12. Career Awards
[Enacted at the 1987 E.C. meetings; revised at the
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1997 E.C. meetings]
a. The Career Awards Committee will solicit nominations from the membership and generate nominations to be presented to the EC for approval. An announcement will be placed in the November and February issues of the newsletter that describes the awards and invites members of the society to make nominations. ( Revised at the 1997 EC meeting).
1. For the Outstanding New Investigator, Quest, Exemplar, and Distinguished Animal Behaviorist awards the nomination should include 1) a letter indicating which award the nominee is being proposed for and providing details on why the nominee should be considered for that award, 2) the nominee's CV and 3) additional supporting letters from colleagues solicited by the nominator. Materials should be sent to the Past President by March 1. Members and members-elect of the Executive Committee are not eligible for nomination until 18 months after completion of their service on the Executive Committee.
2. For the Exceptional Service Award the nominator should include 1) a letter outlining the contributions that the nominee has made to the Animal Behavior Society and 2) additional supporting letters from colleagues that have been solicited by the nominator. Materials should be sent to the Past President by March 1.
b. Awards do not have to be given every year. Final action by the Executive Committee on nominations presented by Career Awards Committee requires a majority affirmative vote with at least five yes votes.
c. The Past-President is responsible for all aspects of the award process, including invitations, plaques and presentations, as well as nominations.
d. Award winners will be announced at the banquet.
e. A plaque will be awarded to winners to each award during the Annual Meeting of the Society the following year.
13. Research Grants
a. The objective of the grants is to provide financial support for the biological study of animal behavior in the broadest sense, including studies at all levels of organization using descriptive and/or experimental methods under natural and/or controlled conditions. The Chairperson will attempt to maintain a diversity of research interests and experiences on the Research Grants Committee when appointing new members.
b. The Chair of the Research Grants Committee shall see that there is no conflict of interest concerning the judges and the applicants. [Enacted at the 1987 E.C. meetings.]
c. Only members of the ABS who are enrolled in a graduate program may apply (see exception in 13 d). Current members of the Executive Committee or the Research Grants Committee are ineligible. Grant awards may not exceed (U.S.) $1000, and no individual may receive more than one award per year. Awards will not fund salaries, stipends, tuition, single items of equipment exceeding (U.S.) $500, or indirect costs. The committee may recommend funding at a level less than the amount requested and may award less than the entire amount of money allocated by the Executive Committee (Bylaws Art. IV, Sec. 10B) if the proposals are deemed to be not of sufficient quality. [Revised at 1992,1993 & 1996 E.C. meetings.]
d. Grants in the amount of (U.S.) $700 will be available annually for members of the ABS who are residents of a developing nation and are conducting research at an institution in a developing nation. The following nations shall not be considered as developing nations: the United States, Canada, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal [Enacted at 1996, revised at the 1998 E.C. meetings].
e. The following priorities will be used as guidelines by the committee in awarding grants:
1) Small projects, entire budget.
a) Seed money for long-range funding from major funding source.
b) Succinct projects not expected to result in long-term project.
2) Primary funding with supplemental support expected from other source(s).
3) Equipment, with the expectation that it will be used in future projects.
4) Supplemental funding for a larger project.
f. Announcement of the availability of grant awards, where the applications and guidelines can be obtained, and the application deadline will be published in the two issues of the NEWSLETTER preceding application deadline. An announcement of the awards (Recipients' names, Project titles and Amount of awards) will be published in the next available issue of the NEWSLETTER following the awards.
g. The letter that announces the research grant should include copies of the written reviews and a form for the final report. The following points should be included in the letter: (a) the final report includes both a scientific and a financial accounting, and (b) acknowledgment of the award should be included in publications and talks. The form for the final report should include a due date and an address to which it should be submitted. A copy of the final report should be submitted to the Development Committee. [Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings, revised at the 1998 E.C. meetings].
h. To provide continuity, a folder and diskette that contains copies of documents and the lists of previous awardees should be sent to the incoming Chair [Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings].
i. Subsequent to consideration by the Research Grants Committee, research proposals and reviews shall be sent to the ABS Historian. They will be available for statistical studies, but no details on content may be revealed for 30 years following their receipt. [Enacted at 1986 E.C. meetings; revised at 1990 E.C. meetings.]
14. Ethnic Diversity Fund [Enacted at the 1994 E.C. Meetings]
a. The Ethnic Diversity Fund was established by the original donor to help encourage participation at ABS meetings by individuals belonging to ethnic groups under-represented in the ABS. It was suggested that the money could be used to help graduate students to attend ABS meetings by helping to defray the cost of attendance.
b. Earnings from the Fund are therefore available to cover the ABS annual meeting fees of students who are African-American, Native American, Asian American, and Latino/a (or "Hispanic") American and non-white Africans who are not American citizens or residents, including residents of Central and South America.
c. The number of awards will be determined by the interest earned by the Ethnic Diversity Fund in each year and by the amount of the student registration fee. Availability of the award will be announced by the President in the November NEWSLETTER and the recipients of the awards will be determined by a lottery including all valid applications received before a date set by the President. Applications for the award should be sent directly to the Treasurer.
15. Symposia
a. Symposia should be approved by the Executive Committee approximately one year in advance of the proposed symposium date.
b. ABS will support up to 2 symposia that have been approved by the Executive Committee for presentation at ABS Annual Meetings in an amount not to exceed (U.S.) $1000 per symposium for up to two symposia per meeting. Such support may include travel expenses up to (U.S.) $500 per speaker, registration fees of speakers, room, and board expenses of speakers while at the meeting. [Enacted at 1987 E.C. meetings; revised at 1996 E.C. meetings]
c. The Program Officer shall communicate early with the Local Host so that the Host shall waive the registration fees for symposium participants who are outside the area of animal behavior. [Enacted at the 1987 E.C. Meetings]
d. Such support from the Animal Behavior Society may not be extended to symposium speakers who were members of the Executive Committee when the symposium was approved. [Enacted at the 1987 E.C. Meetings]
e. Guidelines for symposium organizers are available from the Program Officer.
f. The Executive Committee must approve all symposia proposed for the Division of Animal Behavior, SICB. The individual who votes on DAB symposia prior to the ABS Executive Committee receiving the proposals for approval shall be that person who will be the Executive Officer (Divisional Chairperson) of the Division of Animal Behavior at the time the symposium occurs [Revised at 1996 E.C. meetings].
