Research

I have several research interests, but they often interconnect in interesting ways. Broadly, I study animal communication and behavior in complex social environments. I am also passionate about education and outreach. Please click on each topic to learn more about the different research topics I have pursued over the years.

Visual Communication

Communication is crucial for all species and visual communication is just one of the many modalities. I study physiological and behavioral variability between species and how these differences influence communicative behaviors.

Acoustic Communication

Communication is crucial for all species and acoustic communication is just one of the many modalities. I study differences in communication between species, as well as individual repeatability in communicative signals.

Behavior

There are so many interesting behaviors across the animal kingdom, and my research only touches on some of them. I'm mostly interested in mixed-species interactions (including play, dominance, and aggression), but I am also very interested in using these behaviors to measure animal welfare under human care.

H. Brooks photography

Animal Education
& Outreach

I'm very passionate about animal education as a conservation tool. Zoos and other animal care facilities are often the only way that people can see live animals that are at risk of extinction. My research in this area is intended to help these facilities become more effective in their public outreach and education efforts.

Image by Nam Anh African Elephants	Image by TassiloRau Binturongs	Image by Yathin S Krishnappa Bat-Eared Foxes	Image by Catherine Merlin African Painted Dogs
Wolf Mexican Gray Wolves	Polar Bear on Rocks Polar Bears	Brown bear sitting down Brown Bears	Image by Dana Ward Sloth bears
Image by Mika Brandt African Lions	Image by A G Amur Tigers	Image by Tobias Tullius Amur Leopards	Image by Helena Lopes Snow Leopards
Image by Marieke Tacken Clouded Leopards	Image by Zdeněk Macháček Eurasian Lynxes	Image by Frida Lanenrström Fishing Cats	Image by Joshua J Caracals
Image by Dušan veverkolog Servals	Image by Patrich Ch. Apfeld Black-Footed Cats	Photos.com/Thinkstock Small-Spotted Genets	Image by Ben Berwers Dwarf Mongooses
Image by Jessica Weiller Red Pandas	Dolphin at Sea Bottlenose Dolphins	Image by Steve Adams Harbor Seals	Image by Diana Parkhouse Gray Seals
Image by Kace Rodriguez California Sea Lions	Image by Jie Wang Syrian Hamsters	Image by Patrice Bouchard Carolina Chickadees	Image by Joshua J Titmice
Image by Patrice Bouchard White-Breasted Nuthatches	Image by Ray Hennessy Lesser Scaup	Image by michal dziekonski Largemouth Bass	Image by Mid Atlantic Stocking Bluegill Sunfish
Image by GraceHues Photography Gar	Mirecca/Dreamstime.com Bowfin	Image by Erik Karits Fireflies/lightning bugs	Image by Simon Kadula Honeybees

Bonus: Past Animal Husbandry

Image by Lui Peng Dogs	Image by Borna Bevanda Cats	Image by Sébastien Goldberg Llamas	Image by Annie Spratt Cows
Image by Anthony Rae Donkeys	Image by Silje Midtgård Horses	Image by Donald Teel Miniature Horses	Image by Yoonbae Cho Sheep
Image by Florian van Duyn Goats	Image by Forest Simon Pigs	Image by Marlowe Weingart Hedgehogs	Image by Gavin Allanwood Rabbits
Image by Nyusha Svoboda Chinchillas	Image by Jaroslaw Slodkiewicz Guinea Pigs	Image by Benmckune Gerbils	Image by Alexandr Gusev Rats
Image by Sandy Millar Mice	Image by Sunira Moses Hamsters	Image by David Clode Frogs	Chameleon on a Branch Chameleons
Image by Gary Ellis Bearded Dragons	Image by verdian chua Geckos	Image by Ulrike Langner Anoles	Image by Brittney Weng Turtles
Image by David Cadenas Tortoises	Image by Timothy Dykes Ball Pythons	Image by Larisa Steele Corn Snakes	Image by HVXLII Milk Snakes
Image by Ricardo Frantz Peacocks	Wild Turkey Domestic Turkeys	Image by Upesh Manoush Guinea Fowl	Image by William Moreland Chickens
Image by Christian Bowen Domesticated Ducks	Image by Nick Fewings Domesticated Geese	Image by Javardh Fancy Pigeon	Image by Lydia VanDriel Finches
Image by Tawhid Khan Budgies	Image by Kyaw Tun Exotic freshwater fish	Image by Sarah Page Cichlids	Image by Erik Karits Various cockroach species