Behavioral ecology of vertebrates
Ecology and evolution of non-human animal social behaviors are the focus of my lab’s research. Past work includes studies of parent-offspring relations in birds and currently, ecology and life history of cooperative behaviors (e.g., sentinel behavior, territory defense, caching and food calling) in American crows. Because these are now urban birds, our research includes work on effects of urban living on crows and other species. We also study the role of crows and other urban birds in transmission of West Nile virus.
Outside of field studies, we have ongoing studies of behavior, in lab-bred budgerigars, ranging from yawning to individual personality differences. |