16. Relationship to Affiliated Organizations
a. ABS is affiliated with the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology (SICB), American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Coalition for Education in the Life Sciences (CELS), and American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). [Revised at 1995 & 1996 E.C. meetings]
b. SICB funds budgeted for ABS can be used the Executive Committee members (officers) to represent ABS at SICB meetings [Revised at 1996 E.C. meetings].
c. The AIBS Liaison, appointed by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee, will act as ABS Delegate to the AIBS Governing Board and will summarize for the ABS membership those AIBS activities which are relevant to ABS members. [Revised at 1992 E.C. meetings.]
d. The President may appoint, in consultation with the Executive Committee, liaisons to other organizations to attend meetings and summarize for the ABS membership those activities which are relevant to ABS members.
e. The term of office for liaisons will not be more than three years [Added at 1992 E.C. Meetings]
17. Finances
a. The Animal Behavior Society, Inc. is registered as a not for profit corporation in the State of Illinois. The Society's registered agent and registered office are Jeanne Altmann, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL 60513.
b. The First President-elect, elected concurrently with the Treasurer, will be listed as an authorized signature on all ABS accounts for the duration of the Treasurer's term. The Treasurer shall appoint, with the confirmation of the Executive Committee, a member of ABS as alternate signer for ABS investments and monetary transactions for the duration of the Treasurer's term. (Revised at the 1997 EC meeting).
c. The deadline for payment of annual dues is December 1.
d. There will be a late fee of (U.S.) $10 for members who renew after Dec. 1. [Enacted at 1985 E.C. Meetings; revised at 1995 E.C. meetings.]
e. Mailing labels or the membership list can be sold for one-time use for purposes deemed by the Treasurer to be acceptable and relevant to the study of animal behavior (see also Use of the Society Name).
f. The Treasurer of ABS should be personally bonded in the approximate amount of cash available in the preceding year, the bond being specifically for ABS funds.
g. The ad hoc Committee on the Holding and Investing of Unexpended Funds which consists of the Treasurer and past Treasurers will review and report annually to the Executive Committee on the allocation of money.
h. The NEWSLETTER and dues notices should contain a statement that voluntary contributions may be made by the membership. The ABS NEWSLETTER should periodically contain a statement suggesting that ABS can be made the beneficiary of an estate or named in a will.
i. All members of the Executive Committee and chairpersons of committees who have received any money from the Treasurer during the fiscal year and any past or present officers holding ABS funds, must submit a statement of money received, expenditures, and money on hand at the end of the fiscal year, 30 June. This report should be sent to the Treasurer and members of the Executive Committee. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings.]
18. Gift & Donation Policy [Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings]
a. Cash Gifts. Gifts of money in any form (cash, checks, and/or credit card charges) will be accepted for either restricted or unrestricted purposes. Unrestricted money gifts will be added to the general operating fund of the Society. Restricted money gifts will be accepted for the designated purpose, provided that purpose is in accord with the Society's policies.
b. Endowments. Donors may endow any of the Society's programs. For a minimum endowment of $10,000, the Society will consider renaming the program in honor of the donor or an honoree of the donor's choice.
c. Scholarships and Awards. Donors may fund the Society's scholarship and awards programs, or create a new scholarship or award. For a minimum donation of $10,000, the Society will consider renaming the scholarship or award in honor of the donor or an honoree of the donor's choice.
d. Bequests. Gifts from a program of planned giving (bequests, life insurance, and/or charitable lead trusts) will be accepted for either restricted or unrestricted purposes.
e. Gifts of Personal Property. Gifts of personal property will be accepted only if the Development Committee believes that a reasonable market value exists for the item(s). An appraisal for the fair market value of the items(s) will be provided to the donor. A proportion of the value of the gift may be used to market the item(s).
f. Gifts of Negotiable Securities. Gifts of securities for which there is an active secondary market will be accepted under the same place as gifts of cash. It is understood that the conversion of the securities to cash will be at the discretion of the ad hoc Investments Committee.
g. Gifts of Non-negotiable Securities. Gifts of securities for which there is no readily available secondary market, such as stock in private corporations and closely held securities, may be accepted at the discretion of the ad hoc Investments committee. The Committee may agree to hold such securities for a specified period of time if it believes it is in the interests of the Society to do so.
h. Gifts of Real Estate. Gifts of real estate will be accepted at the discretion of the ad hoc Investments Committee. An appraisal of the property will be made at the expense of the donor. Real estate gifts will be sold promptly unless it is in the interests of the Society to hold the real estate as an investment.
19. Insurance [Enacted at 1995 E.C. meetings]
a. Every fourth year (beginning 1995) the Second President-elect will be designated Insurance Representative for the Society and retain that role while on the Executive Committee.
b. The Insurance Representative will obtain information on the type and cost of insurance and make recommendations for action to the Executive Committee.
c. The Insurance Representative will interact with insurance companies on behalf of the Society to maintain satisfactory insurance coverage, such as Directors and Officers Insurance as well as Liability Insurance.
20. ABS Committees
a. Ad hoc committees will be re-evaluated on an annual basis and disbanded when their function is completed.
b. Standing Committee membership and activities will be reviewed annually at the Executive Committee meeting. The Chairperson of each Committee will be charged with the responsibility of providing the information for the review. Additionally, each Standing Committee Chairperson will maintain a current roster of Committee members and distribute this roster to members of the Executive Committee. The roster is to include the name, address, and date and term or appointment for each member.
c. The revision and mailing of the Graduate Programs in Animal Behavior publication should be done every five years by the Education Committee. [Enacted at 1989 E.C. meetings.]
21. Subscriptions
a. Persons or institutions may subscribe to the Journal only or NEWSLETTER only. Subscription prices for the NEWSLETTER, based on production and mailing costs of the NEWSLETTER, will be established by the Treasurer in consultation with the Executive Committee. Subscribers to the Journal and/or NEWSLETTER are not members of the Society and are not entitled to other privileges of membership. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings.]
b. The price for a non-member subscription to the NEWSLETTER will be (U.S.) $8.00 per year. [Enacted at 1983 E.C. meetings; revised 1992.]
22. ABS Policy
A list of long-term ABS Policy will be updated annually by the Parliamentarian from the minutes of the recent annual meeting provided by the Secretary. [Revised at 1992 E.C. meetings.]
b. In recording minutes, the Secretary of the Society should make a special effort to have "policy" statements distinguished from "other" statements and to record policy decisions made during the Executive Committee meetings in such a way that a motion and action on the motion are clear.
c. The document describing the duties of each officer, committee chairpersons, and other office holders will be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee and updated and distributed by the Parliamentarian. [Enacted 1982; revised at 1992 E.C. meetings.]
d. That any newly adopted ABS policy statement should include whether or not the Policy statement was passed by the E.C. alone or was also approved at a Business Meeting. [Enacted at the 1984 E.C. meetings.]
23. Ethics
a. ABS Code of Ethics
[Added to Policy at 1990 E.C. Meetings; revised at 1992, 1993, 1994 & 1996 E.C. meetings]
Preamble--
The need for ethical principles in a scientific society is the same as in society as a whole: they are mutually beneficial. They help make our relationships pleasant and productive. They serve to identify conduct to be adopted and misconduct to be avoided, in each case to our mutual advantage. As members of the Animal Behavior Society, we bear responsibility for emulating and for passing to the next generation of scientists, our norms, our values, and our concepts of appropriate professional conduct.
The Code--
Members of the Animal Behavior Society:
1) Shall conduct their professional affairs in an ethical manner as prescribed in this Code, shall endeavor to protect the profession of animal behavior from misunderstanding and misrepresentation, and shall cooperate with one another to assure the rapid and accurate interchange and dissemination of knowledge about animal behavior.
2) Shall use their knowledge, skills, and training to assist in achieving the harmonious interaction of the human species with other organisms.
3) Shall not represent themselves as spokesperson for the Society or imply Society endorsement except with prior approval of the Executive Committee.
4) Members shall be guided by the following in preparing research reports for publication or public presentation:
(a) The authors of a research report should be all and just those who have made a significant scientific contribution to the research, except that no one should be listed as an author without his or her consent.
(b) Intellectual property rights should be respected. In particular, authors should include unpublished data, personal communications, or concepts of others in publications only as stipulated in an agreed upon policy or by consent.
(c) Authors of scientific publications should avoid plagiarism. In particular, because material not attributed to previous publications is assumed to be original, authors should give proper acknowledgment when previously published work is included in a research report. (An obvious exception is material, such as the Pythagorean theorem, that is so widely known that citing the original would be pedantic.)
(d) Authors should not present or publish material that is fabricated or falsified.
At the outset of supervised, mentored or other collaborative research arrangements, participants are urged to arrive at mutually agreeable policies regarding publication of the results, including responsibility for data analysis, manuscript preparation, authorship, and disposition of records. All parties involved should take responsibility for informing their collaborators of these policies or becoming informed, as appropriate.
5) Shall offer professional advice only on those subjects in which they are qualified,
by virtue of professional training and experience.
6) Shall neither harass nor request or accept inappropriate favor from students, employees, or colleagues.
7) Shall inform a prospective or current employer, colleague, student, or client of any professional or personal conflicts of interest that may impair their objectivity.
8) Shall neither seek employment, grants, or gain nor attempt to injure the reputation or opportunities for education or employment of students or colleagues by false, biased, or undocumented claims or accusations, or by any other malicious action.
9) Shall not discriminate against students, employees, or colleagues on the basis of sex, creed, religion, race, color, national origin, life style, sexual orientation, economic status, organizational affiliation, or other irrelevant characteristics.
10) Shall carry out their work in accord with the Society's Policy, including the "ABS/ASAB Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research and Teaching" and the "Program for Certification of Applied Animal Behaviorists."
11) Shall be obligated, when they have substantial evidence of a breach of this Code, to bring such conduct to the attention of the Chair of the Ethics Committee or any member of the Executive Committee.
b. Procedure in cases of alleged misconduct by scientists. [Enacted at 1992 E.C. meetings; revised 1993.]
1) Members of the Animal Behavior Society should report allegations of misconduct to the President or the Chair of the Ethics Committee.
2) Persons outside the Society may report to any member of the Society who should then report to the President or the Chair of the Ethics Committee.
3) The Ethics Committee shall be empowered to consider allegations of misconduct on the part of any member of the Society or anyone else who makes use of the Society's services and activities, such as its meetings and publications. In order to avoid harassment of members through frivolous allegations, the Ethics Committee shall, upon receiving an allegation, decide whether there are reasons to suspect that a violation of the Society's Code of Ethics has occurred. If so, the Ethics Committee shall notify the alleged violator of the nature of the allegations and shall request documentation from the parties involved. After receipt of a response from the respondent, or at any time, the committee may in its discretion decide that the complaint is one that is inappropriate for the Ethics Committee to pursue. The committee may so decide for any reason which, in its discretion, leads it to conclude that the matter is inappropriate for further consideration, including but not limited to a belief that the Committee or the Society lacks the resources for obtaining evidence necessary for a sufficient investigation of the matter, or a conclusion that the matter under investigation is the subject of investigation by another organization or institution, so that it would be inappropriate for the Ethics Committee to continue organization and taking advantage of their evidence or judgment.
4) Documentation of the case will be circulated to members of the Ethics Committee who will submit their written evaluation to the Chair of the Committee.
5) The Chair will prepare a written summary of the committee opinions and recommend action. This preliminary report will be circulated to members of the committee and revised in accordance with their opinions and at the discretion of the Chair.
6) The final report and all documentation will be presented to the Executive Committee in executive session (only voting members present) by the Chair of the Ethics Committee.
7) A majority vote of the Executive Committee will decide the case. Penalties may include:
a) Reprimand: a letter outlining the problem and suggesting that such behavior be avoided in the future will be sent.
b) Suspension: (1) a letter outlining the problem and decision will be sent; (2) membership privileges in the Society will be revoked temporarily and the person involved may not author or co-author any kind of paper at the annual meeting nor publish in the journal (Animal Behaviour) for a specified period of time.
c) Dismissal: (1) a letter outlining the problem and decision will be sent; (2) membership in the Society is revoked permanently and the person involved may not author or co-author any kind of paper at an annual meeting nor publish in the journal (Animal Behaviour) ever.
8) The decision of the Executive Committee will be communicated to the complainant and the respondent by letter from the President who chaired the Executive Committee meeting at which the decision was made.
9) The parties involved may appeal the decision to the President of the Animal Behavior Society within 30 days of receiving written notification of the decision of the Executive Committee. If appealed,
a) The President will appoint an ad hoc Appeals Committee to be chaired by the Second President-elect, and will include the recently retired Past-President and an appointed member who is not a committee chair and is not a member of the Executive Committee or the Ethics Committee.
b) The Appeals Committee will receive all materials relevant to the case from the Executive Committee and will review these materials and the Executive Committee's decision.
c) The Appeals Committee may solicit any additional material they deem necessary. Respondents shall have the right to present new material not previously known or easily available to them.
d) The Appeals Committee will submit a report to the Executive Committee for a decision at its next meeting. The Second President-elect, as Chair of the Appeals Committee, will answer any questions raised at the meeting. A majority vote of the Executive Committee, meeting in executive session, will decide the case. The decision of the Executive Committee will be communicated to the complainant and the respondent by letter from the President. This decision is final and may not be appealed.
10) Cases of alleged misconduct shall be subject to the following policies governing confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and public notice:
a) Except as noted below, all information about a case, including the names of the respondent and the complainant, shall be held in confidence by all participants in the proceedings. The Chair of the Ethics Committee, of the Executive Committee, and of the Appeals Committee shall notify in writing all those with whom they deal in the handling of a case that the proceedings are confidential. The Chairs of each of these three committees may inform individuals who are directly involved in a case, such as witnesses or the Society's legal counsel, of relevant particulars in the case, on a need-to-know basis.
b) At any time, if a member of any of these three committees believes that anything about the complaint and/or the parties thereto indicates that the member might be unable to offer a fair and impartial hearing, or could not be perceived as being fair, that member shall be recused. Recusal shall be mandatory for any committee member who is a party or witness in a case, or who has a direct pecuniary interest in its outcome. The Chair of the Ethics Committee shall inquire of each member of the Committee whether a pending case would present a conflict of interest for them. If so, that member shall be recused from the case and shall not be a party to any of the subsequent proceedings. The Chair of the Executive Committee and the Chair of the Appeals Committee shall proceed similarly with their committees.
c) The Ethics Committee shall communicate its findings, evaluations, recommendations, and documents to the Executive Committee, as described in item 23b 6, above, and to no one else.
d) After expiration of the appeal period or after consideration of the appeal, a notice of the disposition of the case shall, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, be published in the NEWSLETTER. This notice shall be limited to a statement of the alleged violation and the final decision of the Executive Committee. It shall be so worded as to avoid identifying the parties involved.
e) So as to facilitate the Ethics Committee's ability to carry out its mission, the Chairs of the Executive and Appeals Committees may inform the Ethics Committee of their committees' proceedings and deliberations on the case.
c. Procedure in cases of alleged misconduct by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists. [Enacted at 1992 E.C. Meetings]
1) Allegations of misconduct by a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist may be reported to any other Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or to the Chair of the Board of Professional Certification. Anonymous allegations will not be considered.
2) Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists should report allegations of misconduct by a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist to the Chair of the Board of Professional Certification.
3) Depending on the alleged misconduct, the Chair of the Board of Professional Certification may direct the complaint to (1) the Board of Professional Certification, (2) the Ethics Committee (to be handled under Sec. 23 b) or (3) the Board of Professional Certification and the Ethics Committee.
4) After deciding to deal with a complaint, the Board of Professional Certification will request written documentation from the parties involved. Policies governing jurisdiction {Policy 23 b 3, second paragraph), confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and public notice (Policy 23 b 10) shall apply, mutatis mutandis.
5) Documentation of the case will be circulated to members of the Board of Professional Certification and the Ethics Committee, if the Committee is consulted. Members of the Board and Committee (if consulted) should submit their written evaluations to the Chair of the Board.
6) Based on the written statements, the Chair of the Board will prepare a written summary and recommend action. This preliminary report will be circulated to members of the Board (and, if consulted, the Ethics Committee) and revised in accordance with their opinions and at the discretion of the Chair of the Board.
7) After approval by consensus, the final report will be circulated to the Board of Professional Certification and, if consulted, the Ethics Committee. The final report must summarize the evidence, state of conclusion, and make a decision. Penalties may include:
a) Reprimand: a letter outlining the problem and suggesting that such problematic actions be avoided in the future will be sent.
b) Suspension: certification will be suspended for a period to be determined by the Board.
c) Permanent decertification.
8) The final report and decision will be communicated to the parties involved and the Executive Committee by letter from the Chair of the Board.
9) Either party may appeal the decision to the President of the Animal Behavior Society within 30 days of receiving written notification of the decision of the Board. If appealed,
a) The President will appoint an ad hoc Appeals Committee which will be chaired by the Second President-elect, and will include the recently retired Past-President and an appointed member who is not a chair of a committee or a member of the Executive Committee or the Board of Professional Certification.
b) The Appeals Committee will receive all materials relevant to the case from the Chair of the Board of Professional Certification and will review these materials and the decision rendered.
c) The Appeals Committee may solicit any additional material they deem necessary. Respondents shall have the right to present new material not previously known or easily available to them.
d) The Appeals Committee will submit a written report to the Executive Committee for a decision at its next meeting. The Second President-elect, as Chair of the Appeals Committee, will answer any questions raised at the meeting. A majority vote of the Executive Committee, meeting in executive session, will decide the case. The final report of the Appeals Committee and the decision of the Executive Committee will be communicated to the parties involved by letter from the President. This decision is final and may not be appealed.
24. Archives
a. The Historian will facilitate that records of ABS be placed in the Smithsonian Institution Archives, including copies of the minutes of all ABS meetings. The Historian should retain a copy of the Minutes of the Executive Committee meetings which may be requested by individuals of organizations on a short-term loan basis. The Historian shall see that the files are updated on an annual basis.
b. Quoting archival materials shall require the permission of the ABS President and Secretary. [Enacted at the 1985 E.C. Meetings]
c. Guidelines for Archives [Adopted at the 1990 E.C. Meetings.]:
Location. The Archives of the Animal Behavior Society are maintained at the Smithsonian Institution Archives, 900 Jefferson Drive S.W., Washington, DC 20560.
ABS Liaison. The liaison from the ABS to the Smithsonian is the ABS Historian.
Purpose. The purpose of the Archives is to maintain records of the Society so that they may be available for examination by future members or officers and by qualified scholars interested in the ABS, its activities, and its members.
Contents. The Archives will include all official documents of the ABS including minutes and accounts of all meetings, fiscal records, substantive correspondence, and other materials related to the activities and history of the Society. Note that material related to the journal, Animal Behaviour, is maintained in a separate archive at the Archives of the History of American Psychology, Akron, Ohio.
Procedures for Deposition. All officers and committee chairs are responsible for forwarding requisite material to the Historian at an appropriate time after leaving office. The Historian will make an annual deposition to the Smithsonian.
The Historian should remind departing officers and committee chairs of their responsibilities for deposition of ABS documents. It may be appropriate for those leaving office to forward the documents of the office to his/her successor for use during the subsequent term. The two should reach some arrangement as to the procedure for the eventual deposition of the materials to the Archives and inform the Historian of this agreement.
Sensitive Materials. Should there be sensitive materials concerning individuals, an arrangement should be made with the Historian concerning the handling of these items. If necessary, access can be restricted to certain people or papers can be sealed for specified periods of time.
Duplicate Files. The Historian will maintain copies of such materials as the current Constitution, Bylaws, Policy, recent newsletters, recent committee reports, and other materials. Such materials should thus be submitted in duplicate -- one copy for the Archives and one for the Historian.
Materials for inclusion:
1. ABS Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy. All versions of the constitution, Bylaws, and Policy should be preserved. Upon making any changes in these documents, the Parliamentarian should forward two copies to the Historian.
2. Annual Reports of all Officers and Committees. Copies of annual reports should be forwarded to the Historian when accepted by the Executive Committee.
3. Minutes. Minutes of all meetings, including the Annual Business Meeting, the Executive Committee meetings, and meetings of both standing and ad hoc committees.
4. Fiscal Records. Copies of the annual audited Treasurer's report and other financial materials.
5. Annual membership lists and copies of membership directories.
6. Programs and abstracts from each meeting. The Program Officer should arrange to have one copy of the program and abstracts for the Archives.
7. Correspondence. All officers and committee chairs should forward significant correspondence concerning their function to the Society. This will include correspondence among officers, with outside individuals, and related materials.
It is not necessary to preserve such materials as routine requests for information, such as those often directed to the Secretary, dues payment forms collected by the Treasurer, ballots collected in elections and other material that can be summarized, with the summary to be preserved.
8. Records of Awards Decisions. Chairs of the committees to make awards (e.g., the Allee Award, the film awards, and research support awards) should provide lists of nominees or contestants, awards made and research proposals and reviews. (Revised at the 1997 EC meeting).
9. Newsletters and other publications of the Society.
10. Programs, abstracts, and related materials concerning animal behavior regional meetings.
11. Photographic Record. All officers and committee chairs are asked to donate photographs of themselves for inclusion. Other photos of activities of annual meetings and elsewhere are solicited, as they document the flavor of ABS activities.
a. The name Animal Behavior Society on items for sale shall require written approval of the President in consultation with the Treasurer and First President-elect.
b. Any unauthorized use of the ABS name as expressed or implied endorsement or certification may be grounds for termination of membership. Such cases shall be referred to the Ethics Committee for recommendations. [Enacted at the 1987 E.C. Meetings.]
c. Any apparent misuse of the Society's name should be brought to the attention of the President. The President should instruct the user that the use of Animal Behavior Society affiliations in any commercial venture should be accompanied by a disclaimer that such advertisement does not signify endorsement by the Society. [Enacted at the 1985 E.C. Meetings.]
d. ABS film awards carry the privilege of listing the award in promotional advertising for the winning films (see Sec. 10c).
a. Mailing labels will be sold only if the exact materials to be mailed out have been examined and approved by the Treasurer or, in the case of non-routine requests, approved by the Executive Committee. A charge of (U.S.) $75 per 1000 labels will be made. [Enacted, 1985 E.C. Meetings; revised, 1989 E.C. Meetings.]
b. Specific requests for ABS mailing labels will be denied if 20% of the Executive Committee votes not to make them available. [Enacted at the 1986 E.C. Meetings.]
27. ABS/ASAB Guidelines for the Treatment of Animals in Behavioral Research and Teaching [Added to Policy at 1986 E.C. Meetings; revised 1993, 1997]
Behavioral studies are of great importance in increasing our understanding and appreciation of animals. In addition to providing knowledge about the diversity and complexity of behavior in nature, such studies also provide information crucial to improvements in the welfare of animals maintained in laboratories, zoos, and agricultural settings. The use of animals in behavioral research and teaching does, however, raise important ethical issues. While many behavioral studies are non-invasive and involve only observations of animals in their natural habitat, some research questions cannot be answered adequately without manipulation of animals. Studies of captive animals necessarily involve keeping animals in confinement, and manipulative procedures and surgery may be necessary to achieve the aims of the research. Studies of free-living animals in their natural habitats can cause disruption, particularly if feeding, capture, marking or experimental procedures are involved.
While the furthering of scientific knowledge is a proper aim and may itself advance an awareness of human responsibility towards animal life, the investigator must always weigh the potential gain in knowledge against any adverse consequences for the animals and populations under study. This is equally true for the evaluation of animal use in animal behavior teaching activities. In fact, animal behavior courses provide an excellent opportunity to introduce students to the ethical obligations a researcher accepts when animals are studied.
In order to help their members make what are sometimes difficult ethical judgments about the procedures involved in the study of animals, the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour and the Animal Behavior Society have formed Ethical and Animal Care committees, respectively. These committees jointly produced the following guidelines for the use of all those who are engaged in behavioral research and teaching activities involving vertebrate and invertebrate animals. These guidelines are general in scope, since the diversity of species and study techniques used in behavioral research precludes the inclusion of specific details about appropriate animal care and treatment The guidelines will be used by the Editors of Animal Behaviour in assessing the acceptability of submitted manuscripts. Submitted manuscripts may be rejected by an Editor, after consultation with the Ethical or Animal Care Committee, if the content violates either the letter or the spirit of the guidelines. These guidelines supplement the legal requirements in the country and/or state or province in which the work is carried out. They should not be considered an imposition upon the scientific freedom of individual researchers, but rather as helping to provide an ethical framework which each investigator may use in making decisions related to animal welfare.
a. Legislation
Investigators are accountable for the care and well-being of animals used in their research and teaching activities, and must therefore abide by the spirit as well as the letter of relevant legislation. For those who reside in Great Britain, a summary of the laws designed to ensure the welfare of animals is given by Crofts (1980); detailed guidance on the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 is provided by the Home Office (199). In the U.S.A., federal, state, and local legislation and guidelines may apply. In particular, the care and use of many vertebrate laboratory animals are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act and its amendments and regulations (code of Federal Regulations, Title 9) and/or the policies of the Public Health Service (NRC 1996; PHS 1996). Guidelines for farm animals used in research and teaching may also be applicable (Guide Development Committee 1988). In Canada, guidance can be obtained from the Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals (Canadian Council on Animal Care 1992).
In Britain, lists of threatened species and laws aiming to protect them can be obtained from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Species Conservation Monitoring Unit (219C Huntington Road, Cambridge CB3 0D1, U.K.). In the U.S.A., information pertaining to The Endangered Species Act Of 1973 may be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 50, 1973). Lists of endangered species can be obtained from the Office for Endangered Species, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (Rm. 430, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203, phone 1-800-358-2104) or from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E7).
Investigators working in other countries must familiarize themselves with legislation both on animal welfare and on threatened and endangered species and conform with the spirit and letter of the laws. When submitting manuscripts to Animal Behaviour, all authors must confirm in their cover letter that they have adhered to the legal requirements of the country in which the study was conducted.
b. Choice of Species and Non-animal Alternatives
Investigators should choose a species for study that is well suited for investigation of the questions posed. Choosing an appropriate subject usually requires knowledge of a species' natural history and phylogenetic level. Knowledge of an individual animal's previous experience, such as whether or not it has spent a lifetime in captivity, is also important. When research or teaching involves procedures or housing conditions that may cause pain, discomfort or stress to the animal, and when alternative species can be used, the researcher should employ the species which, in the opinion of the researcher and other qualified colleagues, is least likely to suffer (OTA 1986). Live animal subjects are generally essential in behavioral research, but non-animal alternatives such as video records from previous work or computer simulations can sometimes be used (Smyth 1978). Material of this kind also exists for teaching purposes and can be used instead of live animals to expand the range of behavioral subjects available to students.
c. Number of Individuals
The researcher should use the smallest number of animals necessary and sufficient to accomplish the research goals, especially in studies which involve manipulations that are potentially detrimental to the animal or the population. The number of animals used in an experiment can often be dramatically reduced by pilot studies, good experimental design and the use of statistical tests that enable several factors to be examined simultaneously. Hunt (1980), Still (1982) and McConway (1992) discuss ways of reducing the number of animals used in experiments through alternative designs. Useful reference works are Cox (1958) and Cochran & Cox (1996).
d. Procedures
Investigators are encouraged to discuss with colleagues both the scientific value of their research proposals as well as possible ethical considerations. There are several models for evaluating animal research which can be of use when making ethical decisions (Bateson 1986; Orlans 1987; Shapiro & Field 1988; Donnelly & Nolan 1990; Porter 1992). If procedures used in research or teaching involve exposure to painful, stressful or noxious stimuli, the investigator must consider whether the knowledge that may be gained is justified. Bateson (1991) discusses the assessment of pain and suffering. Additional information can be obtained from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Publication, "Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in laboratory Animals" (NRC 1996), and from the American Veterinary Medical Association panel report on animal pain and distress (AVMA 1987). Researchers are urged to consider the use of alternative procedures before employing techniques that are likely to cause physical or psychological discomfort to the animal. Pain or suffering should be minimized both in duration and magnitude to the greatest extent possible under the requirements of the experimental design. Attention should be given to proper pre- and post-operative care in order to minimize preparatory stress and residual effects. Unless specifically contraindicated by the experimental design, procedures that are likely to cause pain or discomfort should be performed only on animals that have been adequately anaesthetized. Analgesics should be used after such procedures to minimize pain and distress whenever possible (Flecknell 1985; Benson et al. 1990).
The following more specific points may be of use:
1. Fieldwork. Investigators studying free-living animals must take precautions to minimize interference with individuals as well as the populations and ecosystems of which they are a part. Capture, marking, radio-tagging, collection of physiological data such as blood or tissue samples or field experiments may not only have immediate effects on the animal, but may also have consequences such as a reduced probability of survival and reproduction. Investigators should consider the effects of such interference and use less disruptive techniques, such as individual recognition by the use of natural features rather than marking (Scott 1978) where possible. Cuthill (1991) discusses the ethical issues associated with field experiments and recommends pilot investigations to assess potential environmental disruption and follow-up studies to detect and minimize persistent effects. Investigators should weigh the potential gain in knowledge from field studies against the adverse consequences of disruption for the animals used as subjects and also for other animals and plants in the ecosystem. When an experimental protocol requires that animals be removed from the population either temporarily or on a long-term basis, investigators should ensure that suffering or discomfort are minimized not only for the removed animals but for others dependent on them (e.g., dependent offspring). Removed individuals and their dependents must be housed and cared for appropriately. Sources of further information of field techniques are the books edited by Stonehouse (1978) and Amlaner & Macdonald (1980).
2. Aggression, Predation and Intraspecific Killing. The fact that the agent causing harm may be another non-human animal does not free the experimenter from the normal obligations to experimental animals. Huntingford (1984) and Elwood (1991) discuss the ethical issues involved and suggest ways to minimize suffering. Wherever possible, field studies of natural encounters should be used in preference to staged encounters. Where staged encounters are necessary, the use of models should be considered, the number of subjects should be kept to the minimum needed to accomplish the experimental goals, and the experiments made as short as possible. Suffering can also be reduced by continuous observation with intervention to stop aggression at predefined levels, and by providing protective barriers and escape routes for the subjects.
3. Aversive Stimulation and Deprivation as Motivational Procedures. Aversive stimulation or deprivation can cause pain or distress to animals. To minimize suffering, the investigator should ascertain that there is no alternative way of motivating the animal and that the levels of deprivation or aversive stimulation used are no greater than necessary to achieve the goals of the experiment. Alternatives to depravation include the use of highly preferred foods and other rewards which may motivate even satiated animals. Use of minimal levels requires a knowledge of the technical literature in the relevant area; quantitative studies of aversive stimulation are reviewed by Church (1971) and Rushen (1986) and the behavior of satiated animals is considered by Morgan (1974). Further comments on reducing distress due to motivational procedures are to be found in Lea (1979) and Moran (1975).
4. Social Deprivation, Isolation and Crowding. Experimental designs that require keeping animals in over-crowded conditions, or that involve social deprivation or isolation, may be extremely stressful to the animals involved. Because the degree of stress experienced by the animal can vary with species, age, sex, reproductive condition, developmental history and social status, the natural social behavior of the animals concerned and their previous social experience must be considered in order to minimize such stress.
5. Deleterious Conditions. Studies aimed at inducing deleterious conditions in animals are sometimes performed in order to gain scientific knowledge of value to human or animal problems. Such conditions include inducing diseases, increasing parasite loads, and exposing animals to pesticides or homeostatic stressors. Where feasible, studies inducing a deleterious condition in animals should address the possible treatment or alleviation of the condition induced. Animals exposed to deleterious conditions that might result in suffering or death should be monitored frequently and, whenever possible, considering the aims of the research, humanely killed as soon as they show signs of distress. If the goals of the research allow it, the investigator should also consider experimental designs in which the deleterious condition is removed (e.g., removing rather than adding parasites as the experimental treatment) or in which naturally occurring instances of deleterious conditions are observed.
e. Endangered Species
All research on endangered or locally rare species must comply with relevant legislation and be coordinated with official agencies responsible for the conservation effort for the particular species under study. Legislation and sources of help in identifying endangered species have been outlined in Section A. Members of threatened species should not be placed at risk except as part of a serious attempt at conservation. Observation alone can result in serious disturbance, including higher predation rates on nests or young, or their abandonment, and should only be undertaken after careful consideration of techniques and of alternative species. Investigators should also consider further adverse consequences of their work, such as opening up remote areas for subsequent access or teaching techniques of anesthetization and capture which might be misused (e.g., by poachers).
f. Procurement of Animals
When it is necessary to procure animals either by purchase or donation from outside sources, only reputable suppliers should be used. For workers in the U.K., advice about purchasing animals may be obtained from the Laboratory Animal Breeder's Association, Charles River (U.K.) Ltd., Manson Research Centre, Manson Road, Margate, Kent CT9 4LP. In the U.S.A., information on licensed animal dealers can be obtained from the local office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.). Other sources of information on laboratory animal suppliers in North America are the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (M524 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 3E9). If animals are procured by capture in the wild, this must be done in as painless and humane a manner as possible and must comply with any relevant legislation. Individuals of endangered species or populations should not be taken from the wild unless they are part of an active conservation program. So far as is possible, the investigator should ensure that those responsible for handling purchase, donated or wild-caught animals en route to the research facilities provide adequate food, water, ventilation and space, and do not impose undue stress.
g. Housing and Animal Care
The researcher's responsibilities extend also to the conditions under which the animals are kept when not being studied. Caging conditions and husbandry practices must meet, at the very least, minimal recommended requirements of the country in which the research is carried out. Guidance can be obtained from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (U.F.A.W.) handbook (Poole, 1987), the National Research Council (NRC 1985) guide, the U.S.D.A. Animal Welfare Act Regulations (Code of Federal Regulations), the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Guide Development Committee 1988), and the Canadian Council on Animal Care's Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals (1992).
Although these publications provide general guidance, the housing and care regimes established for the commonly used laboratory animals are not necessarily suitable for wild animals or for individuals of wild species born in captivity. Special attention may be required to enhance the comfort and safety of these animals. Normal maintenance of captive animals should incorporate, as much as possible, aspects of the natural living conditions deemed important to welfare and survival. Consideration should be given to providing features such as natural materials, refuges, perches, and dust and water baths. Companions should be provided for social animals where possible, providing that this does not lead to suffering or injury. Frequency of cage cleaning should represent a compromise between the level of cleanliness necessary to prevent diseases and the amount of stress imposed by frequent handling and exposure to unfamiliar surroundings, odors, and bedding. Researchers in the United States should also ensure that the requirements outlined under the 1985 Amendment to the Animal Welfare Act to provide exercise for laboratory-housed dogs and to ensure the psychological well-being of captive non-human primates are met.
The nature of human-animal interactions during routine care and experimentation should be considered by investigators. Depending upon species, rearing history and the nature of the interaction, animals may perceive humans as conspecifics, predators or symbionts (Estep & Hetts 1992). Special training of animal care personnel can help in implementing procedures that foster habituation of animals to caretakers and researchers and minimize stress. Stress can also be reduced by training animals to cooperate with handlers and experimenters during routine husbandry and experimental procedures (Biological Council 1992).
h. Final Disposition of Animals
When research projects or teaching exercises using captive animals are completed, it may sometimes be appropriate to distribute animals to colleagues for further study or breeding, if permitted by local legislation. However, if animals are distributed care must be taken to ensure that the same animals are not used repeatedly in stressful or painful experiments and that they continue to receive a high standard of care. Animals should never be subjected to more than one major surgery unless it is an unavoidable element of a single experiment. Except as prohibited by national, federal, state, provincial, or local laws, researchers may release field-trapped animals if this is practical and feasible, especially if it is critical to conservation efforts. However, the researcher should assess whether releases into the wild might be injurious or detrimental both to the released animal and to existing populations in the area. Animals should be released at the same site where they were trapped (unless conservation efforts dictate otherwise), and only when their ability to survive in nature has not been impaired and when they do not constitute a health or ecological hazard to existing populations. If animals must be killed subsequent to a study this must be done as humanely and painlessly as possible; death of the animals should be confirmed before their bodies are discarded. A veterinarian should be consulted for advice on methods of euthanasia that are appropriate for the particular species being used. Additional information on euthanasia methods can be found in the report of the AVMA panel on euthanasia (AVMA 1993).
i. Obtaining Further Information
There are a number of organizations that provide publications and detailed information about the care and use of animals. These include The Canadian Council on Animal Care (1105-151 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3, Canada), the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (7833 Walker Dr. , suite 340, Greenbelt, MD 20770, U.S.A., scaw@erols.com), AAALAC International -Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (1-800-926-0066, http://www.aaalac.org), NetVet (http://netvet.wustl.edu/), National Academy of Sciences (http://www.nas.edu/homepage/pubs/pubs.html), National Academy Press (http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/) and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (8 Hamilton Close, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QD, U.K.). The Animal Welfare Information Center at the National Library (Room 205, Beltsville, MD 20705, U.S.A.) publishes a series of bibliographies on special topics and can also provide individualized database searches for investigators on potential alternatives, including techniques for replacement with non-animal models or alternative species, methods for reducing the total number of animals necessary to address the research question, and experimental refinements which can reduce pain and stress. For those with access to it, the Internet provides a wealth of information on animal care and welfare issues: Many of these are government web pages, particularly those of NIH and USDA. Good starting places are: http://www.nih.gov/ and http://www.aphis.usda.gov/. Additional information at the APHIS site can be found at /reac/reachome.html. On the NIH site is /grants/oppr/library from which one can access the 1996 Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (ILAR) Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (published by the National Academy Press) in its entirety, as well as get information on the IACUC Guidebook published by ARENA (Applied Research Ethics National Association). The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) can be accessed via the USDA home page, and they also have available a Compendium of Animal Resources (CARE) CD ROM. For more information, contact Michael Kreger at the NAL: email: mkreger@nal.usda.gov or write to AWIC, National Agricultural Library, 5th floor, 10301 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705.
References
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AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). 1987. Colloquium on recognition and alleviation of animal pain and distress. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 191, 1184-1296.
AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). 1993.
Report of the Panel on Euthanasia. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 202,
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Bateson, P. 1986. When to experiment on animals. New Scient., 1496, 30-32.
Bateson, P. 1991. Assessment of pain in animals. Anim. Behav., 42, 827-839.
Benson, G.J., Thurman, J.C. & Davis, L.E. 1990. Laboratory animal analgesia. In: The Experimental Animal in Biomedical Research, Vol, 1, A Survey of Scientific and Ethical Issues for Investigators (Ed. by B.e. Rollin & M.L. Kessel), pp. 319-319. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.
Biological Council. 1992. Guidelines on the Handling and Training of laboratory Animals. Potters Bar, Herts: U.F.A.W. (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare).
Canadian Council on Animal Care. 1992. Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, Vols. 1 and 2. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Council on Animal Care.
Church, R.M. 1971. Aversive behaviour. In: Woodworth and Schleosberg's Experimental Psychology. 3rd edn (Ed. by J. W. Kling & L.A. Riggs), pp. 703-741. London: Methuen.
Cochran, W.G. & cox, G.M. 1996. Experimental Designs. 2nd edn. New York: John Wiley. Available from: Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care, APHIS, USDA, Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MN 20782.
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50 (Wildlife and Fisheries), Chapter 1 (Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Cox, D.R. 1958. Planning of Experiments. New York: John Wiley.
Crofts, W. 1989. A Summary of the Stature Law Relating to the Welfare of Animals in England and Wales. Potters Bar: U.F.A.W.
Cuthill, I. 1991. Field Experiments in animal behaviour: methods and ethics. Anim. Behav., 42, 1007-1114.
Donnelley, S. & Nolan, K. (Eds.) 1990. Animals, Science and Ethics. New York: The Hastings Center
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Estep., D.Q. and Hetts, S. 1992. Interactions, relationships, and bonds: the conceptual basis for scientist-animal relations. In: The Inevitable Bond: Examining Scientist-Animal Interactions (Ed. by H. Davis & D. Balfour), pp. 6-26. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Guide Development Committee, 1988. Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching. Washington, D.C.: Consortium for Developing a Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching. Available from: Association Headquarters, 309 West Clark Street, Champaign, IL 61820.
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28. Program for Certification of Applied Animal Behaviorists
(Added to Policy at 1990 E.C. Meetings; revised at 1993 and 1994 E.C. Meetings)
I. Rationale
Animal behaviorists can be educated in a variety of disciplines including animal science, ethology, psychology, wildlife biology, behavioral ecology, and/or zoology. A professional applied animal behaviorist is a person with demonstrated expertise in:
1. The theoretical principles of animal behavior,
2. The process of conducting empirical research on the behavior of animals in either a laboratory or field setting,
3. The application of animal behavioral principles to solution of animal behavior problems, and
4. The dissemination of accurate information about animal behavior through teaching and/or research.
Certification of applied animal behaviorists is a means of demonstrating to the public, as well as to colleagues and peers, the training required to practice as a professional applied animal behaviorist. Certification constitutes recognition by the Animal Behavior Society that, to its best knowledge, the certificant meets the educational, experiential, and ethical standards required by the Society for professional applied animal behaviorists. Certification does not constitute a guarantee that the applicant meets a specific standard of competence or possesses specific knowledge.
II. Objectives
The objectives of the Animal Behavior Society's Certification program are:
1. To recognize the professional training of applied animal behaviorists by establishing specific standards and criteria for certification.
2. To educate and inform potential public and private clients and employers about the education and experience of applied animal behaviorists and to assist these same groups in evaluating applied animal behaviorists,
3. To assist the public in identifying applied animal behaviorists by establishing and maintaining a procedure for critical peer evaluation based upon defined minimum education, experience and ethical requirements,
4. To create and maintain public confidence in the advice and opinions of applied animal behaviorists as well-educated and experienced professionals who have pledged to uphold the Code of Ethics of the Animal Behavior Society and to act in the best interest of the public, and
5. To provide public and private clients more positive access to professional advice in matters concerning applied animal behavior.
III. Levels of Professional Certification
A. Associate Applied Animal Behaviorist
B. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
IV. Requirements
A. Associate Applied Animal Behaviorist
1. Education. Masters Degree in a biological or behavioral science with an emphasis on animal behavior, from an accredited college or university. The applicant's undergraduate and/or graduate course work must include a minimum of 21 semester credits in behavioral science courses to include: 6 semester credits in ethology, animal behavioral and/or comparative psychology (e.g., experimental psychology).
2. Experience. Minimum of two years professional experience in applied animal behavior. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to perform independently and professionally in applied animal behavior. Examples include independent studies, data analyses, formulation and testing of hypotheses, and professional writing. Evidence of significant experience working interactively with a particular species (e.g., researcher, research assistant, or intern with a certified applied animal behaviorist) prior to working independently with the species in a clinical animal behavior setting (i.e., one involving the diagnosis and treatment of an animal's behavior).
3. Endorsement. A minimum of three letters of recommendation from Animal Behavior Society (regular) members affirming the applicant's professional experience in the areas listed above. Only two letters may come from the same institution.
B. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
1. Education and Experience. Doctoral degree in a biological or behavioral science with an emphasis on animal behavior, including five years of professional experience; or a DVM (or VMD) plus two years in a university-approved residency in animal behavior, and three additional years of professional experience in applied animal behavior. Any of the degrees must include the course work required for an Associate Applied Animal Behaviorist. Also:
a. Demonstration of thorough knowledge of the literature, scientific principles, and principles of animal behavior.
b. Demonstration of original contributions or original interpretations of animal behavior information.
c. Evidence of significant experience working interactively with a particular species (e.g., researcher, research assistant, or intern with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist) prior to working independently with the species in a clinical animal behavior setting (one involving the diagnosis and treatment of an animal's behavior).
2. Endorsement: A minimum of three letters of recommendation from ABS (regular) members affirming the applicant's professional experience in the areas listed above. Only two letters may come from the same institution.
Exceptions: An applicant who does not qualify under the above criteria must submit a statement to the Board of Professional Certification explaining why and how the intent of the educational and experiential requirements are satisfied.
C. Renewal
Certification may be renewed each year for five years following initial certification or recertification. Failure to pay the yearly renewal or recertification fee will result in decertification. Certification will be reinstated following receipt of the annual renewal fee within the 5 year certification period.
V. Ethics
Associate Applied Animal Behaviorists and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists shall:
A. Conduct their activities in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Animal Behavior Society, with the highest standards of professional conduct and personal honor, and in accordance with the laws of applicable jurisdictions.
B. Accept employment to perform professional services only in the areas of their own competence and consistent with the Code of Ethics of the Animal Behavior Society. They shall seek to refer clients or employers to other applied animal behaviorists when expertise of such professionals shall best serve the interests of the public and the client/employer. They shall cooperate fully with other professionals in the best interest of the animals, the public and the client/employer. They shall act in accordance with ABS/ASAB Guidelines for the use of Animals in Research.
C. Refrain from advertising in a self-laudatory manner, beyond statements intended to inform prospective clients/employers of qualifications, or in a manner detrimental to fellow professionals. They shall follow ABS Policy for the use of the Society's name.
VI. Administration
Certification shall be administered by the Board of Professional Certification (BPC) consisting of six members including the First President-elect of the Animal Behavior Society who serves as an ex officio member. The Chairperson and Board members are appointed by the President of the Animal Behavior Society with the approval of the ABS Executive Committee (see below).
A. Board Member Requirements. Board members must be certified and be ABS members in good standing. (The certification requirement does not apply to the First President-elect, who serves as an ex officio member not voting on certification applications). They should represent an appropriate range of training in animal species, theoretical perspectives, and areas of applied animal behavior. The BPC Chair's "certification file" is to be held by the First President-elect (the ex officio member of the Board). [Revised at 1991 and 1994 E.C. Meetings]
B. Appointment. The President of ABS, in consultation with the Chairperson of the committee on Issues in Applied Animal Behavior and the Executive Committee, shall appoint members. Members appointed initially must be deemed certifiable.
C. Terms. Three year staggered terms such that no more than two terms expire each year.
D. Board Chairperson Responsibilities. The Board
Chairperson will be responsible for:
1. Maintaining hardcopy and computer files on all applicants.
2. Maintaining a list of Associate applied Animal Behaviorists and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists.
3. Preparing application materials for review by the Board.
4. Chairing, and providing agenda for, meetings of BPC.
5. Periodically advising applicants of status of their applications, including materials yet to be received.
6. Informing applicants of the results of the BPC's review. The chairperson's name, address, and telephone number should clearly show on certificates to enable the public to interact with the Board. [Revised at 1992 E.C. meetings.]
7. Coordinating the process of review for censure and suspension or revocation of certification.
8. Advising Associate Applied Animal Behaviorists and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists of yearly renewal and recertification requirements and deadlines.
9. Maintaining the Board's budget.
10. Providing a written and oral report on the status of the Certification Program to the ABS Executive Committee at the annual meeting.
11. Providing information on individual applications or the Certification Program to officers of the ABS at their request, including information for any appeal proceedings.
12. Forwarding all Certification Program equipment and records to the incoming Chairperson.
E. Meetings. The Board will meet annually to review and act on applications. The Board may meet or act on applications more frequently at the request of a majority of the Board. For the first two years the Board will meet at the annual meeting of the ABS. Thereafter they may meet separately depending on the amount of business to be conducted and the Board's budget.
F. Financing. The ABS will provide startup expenses for the certification Program for the first two years. The Certification Program will reimburse the ABS for that amount during the first two years of operation. Thereafter the Certification Program will be self-sustaining through fees collected. The Board's budget will be allocated by the ABS Treasurer.
G. Fee Structure (same for both levels of certification)
ABS Members Non-Members
Initial Application: $75 $150
(non-refundable, but also
covers first re-application)
Re-application: $75 $150
(second and subsequent)
Yearly Renewal: $15 $ 75
Recertification: $50 $100
H. Application. All Initial, Yearly Renewal, and Recertification applicants will be required to submit the following materials whether they are seeking certification as an Associate applied Animal Behaviorist or a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist.
Application Initial and Yearly
Materials Re-application Renewal Recertification
Application Form X X
Degree Transcripts X
Current Resume X X
Names, Addresses X X
and Phone Numbers
of Three References
Fee X X X
All completed Initial, Yearly Renewal, and Recertification applications will be sent to the Board Chairperson along with the fees (check payable to the Animal Behavior Society). The applications will be filed and maintained by the Chairperson (hardcopy and computer database), and the fees will be forwarded to the ABS Treasurer on a monthly basis.
I. Re-application: An applicant may reapply for certification following denial by the BPC. The re- application may be based on completing deficiencies specified by the BPC or on exceptions deemed appropriate by the applicant.
J. Denials and Appeals Procedure. A decision by the BPC to deny certification may be appealed to the ABS Executive Committee by march 1. The appeal must be in writing to the President of the Animal Behavior Society. The reason(s) for denial shall be provided in writing to the President of the ABS by the Chairperson of the BPC. The Executive Committee shall have the right to seek evidence from others. The decision of the ABS Executive Committee shall be delivered to the appellant in writing and shall be final.
K. Disciplinary Procedure. The BPC shall have the authority to censure a certificant, to suspend certification for a stated period, or to revoke certification on finding that an individual has willfully violated the ABS Code of Ethics and the Certification program or misrepresented the facts at the time of certification. Such a finding may be reached by concluding that an allegation of improper deportment is true.
A charge of misconduct may be presented in writing to the Chairperson of the BPC. Anonymous allegations will not be entertained. After reviewing the case, the BPC may elect to pursue the issue and render a written decision informing the certificant, the individual who initiated the charge and the president of the ABS. Any such action by the BPC may be appealed to the ABS Executive Committee, whose decision will be final.
Last modified: Wed Dec 17 10:30:34 EST 1997